The Female Founders Challenge was started at VivaTech to celebrate women-led startups and to advance their innovations. Participating in this challenge brings networking opportunities, access to funding, and exposure in an industry where women are often underrepresented.
With the 2025 edition receiving over 500 applications from more than 80 countries, the competition is hotter than ever this year. We are excited to reveal the top 5 finalists who have made it to the final round and are ready to present everything from animal-free dairy proteins to hormone health solutions.
Aranzazu Carmona Orbezo - Founder & CTO of Parallel Carbon
Parallel Carbon is a startup developing a dual-process system that captures carbon dioxide from the air while producing clean hydrogen. Their approach combines direct air capture with water electrolysis for a dual climate impact.
Aranzazu Carmona Orbezo, Co-Founder and CTO, holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Manchester. With expertise in electrochemical engineering and water treatment, she leads the technical development of the company’s carbon removal and hydrogen production systems.
Lara Gervaise – Co-founder of Virtuosis AI
What started as a research project at EPFL in 2021 became Virtuosis AI, a startup using voice analysis to improve mental well-being and communication. With their platform integrated into Microsoft Teams, the company analyzes voice data during meetings to give users personalized feedback on stress and speaking patterns.
Lara Gervaise, Co-founder of Virtuosis AI, holds a background in microengineering, robotics, and data science from EPFL, where she began the research that led to the creation of the startup blending technology and behavioral science to support mental well-being.
Elissa Brunato – Founder & CEO of Radiant Matter
Radiant Matter is a biomaterials startup creating biodegradable, shimmering materials like BioSequin™ to replace plastic-based glitter in fashion. Thier products, designed as a solution for the circular economy, are made without plastics, metals, minerals or pigments.
Elissa Brunato, Founder and CEO, has a background in design and material innovation, with an MA in Material Futures from the University of the Arts London. Her career includes many years involved in design and innovation research, as well as sustainable strategy.
Karolina Löfqvist – Founder & CEO of Hormona
Hormona is a femtech health startup that offers an AI-powered app and at-home testing to help women monitor and manage their hormonal health. Hormona aims to empower women with personalized insights into their hormonal cycles, addressing a significant gap in women's healthcare
With a background in management consulting, Karolina Löfqvist founded Hormona after facing her own challenges with hormonal imbalances and finding limited support from the medical community.
Hélène Briand – Co-founder of Verley
Verly is a French startup combining food, biology, and tech to produce animal-free dairy proteins using precision fermentation. Further along the supply chain, this is meant to help food manufacturers develop high-protein, lactose-free products, as well as drive the environmental transition of the dairy industry.
Hélène Briand, co-founder of Verley, has a background in agricultural science from L'École supérieure d'Agriculture. Her career spans across Europe and Southeast Asia, including several years working in animal production research and development, as well as in product management and nutrition.
Come See the Finale at Porte de Versailles!
At VivaTech 2025, these five finalists will take the stage to pitch their innovations to a jury of top investors and venture capitalists. Be there to witness the moment one of them is crowned the winner of this year’s Female Founder Challenge on June 12th during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony on Stage One.
