Think you have what it takes to be a rising star among women who start their own businesses? VivaTech presents the Female Founder Challenge in partnership with 50inTech, a global campaign to identify female entrepreneurs and build an inclusive worldwide network that helps them succeed.

In recognition of women entrepreneurs who have founded a successful company and have developed or brought to market an outstanding innovation, this annual awards ceremony takes place at VivaTech on Thursday 16th May. Hosted by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Science and Innovation, four winners will be selected from among 12 finalists. Three Women Innovators will each receive EUR 100,000 and one Rising Innovator will take home EUR 50,0000.

VivaTech works with professional networks and organizations in France and around the world to help achieve gender parity in the tech sector. Specifically VivaTech acts as an aggregator for initiatives designed to help women find their place in the tech ecosystem, access the STEM fields, identify mentors and role models, and accelerate their businesses. Some of our partners: 100000 Entrepreneurs, Les Déterminés, Girls in Tech, Rêv’Elles, Social Builder, StartHer, WILLA, 50inTech, L’Agence de l’Entreprenariat féminin, Elles Bougent, Femmes@Numériques, Girls in Web, Journée de la Femme Digitale, ONU Femmes France, Option Startup, Les Premières, SISTA, Women In Tech…

Offering one-to-one and small-group coaching and mentoring sessions, VivaTech has teamed up with two leaders in the field of tech training. StartHer, founded in 2010 in Paris, is an association with an active community of 30,000 people and takes part in more than 100 events throughout the year. Girls in Tech is a global non-profit based in San Francisco working to put an end to gender inequality in high-tech industries and startups.