Ranking of universities by number of women startup founders

In 2024 female startup founders exceeded 25% of all new technology companies in Europe and Asia for the first time, and this figure continues to grow at an outpacing rate compared to previous years.

Why, with the obvious rise of female entrepreneurship, does the startup ecosystem still face such imbalances? What role do universities play in shaping the new generation of women entrepreneurs and which universities truly become catalysts of this process?

It reflects not only the quality of educational programs, but also the maturity of the support ecosystem, the degree of inclusivity and openness to innovation.

In this article I, Nikita Veremeev, founder of COREDO, offer a deep analytical review: who and why leads the development of female entrepreneurship, which educational and infrastructure solutions actually work, and how this knowledge helps entrepreneurs and universities create sustainable, scalable startups. If you are looking not for a superficial overview but for a practical guide and strategic ideas – this article is for you.

University ranking by female startup founders

Analyzing this ranking and its indicators, it is important to understand which evaluation criteria underlie it and why they reflect the real contribution of universities to the development of the female startup movement.

Methodology for evaluating criteria

For objective analysis the COREDO team uses a comprehensive methodology that includes:

• Number of startups founded by female alumni over the last 5 years;
• Amount of investments raised by these startups;
• Presence of specialized support programs (inclusive accelerators, mentorship, grants);
• Integration of universities into international startup ecosystems and corporate partnerships.

Data sources: international university entrepreneurship rankings (PitchBook, THE, QS), Female Founders Monitor reports, studies of university startup incubators in Europe and Asia, as well as independent analytical platforms.

Top universities in Europe and Asia 2025

Comparison and examples of business success

COREDO’s practice confirms: leading universities systematically invest in creating inclusive startup ecosystems. For example, at NUS (Singapore) the Women in Tech program combines mentorship with access to venture funds focused on gender diversity. At TUM (Munich) the Women Start-up initiative actively develops entrepreneurial skills for women in STEM through accelerators and industry competitions.

The results speak for themselves: startups founded by women alumni of NUS and Cambridge demonstrate not only high survivability but also active entry into international markets, as evidenced by growth in attracted investments and successful scaling cases.

The impact of education on the success of female startup founders

The impact of education on the success of female startup founders is becoming increasingly clear: quality education not only helps acquire the necessary professional skills but also significantly boosts self-confidence, which is especially important for women in the entrepreneurial environment. Let’s discuss the role specialized programs and entrepreneurship education play on the path to success for women founders.

Educational programs and entrepreneurship education

COREDO’s experience shows: universities implementing entrepreneurship educatThey, as a required element for students of all faculties, shape not only business competencies but also an entrepreneurial mindset among women startup founders. Interdisciplinary courses are especially effective, combining technological entrepreneurship, innovation management and the basics of venture financing.

In Europe and Asia, the best universities for women entrepreneurs actively develop corporate partnerships, inviting practitioners to run master classes, hackathons and acceleration programs. This lowers entry barriers for women into the tech sector and strengthens their positions in the startup ecosystem.

Impact of STEM Education and Business Incubators

The role of STEM education (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in shaping women’s entrepreneurship in the tech sector cannot be overstated. At leading universities, the share of women in technical and engineering fields is steadily growing thanks to targeted scholarships and mentoring programs. Business incubators and accelerators for women entrepreneurs are becoming an entry point into the startup ecosystem and a platform for developing leadership competencies.

Support Programs for Women Entrepreneurs at Universities in Europe and Asia

A number of universities in Europe and Asia implement unique initiatives:

• At Cambridge, the EnterpriseWISE program operates, where women founders gain access to mentoring, investment sessions and industry networking events.
• At NUS – Lean LaunchPad and Women in Tech, where the focus is on tech entrepreneurship and international scaling.
• At Charles University (Czechia): Women in Innovation, combining educational modules and an accelerator with access to European grants.

Corporate innovation partnerships with leading companies (for example, Siemens, Google, SAP) allow women entrepreneurs to test business models and gain expertise on entering international markets.

Challenges for Women Startup Founders

Challenges for women startup founders largely determine the particular dynamics of their development: even amid a general increase in the number of women entrepreneurs, statistics show that they have to face barriers that are significantly less common for men. These challenges appear in access to financing, investment attractiveness and project scaling, and they form the basis of the key barriers for women in the startup industry.

All this leads us to consider the most significant barriers faced by women startup founders.

Main Barriers

The COREDO team has repeatedly encountered that even in developed ecosystems women startup founders face three key barriers:

• Social and cultural stereotypes that limit access to leadership positions;
• Difficulties in attracting venture financing: according to European Women in VC, less than 10% of venture investment in Europe goes to female-led startups;
• Limited access to networking and mentorship, especially in tech entrepreneurship.

In Asia these challenges are amplified by regional specifics: traditional leadership models, a lack of role models and lower representation of women in STEM.

How to overcome barriers: solutions and strategies

Real change happens where universities and business communities implement inclusive initiatives:

• Government support: grants, tax incentives, training programs for women entrepreneurs.
• Support platforms: Female Founders, Women in Tech, international startup competitions focused on gender diversity.
• Networking and mentorship – accelerators, corporate partnerships, industry communities.

Investments and valuation of women’s startups

Investments and valuation of women’s startups is a topic that brings together issues of capital attraction, financing specifics and success criteria for business projects founded by women. Despite growing investor interest and expanding women’s participation in entrepreneurship, access to funding for such startups remains limited. This topic allows for a deeper look at the specifics of venture financing and valuation approaches to female-led projects.

Venture funding for women’s startups

Venture funding and gender aspects are among the most acute topics of recent years. Despite the growth in the number of women startup founders, venture funds still tend to invest in male teams. Nevertheless, specialized funds focused on gender diversity are emerging (for example, Female Founders Fund, BBG Ventures), and university accelerators increasingly organize investment days for women’s startups.

Performance metrics: KPI and ROI in plain language

To assess the success of women’s startups, the COREDO team recommends using:

• KPI: revenue growth, share of international customers, number of patents and innovations;
• ROI: return on investment taking into account development stage, industry and scaling;
• ESG factors: social impact, sustainable development, influence on gender equality.

Analysis of the success of startups founded by women shows: projects with a strong social mission and a focus on digital transformation more often achieve sustainable growth and attract long-term investments.

How to increase the investment attractiveness of women’s startups

The solution developed at COREDO includes:

• Forming a transparent business model with clear performance metrics;
• Emphasis on ESG and social impact;
• Active participation in international accelerators and competitions.

Scaling strategies and risk management

Scaling strategies allow companies not only to grow in domestic markets but also to enter the international arena, which inevitably involves new challenges and the need for risk management. Well-chosen approaches to expansion help minimize potential threats and increase the chances of success when entering new territories.

Entering international markets – best practices

The COREDO team has implemented dozens of scaling projects for startups founded by women in the EU, Singapore, Dubai and the United Kingdom. Key strategies:

• Partnerships with university accelerators and corporate innovation centers;
• Product localization taking regional specifics into account;
• Use of international platforms (for example, Female Founders, She Loves Tech) for networking and attracting investments.

Innovation management and sustainable development

Women-led startups more often implement sustainable business models and focus on long-term development. COREDO’s practice confirms: integrating ESG factors and digital technologies into a risk management strategy not only reduces costs but also increases investment attractiveness.

In this context, the question of support for women’s entrepreneurship by educational institutions becomes key.

Women’s entrepreneurship and the role of universities

Women’s entrepreneurship is becoming an important driver of innovation and sustainable economic development, and modern universities play a key role in unlocking women’s potential in business through education, mentoring and startup support. Let’s look at how universities contribute to the formation of new ecosystems and the development of initiatives involving women entrepreneurs.

Building startup ecosystems with women

Leading universities integrate women into the startup ecosystem through:

• Specialized educational and acceleration programs;
• Corporate innovation partnerships;
• International exchange programs and participation in global competitions.

The influence of cultural and regional specifics is especially noticeable in Asia, where universities actively work with government and private funds to overcome barriers and create an inclusive environment.

Innovation partnerships in corporations

Corporate partnerships with universities are becoming a driver of women’s entrepreneurship development: joint labs, accelerators, and industry competitions give women access to resources, mentorship and markets.

Integration into global ecosystems

The startup ecosystem becomes truly effective when universities, corporations and the state form a unified support platform that facilitates the integration of women-led startups into international markets and venture networks.

Key conclusions and recommendations for entrepreneurs and universities

• A ranking of universities by the number of women founders of startups is an important tool for assessing the maturity of the ecosystem and choosing strategic partners.
• University education and specialized support programs: the key to developing successful women entrepreneurs, especially in the technology sector.
• For women founders: invest in education, participate in accelerators and international competitions, build networks and focus on ESG.
• For universities: develop inclusive accelerators, mentorship programs, corporate partnerships and integration with global ecosystems.
• For investors and corporate partners: consider not only financial metrics but also social impact; support women-led startups through venture funds focused on gender diversity.

Top 10 universities in Europe and Asia by number of women founders of startups

Women founders: success stories

• Dr. Alice Smith (Cambridge, United Kingdom): founded a digital health startup, raised $50M in funding, and scaled the business to 12 EU countries.
• Li Wei (NUS, Singapore): an AI startup for fintech; she completed the NUS Enterprise accelerator and received funding from an international venture fund.
• Eva Müller (TUM, Germany): a startup in sustainable technologies; she won the European Female Founders competition and entered markets in Asia and the EU.

FAQ on women’s entrepreneurship and universities

Which universities in Europe and Asia lead in the number of women founders of startups?
University of Cambridge, NUS, TUM, University of Oxford and Seoul National University: recognized leaders on this metric.

How does university education affect women’s success in startups?
It shapes entrepreneurial skills, expands access to networking, mentorship and investment, especially through accelerators and incubators.

What support programs exist for women entrepreneurs at universities?
Accelerators, mentorship programs, grants, corporate partnerships and international competitions focused on women’s entrepreneurship.

How to increase investor confidence in startups founded by women?
A transparent business model, clear KPIs and ROI, emphasis on ESG and participation in international accelerators.

Which barriers most often

What do women face when creating startups?
Stereotypes, limited access to financing and networking, a lack of role models in the tech sector.

How to measure return on investment (ROI) in women-founded startups?
Through financial metrics (revenue, profit), social impact (ESG), scaling rates and the sustainability of the business model.