Global technology group Prosus has partnered with Endeavor Romania to debut the Prosus Found-HER Challenge in Europe. The programme was timed to mark International Women’s Day and offers a total of EUR 100,000 in equity-free grants to women-led startups across Romania. This initiative arrives in Europe following previous successful iterations of the challenge held in India and Africa over the last year.
The competition is designed as a high-impact selection programme to link female founders with the global network of Prosus and the scaling resources of Endeavor. Applications opened on 09 March and will remain available until 03 April 2026. Selected finalists will then present their businesses at a Grand Finale in Bucharest on 28 May 2026.
Current data reveals that less than 5 per cent of global venture capital is directed toward female-founded startups, even though women-led firms often produce 35 per cent higher returns on investment. While women represent 38 per cent of entrepreneurs in Romania, the nation still falls behind the European Union average for gender representation in the corporate sector. Prosus, which has previously invested in local digital brands like eMAG and OLX, aims to address this funding gap directly.
“Studies consistently show that women-led startups deliver higher returns on investment, yet access to capital remains a significant barrier for female entrepreneurs. That’s why we set up the Prosus Found-HER Challenge – to address the funding challenge for women-led businesses,” says Prajna Khanna, Chief Sustainability Officer at Prosus. “The Prosus Found-HER Challenge has already found nearly 1,300 women founders across India and Africa, and we’re thrilled to expand this initiative to Europe with our partners Endeavor Romania. Through initiatives like this, we can empower the next generation of bold, pragmatic female founders that tackle the world’s toughest challenges.”
Mihnea Crăciun, Managing Director of Endeavor Romania, said: “Across all ecosystems where Endeavor operates, we consistently see how powerful the multiplier effect of successful founders can be. Yet globally – and in Romania as well – women entrepreneurs still receive only a tiny fraction of the capital and visibility they deserve. Our mission is to help surface these founders, connect them with global networks, and ensure their stories and companies reach the scale they are capable of. We’re honored to team up with Prosus in their pursuit to promote amazing women-led businesses across emerging markets.”
The challenge is open to revenue-generating startups with at least one Romanian woman in a leadership position. A judging panel featuring leaders from Google Romania, eMAG and the EBRD will evaluate candidates based on their innovation and market potential.
