QuickLegal, a Romanian deep tech startup founded and led by women, has secured €75,000 in non-repayable funding through the Women TechEU program. The grant represents recognition from the European Commission of the company’s innovation potential and addresses a significant gap in support for female founders in Europe’s deep tech sector.
The startup was selected from 1,107 applications submitted to the program, placing it within the top 3.6% of candidates. This competitive selection process underscores the quality of QuickLegal’s proposal and its alignment with European innovation priorities.
Support for Women in Deep Tech
The Women TechEU program, which allocated €12 million for the 2026–2028 edition, aims to fund approximately 160 deep tech startups across Europe. A distinctive feature of the initiative is its commitment to regional equity: 40% of each call’s budget is reserved for startups from ‘Widening’ regions, a category that includes Romania and other Central and Eastern European countries with historically lower levels of venture capital investment.
This allocation reflects the European Commission’s broader strategy to strengthen innovation ecosystems beyond Western Europe’s traditional startup hubs. By dedicating resources specifically to underrepresented regions, the program works to distribute technological development and entrepreneurial opportunity more equitably across the continent.
Funds to Accelerate Growth
QuickLegal will deploy the grant to access a comprehensive support package designed to strengthen its market position and prepare for future funding rounds. The allocated resources will fund mentorship and training programs, which provide guidance on scaling operations and navigating the deep tech landscape. Additionally, QuickLegal will participate in investor matchmaking activities intended to connect the startup with relevant funding sources and strategic partners.
The grant also provides access to European innovation networks, which facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among startups, research institutions, and established technology companies. These connections often prove invaluable for deep tech companies seeking technical expertise or partnership opportunities.
Furthermore, QuickLegal will receive support for preparing applications to programs like the EIC Accelerator, the European Innovation Council’s flagship funding scheme that offers substantially larger grants and equity-free support to high-potential startups. This cascading approach to support—beginning with smaller grants that prepare companies for larger programs—reflects a strategic model increasingly adopted by EU innovation agencies.
Broader Ecosystem Context
The Women TechEU initiative responds to documented disparities in deep tech funding. Women-founded startups consistently receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital investment across Europe, particularly in capital-intensive deep tech sectors. By creating dedicated funding streams and providing comprehensive support services, the program aims to remove structural barriers facing female founders.
QuickLegal’s selection signals the European Commission’s confidence in Romanian innovation talent and reflects ongoing efforts to build more inclusive, geographically distributed innovation ecosystems across the EU.