Berlin Launches B# Plus to Fund Female Deep Tech Founders
Berlin is putting fresh money behind female founders working in Deep Tech. The State of Berlin and IBB Ventures have launched B# Plus, a targeted addition to the city's existing B# pre-seed fund, backed by €1 million from Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund.
The move responds to a stark imbalance: women make up roughly half the population, yet according to the announcement only 7 percent of venture capital funding goes to teams with at least one female founder. Early data from the B# fund showed most applicant teams remained male-dominated, prompting the city to act.
Eligible Deep Tech startups can now receive up to €100,000 in additional financing on top of standard B# support, plus improved conversion terms for their next funding round. To qualify, at least one female founder must hold a minimum 10 percent stake and take an active role in the business.
Mayor Franziska Giffey said achieving equal opportunity sometimes means treating unequal circumstances differently, and that B# Plus targets the early, capital-intensive stage where those gaps are hardest to close. IBB Ventures Managing Director Katrin Robeck added that many strong Deep Tech ideas come from female founders, and that the fund was built to add capital without piling on extra bureaucracy.
Berlin frames the initiative as unique in Germany so far, hoping it becomes a model for other regions. The city expects short term gains in funded teams, medium term growth in visible role models, and longer term returns in innovation and economic momentum for its startup ecosystem.
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