How can women drive more innovation in the DACH region?

Published date:  5 May 2025   |  2-Min Read

In a world where innovation drives economic success, the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) stands at a critical crossroads. Despite its reputation for engineering excellence and industrial might, a significant portion of its innovative potential remains untapped.

The numbers tell a sobering story: women make up just 16% of founders in Germany and hold fewer than 10% of venture capital partner positions across the region.

But beyond these statistics lies a powerful narrative of change, one being shaped by visionary women who are not just participating in the innovation economy but actively transforming it. Watch the webinar, moderated by Stephanie von Behr, to hear firsthand from the women leading this shift.

The Pioneers Leading the Charge

“Sometimes the most innovative ideas come from those who see problems through a different lens,”

explains Sabine Flechet, Partner at Masawa , Europe’s first nurture capital fund dedicated to mental health and wellness. As someone navigating the intersection of impact investment and healthcare innovation, Flechet brings a perspective that challenges conventional thinking about both sectors.

Alongside her in this conversation is Mascha Bonk, whose journey from venture capital investor to Chief of Staff at AI-driven fertility tech startup Ovom Care represents exactly the kind of cross-pollination the ecosystem needs.

“Making the leap from investor to operator wasn’t just a career move,” Bonk shares, “it was about finding alignment between values, vision, and the opportunity to create meaningful change in women’s healthcare.”

The underrepresentation of women in the DACH innovation ecosystem isn’t just a diversity issue, it’s an economic blindspot. When entire categories of entrepreneurs face higher barriers to funding and support, the region misses out on potentially game-changing solutions to pressing problems.

This gap becomes particularly visible in how capital flows.

From limited partners making allocation decisions to venture firms determining investment strategies to the founders receiving funding, each link in this capital chain currently reflects significant gender imbalance.

The result?

A narrower innovation funnel that may be missing crucial perspectives and market opportunities.

One particularly intriguing aspect of the conversation is the challenge to the gendered assumptions that have developed around impact investing. While social innovation has indeed attracted more women founders and investors, both speakers emphasize the importance of supporting women in deep tech, hard science, and other traditionally male-dominated fields.

“The narrative that women are only interested in social impact while men build ‘serious’ technology companies is not just false….it’s harmful,” notes Flechet. “We need to invest in women-led deep tech ventures and address the biases that begin far earlier in the STEM pipeline.”

As parts of the world see diversity initiatives facing pushback, Europe, and the DACH region specifically, has a unique opportunity to lead with a different approach. By prioritizing inclusive innovation now, these economies can position themselves at the forefront of solving complex global challenges in climate tech, healthcare, and beyond.

The insights shared in this conversation aren’t just theoretical, they offer a roadmap for practical action, whether you’re a founder seeking investment, an investor looking to diversify your portfolio, or an ecosystem builder working to create more supportive structures for all innovators.