The SATT Network's first successes in promoting female entrepreneurship and gender diversity in deep tech

Encouraging more and more women researchers to embark on the path of […]

Encouraging more and more female researchers to embark on the path of entrepreneurship, removing the barriers specific to female entrepreneurship, and promoting gender diversity at the heart of deep tech: these are the ambitions behind the new programs rolled out across France by SATTs and inspired by PULSALYS's initial successful experiments. Linksium's March launch of the Tech Transf(Her) – Together, let's dare to be entrepreneurs, the increase in the number of female CEOs in startups supported by SATTs, and the success stories highlighted by the government as part of the "Toutes et tous égaux" (All Equal) initiative demonstrate the SATT Network's commitment to female entrepreneurship, which began a year ago.

A nationwide initiative dedicated to female researchers

Although they represent nearly half of the working population (48%)1, only28%2of French women, or 7.7 million women, were involved in entrepreneurial activities in 2023. Women's involvement in entrepreneurship is steadily increasing, but they remain a minority in the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, with only5%1of startup founding teams being 100% female and12%1being mixed. And with2%3of women founding or co-founding startups in deep tech, the lack of gender diversity at the head of high-tech companies is a reality. A lack of networks and role models, a lack of visibility and dedicated support for women, and limited access to financing are among the many factors that explain this phenomenon.

Based on this observation and convinced that women have a rightful place at the heart of deep tech entrepreneurship,in May 2023 the SATT Network launched an initiative inspired by initial successful experiments, particularly theSTART(H)ERprogram offered by PULSALYS to female researchers in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region since 2021. The aim of this national rollout is to support around 100 female researchers and encourage the creation of around 50 new innovative startups each year.One year after its launch, the first local initiatives are taking shape:

  • This is the case for Linksium Grenoble Alpes, which launched a specific awareness and support program for women last March as part of the FITInnovE4 University Innovation Cluster (PUI) initiative, in partnership withLes Premières AURA, the incubator specializing in female entrepreneurship in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and with the support of Grenoble Alpes Métropole. This new program,Tech Transf(Her), took the form of a boot camp offering doctoral students, post-doctoral students, research engineers, and researchers who are members of participating Grenoble Alpes laboratories three days of group workshops aimed at revealing their entrepreneurial potential and helping them launch their projects with personalized support and awareness of key themes in deep tech entrepreneurship. Projects identified as "ready for investment" will subsequently receive financial support covering the technological maturation phases and will be integrated into the support cycle offered by Linksium.
"The Grenoble Alpes ecosystem is thriving in terms of research and innovation, and the environment is more than favorable and attractive for the creation and establishment of deep tech startups. It seemed natural to us to take strong action to raise awareness among our talented female researchers, who are more than capable of creating economic value in our Alpine region." François Hédé, President of Linksium.
  • This is also the case for SATT SAYENS, which, for the second consecutive year, has partnered with the Dijon Metropolitan Area to organize theLADYj Tech 2Forum – Celebrating Women in Deep Tech. This second edition, held on March 27 with the University of Burgundy, the DECA BFC incubator, and partners from the innovation ecosystem within the ESTP-ESEO metropolitan campus in Dijon, offered the opportunity to meet inspiring female scientists who have founded startups and are active in regional entrepreneurship, to hear about their careers, but also to discuss their expertise and opportunities for collaboration between laboratories and companies.
  • Not to mention PULSALYS, which since 2021 has already organized threeSTART(H)ERboot camps dedicated to female researchers at the University of Lyon, in partnership withLes Premières Auvergne-Rhône-Alpesand the Metropolis of Lyon. Twenty-two female researchers participated in the first three cohorts, and more than 10 startups are currently being created. A fourth edition of START(H)ER will take place in September and will be expanded as part of the IMPULSE PUI.

Inspiring success stories and women recognized by government initiatives

In the wake of these programs, initial successes are being confirmed. For example, a higher proportion of women have been involved in entrepreneurial projects in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region since the creation of the START(H)ER program, with 30% of startups supported by PULSALYS between 2021 and 2023 having at least one female co-founder, compared to 20% previously. At the national level, 92 startups supported by SATTs are now led by women, compared to 71 a year ago, representing 11% of the SATT Network's startup portfolio. Fifty-six percent operate in the health sector, 16% in the environment/ecology sector, 12% in the digital sector, and 16% in other sectors (industry, space, cosmetics, mobility, etc.).

Among these deeptech startups founded and led by women and supported by the SATT Network, some are now promoted as ambassadors for female entrepreneurship by the government as part of its policy to promote gender equality, declared a major cause for the five-year term. These are fine examples of the work undertaken by SATT to promote entrepreneurship among female researchers.

  • As part of the"All Equal" Plan, launched by the French government in 2023 to achieve gender equality in the professional, economic, and social spheres, two startups from the SATT Network joined forces on International Women's Day on March 8 to launch a national campaign promoting female entrepreneurship. Hélène Briand, founder of the biotechnology startupBon Vivant, supported by PULSALYS, and Yun Luo, founder of the startupROSI, which specializes in recycling photovoltaic panels and is supported by Linksium, were among the 50 female entrepreneurs selected by the government to write a letter inviting women to become entrepreneurs.
"Entrepreneurship means embracing uncertainty with courage and turning challenges into opportunities. I encourage every woman to embark on this adventure, not only to fulfill her dreams, but also to contribute to a more just and sustainable world. Each journey is unique, but we are never alone because we are a community, united by our desire for change." Hélène Briand, founder and CEO of the startup Bon Vivant.
 
"By creating ROSI, I wanted to contribute to the energy transition and fulfill my dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Today, I am proud of what ROSI has accomplished and its positive impact on the planet and society. I am convinced that female entrepreneurship is a powerful lever for sustainable development. I want to encourage all women who have an idea, a project, or a desire to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure. It is an enriching experience that allows you to flourish, surpass yourself, and make a difference." Yun Luo, co-founder and CEO of ROSI.
  • As part ofthe "101 Women of Matignon" competitionlaunched in December 2023 by the French government and Bpifrance in partnership with the 26 member networks of the Cap Créa collective and consular networks, Agnès Bastid, CEO of the startupSirius NeoSight, supported by PULSALYS, was honored. Agnès Bastid was one of the 101 winning entrepreneurs and was selected as one of five entrepreneurs to meet with members of the government. Received at Matignon by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on March 8, this startup is developing an innovation based on a patented molecule capable of identifying and predicting the tumor aggressiveness of cells and thus guiding the choice of therapeutic treatments in oncology.
" The Sirius NeoSight adventure began with a meeting between a passionate entrepreneur, a team of committed scientists, and the men and women at PULSALYS. Setting up an innovative company is far from easy... but PULSALYS supported and guided me through the process of registering the company and signing an exclusive license agreement. Thank you to them! We are now ready for takeoff. Fasten your seatbelts, you are aboard the Sirius shuttle; imminent takeoff for the therapies of the future!" Agnès BASTID, CEO of Sirius NeoSight.

1Source: WILLA, Roland Berger, and France Digitale, "The Gender Gap in Entrepreneurship" – January 2024.
2Source: Ifop survey conducted on behalf of the Bpifrance Création Business Creation Observatory, "French Entrepreneurial Index (IEF) 2023 – Women's Section."
3Source: WILLA, the accelerator specializing in female entrepreneurship.
4Impact, interfaces, transformations, cross-functionality, transition, territory for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship.