In the run-up to every International Womens Day (IWD), new data is released on gender inequity in tech. Frequently, the findings are disheartening.This week, one report estimated that female founders in Europe secured just 12% of last years total VC funding. Another calculated that overlooking women-leddeep tech firms over the past decade cost the economy 198.8bn.Yet there are also reasons for optimism. One is that the investment landscape is showing signs of progress. According to the Female Innovation Index, last year saw a 7% increase in round size and a 15% rise in M&A activity for tech firms founded by women.Another source of hope is the transformative technologies emerging from their companies. As IWD approaches, we spoke to four women propelling powerful innovations in TNWs home country, the Netherlands, about their work and why the tech sector must do more for gender equity.Anne Berends, co-founder and CTO at SunLED Life ScienceThe of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Anne Berends has a rare blend of academic expertise and business nous. As a materials scientist and program director at Dutch LED pioneer Seaborough, she substantiated a compelling hypothesis: near-infrared light can improve our health and well-being.Under her watch, the idea grew into anew spin-off company: SunLED Life Science.As the co-founder and CTO, Berends shapes the technological and strategic direction of the business.She makes a clear case for supporting women in tech.Half of the population is female, and girls consistently outperform boys in school, she says. The reality is that while there are countless women with brilliant, entrepreneurial ideas, they remain underrepresented in the startup world. This isnt just a diversity issue; its a missed opportunity. When female founders are rare, valuable innovation and economic potential are left untapped.To unlock this talent, she continues, fundingaccess must improve.Its time for VCs and [private equity] firms to recognise this and actively invest in the next generation of women-led venture because the talent is there, waiting to be unlocked.Kiki Lauwers, CEO at ThorizonLike Berends, Kiki Lauwers has a glittering resume of business and scientific credentials. She holds a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology and an MBA from INSEAD.After working at McKinsey, online retailer bol.com, and audiovisual businessKinly, she joined deep tech scaleup Thorizon as CEO in 2023. The company is developing a nuclear reactor with an unusual power source: molten salt. The approach could realise the dream ofsustainable, and green nuclear energy.Lauwers sees two sides to her position as a woman leader in tech.Being different has its advantages people remember you, and with all-male panels fading out, I get more opportunities to speak. But I also have to fight bias.Im not here because Im a woman; Im here despite it, she says.Every day, I push against biases that Im less technical, smart, persistent, or experienced. In a recent interview I was quoted as the Belgian woman, and my peer was quoted as the engineer from Delft. I am an engineer with an MBA degree, a former strategy consultant with a lot of management experience, but sometimes, I do wonder if securing funding would be easier if my name were Peter.Beyond the ethical issues, Lauwers emphasises the business argument for greater equality.Europes deep tech sector needs all the talent it can get, which means encouraging more women to pursue STEM and highlighting engineering role models, she says. Im proud that Thorizon has over 30% female employees.Esther Bisschop, co-founder of Th3rdEsther Bisschop is an entrepreneur with a flair for storytelling. She deployed these skills to turn her startup Th3rd into a global leader in 3D scanning software.Th3rds digital models were a hit with clothing brands. Social media giants also recognised the techs value. In 2022, Snap acquired the Amsterdam-based business as part of a drive to embed AR into e-commerce.Bisschop points to the societal benefits of diversity in tech.The worlds most pressing challenges wont be solved by a select few, they require all of us.To build a better future, we need founders of different genders, backgrounds, ages, and cultures to drive innovation, she says.Investing in women founders isnt just about fairness, its about unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurship.Lea Milovich, CEO and co-founder at FlowBeamsLea Milovich has over 15 years of experience as a senior business development manager, team leader, and startup coach. In 2021, she added founder to her extensive list of professional achievements.The company she built FlowBeams began with the idea of applying tattoos without needles. The concept evolved into a non-invasive injection system for cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments.Milovich highlights the benefits of being a woman leader.Being a female founder means navigating uncharted waters with hidden and declared biases. However, for me it has brought a unique perspective where resilience drives innovation much stronger, she says.I truly believe that, to unlock the potential of the tech ecosystem, we must actively invest in brave and brilliant women that are willing to risk their time and reputation, not as a gesture, but as a strategic imperative.This years TNW Conference features aWomen in Tech ticket. The pass provides 50% off access to the event, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam.TNW is also hosting a Female Founders Brunch on March 15. You can register here to attend. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with