Spain leads gender diversity in startup creation in Europe, according to the sixth barometer by Boston Consulting Group and Sista on gender parity in startup creation and funding. Female-only teams represent 12% of newly created startups, above the 10% average, and account for 7% of total funding raised. In the AI sector, they make up 10% of companies and secure 6% of capital, while mixed teams lead both in number and total funding raised.

The report, Gender parity in startups: a persistent European challenge, analyzes Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden. Across all countries, women remain underrepresented, with an even wider gap in artificial intelligence. In Spain, however, the percentage of companies founded by women has increased from 10% in 2022 to 12% in 2025.

Despite growth in the number of startups founded by women, funding disparities remain significant. Female-only teams access just 7% of funding rounds and receive only 2% of total investment, dropping to 5% of rounds and 1% of funding in AI. Although women are present in 25% of startups that raise capital, they capture only 15% of total investment.

The report highlights that this underrepresentation poses a critical risk, particularly in AI, a sector shaping the future of the economy. Increasing women’s participation—especially in mixed teams—is seen as key to improving funding outcomes and strengthening innovation, economic resilience, and Europe’s long-term competitiveness.

Source: Boston Consulting Group