Female Founder Challenge

Let's raise the bar!

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Looking back at the 2021

Female Founder Challenge

The winner of the 2021 Female Founder Challenge was DFNS, a startup specialized in cybersecurity for cryptocurrency, it is an API for digital asset security. DFNS has raised a total of $14.6 million in funding over 2 rounds, led by Definitive Capital and Hashed.

"VivaTech allowed me to not only meet my mentor, Claire Calmejane, who later put me in touch with the right people for my fundraising, but also to establish credibility with investors.”

Clarisse Hagège, Founder of DFNS

Discover the 2021 Startups Finalists:

Marie Amigues d'Alocai
Agnes Peng de GliaCloud
Polina Mikhaylova de Knot
Deborah Gael de Koolbox
Marjorie Darcet de Lixo
Louiza Hacene de Malou
Agathe Machavoine de Ublo
Lauren Dannay de Whoomies
Sem Ponnambalam de Xahive

Watch the 2021 Award Ceremony

Jury Members in 2021

We are proud to partner with world-class VC funds that make up this prestigious jury.

Jury

Rania Belkahia

EQT Ventures, France

Ezechi Britton
Impact X Capital, UK
@EzechiBritton

Benoist Grossmann
Idinvest Partners, France

@Benoistgrossma

Mélanie Hayes
Bethnal Green Ventures, UK
@MelanieHayes

Cayetana Hurtado
Balderton Capital, France
@CayeHurtado

Alex Kayyal
Salesforce Ventures, UK
@alexkayyal

Didier Lallemand
Societe Generale Ventures, France

Sébastien Loubry
AXA Venture Partners (AVP), France

@sebastienloubry

Sarah Nöckel
Northzone, UK

Fleur Pellerin
Korelya Capital, France
@fleurpellerin

Jean de La Rochebrochard
Kima Ventures, France

Laura Salesse
Eight Roads Ventures, UK
@laura_salesse

Henrik Wetter Sanchez
Playfair Capital, UK
@henrikwsanchez