France Supports Female Entrepreneurs with 2026 '101 Women Entrepreneurs' Competition

In 2026, the French State and Bpifrance have renewed efforts to bolster women-led enterprises through the third edition of the '101 Women Entrepreneurs' competition. Winners, including Charline Dhersin, Gladisse Maninga, Pia Pijselman, Léa Rodriguez, and Violette Vercamer, represent one entrepreneur from each department. Selected from hundreds of early-stage entrepreneurs—either project holders or those who created or took over a business within the last three years—the winners enjoy support from organizations aiding business creation or takeover.

On September 7 and 8, the laureates took part in a Paris bootcamp, featuring mentorship, knowledge exchange, financial engineering support, and networking with the previous year's cohort and other entrepreneurs. The initiative is designed not only to showcase their ventures but also to accelerate their growth and financing opportunities.

The competition underlines a growing economic trend: nearly 8 million women in France are linked to entrepreneurship, with engagement rising from two in ten in 2018 to three in ten in 2025. The renewed framework agreement between the State and Bpifrance for 2026-2028 aims to further improve access to finance, business growth prospects, and support in business takeover activities, securing sustainable growth trajectories for female-led businesses.

This initiative signals the French government's commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs, recognizing their increasing role in the economy, and fostering an inclusive, supportive ecosystem for future enterprise development.