EWA and gener8tor Launch Lighting Rounds to Catalyze Investment for Women Founders in the Middle East
Applications open now until October 20th, 2025
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The European Women’s Association (EWA) and gener8tor are proud to announce the launch of Lightning Rounds, a new initiative designed to accelerate investment in women-led startups across the United Arab Emirates. This strategic program is generously supported by the UAE Ministry of Economy and aims to close the gender funding gap by connecting women founders with active regional and global investors through the gener8tor and EWA network.
The EWA Lightning Rounds will be hosted on October 29, 2025 and will provide curated one-on-one virtual meetings between pre-selected startups and targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting women-led innovation. Each participating founder will have the opportunity to pitch to up to 10+ investors in rapid-fire 15-minute sessions, all facilitated and supported by gener8tor and EWA’s international networks.
"Female founders globally have faced significant challenges in securing venture capital, with less than 2% of VC funding going to women," said Yulia Stark, President of the European Women’s Association. "However, the UAE is emerging as a powerhouse for entrepreneurship, attracting the best talent to its Emirates. With the support of the UAE Ministry of Economy and our partnership with gener8tor, we are excited to provide a platform that not only increases visibility but also offers tangible investment opportunities for deserving female founders, tapping into the growing potential of these innovative ventures."
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimized to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Women Founders in 2024 featured 148 Participating Investors, 304 Women-Founded Startups and led to 1,034 meetings facilitated.
“gener8tor is thrilled to partner with EWA and the UAE Ministry of Economy to extend the Lightning Rounds model into the Middle East,” said Elizabeth Larios, Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, edtech, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes women-led companies from ALL industries. Founders from across the UAE are encouraged to apply for upcoming sessions, which will run on a rolling basis throughout Fall 2025.
Those interested in applying as a startup or participating as an investor can learn more at www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds-EWA or www.europeanwomenassociation.org. Applications will be due by October 20, 2025.
About gener8tor
With a mission to be the best partner for a community to invest in its best and brightest, gener8tor is one of the largest startup accelerators in the world, with programs across 50 communities in 6 countries. gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture funds and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations,and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. Across gener8tor’s history, the company has run 340+ accelerator cohorts that have supported nearly 1,600 early-stage startups. The cumulative impact of these companies is over $2.6B raised in follow-on capital and almost 12,500 jobs created in the communities they operate in. Notably, gener8tor is the #4 most active accelerator investor in the United States and #8 most active accelerator investor in the world.
About the European Women’s Association
The European Women’s Association (EWA) is an Ecosystem of Global Business Support Organizations, with its headquarters in Brussels, building business bridges for women internationally. EWA facilitates access to capital, orchestrates trade missions, and offers investment readiness programs, nurturing a conducive environment for bigger women-led enterprises. EWA’s pivotal goal is to foster economic growth by connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, generating meaningful collaborations that drive prosperity. With support from ambassadors, public institutions like the European Commission, and corporate partners across 17+ countries, EWA is a potent force for change, championing women’s economic empowerment.