France promotes female entrepreneurship through national and regional competitions

France is hosting several initiatives to promote female entrepreneurship. The third edition of the ‘101 femmes entrepreneures’ competition recently held an intensive bootcamp in Paris. Organized by Bpifrance and the French State, the contest honors one woman from each French department to highlight entrepreneurial potential and encourage women to enter the business world.

In the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, the 21st edition of the ‘Initiative au féminin’ competition is currently accepting applications until October 31, 2026. Organized by Initiative Doubs Territoire de Belfort, this regional program offers 14,000 euros in prizes to women creating or taking over businesses. Since 2006, the initiative has awarded 112 prizes totaling 313,000 euros.

These efforts come as statistics show women still represent a minority in business ownership, accounting for only 33% of companies created or taken over in France. While interest in entrepreneurship among women is growing, barriers such as financial concerns and mental load continue to impact long-term participation.