What Femtec Network does

Femtec Network, operated through Femtec GmbH, is a Berlin-based career development and networking organization founded at the end of 2000 by EAF Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM (MINT) fields, where female representation at TU Berlin was under 10% in electrical engineering and under 20% in computer science and mechanical engineering. The organisation's flagship Career-Building Programme delivered workshops, training, and industry networking events ("Schools") to cohorts of female STEM students at six partner technical universities (RWTH Aachen, Universität Bonn, TU Berlin, TU Dresden, KIT, Universität Stuttgart), complemented by Career-Building Elements for applied sciences students, Talent Take Off (a school and university orientation programme with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), Innovation Labs for project-based corporate work, and the Femtec Award recognising leadership, innovation, and social impact.

The underlying operating model was a Private-Public Partnership rather than a technology platform: partner universities selected student participants and provided infrastructure, while corporate members funded operations through annual contributions in exchange for early access to female STEM talent and engagement through mentoring, Innovation Labs, and Schools. Initial public funding came from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) between 2003 and 2006, after which Femtec became self-sustaining. By 2023 the network had grown to 10 technical university partners, 13 corporate partners in the main programme, 1,700+ alumnae, 1,000+ active members in the CURIA e.V. alumni network, and 3,500+ total programme participants since 2001 across 70+ nationalities.

Following widespread partner withdrawals by both companies and universities since 2024, the Femtec shareholders decided in 2025 to dissolve Femtec GmbH at the end of April 2026, with all programmes transferring to Kompetenzzentrum Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e.V. (kompetenzz) for continuation from June 2026. The 94-person organisation's data processing is GDPR-compliant, with all servers located within the European Union.

Name

Femtec Network

Legal name

Femtec GmbH

Website

https://femtec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Femtec Network is a Berlin-based career development organisation founded in 2001 that runs mentoring, networking, and project-based programmes connecting female STEM students at German technical universities with corporate partners. The organisation is being dissolved in April 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Career Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Women STEM programs
• Career development services
• Talent networking programs
• University industry partnerships
• Professional development workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Annual Memberships: Companies financed Femtec through annual contributions in exchange for early access to female STEM talent and the ability to connect with programme participants during schools and events.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Femtec Network runs a 24-month Career-Building Programme for female STEM students and graduates, combining workshops, networking events, coaching, and corporate engagements with technology companies. It supplements this flagship program with modular Career-Building Elements, the Talent Take Off entrepreneurship track, summer Innovation Labs, the annual Femtec Award, and the CURIA e.V. alumnae network. The organization is financed through corporate annual memberships and grant funding, with students participating free of charge.

Product overview

Femtec Network operates as a career development ecosystem for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), founded in 2001 as a Public-Private Partnership between EAF Berlin and TU Berlin. The core offering is the Career-Building Programme, which provides networking, skills training, and industry connections for female STEM students at technical universities through its 'Schools'. Supporting programmes include Career-Building Elements (for applied sciences universities), Talent Take Off (school/university orientation with Fraunhofer), and Innovation Labs (company-sponsored project work). The Femtec Award recognizes excellence in Leadership, Innovation, and Social Impact. The CURIA e.V. alumnae network maintains community connections post-programme. The organization ceased operations in April 2026, with programmes transitioning to Kompetenzzentrum Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e.V.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Career-Building Programme 24-month career development program for female STEM students and graduates, combining workshops, coaching, networking events, and corporate engagements with technology companies and partner universities.
• Career-Building Elements Modular individual workshops and training elements delivered to female STEM students, covering soft skills, technical topics, and career readiness.
• Talent Take Off Program for female STEM students interested in founding their own companies, providing entrepreneurship training and corporate mentor access.
• Innovation Labs Summer-format intensive programs hosted by corporate members, providing female STEM students with hands-on innovation projects and direct exposure to company environments.
• Femtec Award Annual recognition prize awarded to outstanding female STEM students participating in the program.
• CURIA e.V. Alumnae network for former Femtec participants, sustaining the community of female STEM professionals beyond the formal program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 total programme participants since 2001
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EAF BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAF Berlin was co-founding partner of Femtec GmbH (founded end of 2000). The organization developed the programme concepts based on approaches successfully tested at EAF Berlin for developing female specialists and managers. EAF Berlin conceived and developed the Femtec programme together with TU Berlin.
• Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU Berlin was co-founding partner and shareholder of Femtec GmbH. First member university where Femtec programme started in June 2001 with 20 female students. TU Berlin hosted the Career-Building Programme with 51 Schools conducted on campus.
• RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Career-Building Programme. Bianca Lenz from Career Center serves as relationship management contact. DokForum RWTH Aachen won Femtec Award 2022 in Social Impact category.
• Universität BonncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university joined in 2023. Verena Billmann from Transfer Center enaCom serves as contact. University joined Career-Building Programme alongside new partner E.ON.
• Technische Universität DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Career-Building Programme. Mandy Gedicke from Career Service serves as contact.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Career-Building Programme. Franziska Schmaltz from Career Service and Alumni (CSA) serves as contact.
• Universität StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Career-Building Programme. Birke Bödecker from uniqUS (Unit for Inclusive University Culture) serves as contact.
• Boston Consulting GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first partner companies from programme inception in 2001. Provides corporate partnership, mentoring opportunities, and participated in programme Schools and Innovation Labs.
• Daimler Truck AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvolution of DaimlerChrysler AG partnership from 2001. Partnered on Innovation Lab project 'Strategic Analysis of Decentralized Charging Infrastructure for e-Trucks' with 26 Femteccies working on e-mobility solutions.
• Porsche AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first partner companies from programme inception in 2001. Hosted summer events for Femtec participants at company facilities.
• Siemens AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first partner companies from programme inception in 2001. Provides corporate partnership for female STEM talent development.
• Wintershall AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first partner companies from programme inception in 2001. Partnered with Femtec in early years of programme development.
• ABB AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner company. Rosa Meckseper, programme alumna (2002-2006), is now Chairwoman of the Board at ABB AG. ABB hosted networking events including memorable evening above rooftops of Berlin.
• Deutsche Telekom AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner company. Lena Drubel from Telekom was finalist in Femtec Award 2022 Innovation category.
• EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company. Estefania Hofmann from EnBW was finalist in Femtec Award 2022 Innovation category. Hosted Innovation Lab Anschlusspräsentation (final presentation) in 2025.
• Procter & GamblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company collaborating on Innovation Lab focused on 'Touchless Intelligent Manufacturing' for Oral-B electric toothbrush production. Also ran mentoring programme pairing Femteccies with P&G directors.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partner company in 2023. First Innovation Lab project focused on implementation of new rotation system for Amazon distribution centre. 26 Femteccies developed app-based software solution.
• E.ONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partner company joined in 2023 alongside University of Bonn joining Career-Building Programme.
• Evonik IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company. Elena Kunze from Evonik was finalist in Femtec Award 2022 Leadership category.
• ZF Friedrichshafen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company. Cristina Schulte-Kutsch represents ZF Friedrichshafen on Femtec Advisory Board and won Femtec Award 2023 in Leadership category.
• CURIA e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni network formerly known as Femtec.Alumnae e.V., founded in August 2008 by programme participants. Since 2025, serves as the network for women in STEM, open also to non-Femtec graduates. Over 1,000 women engaged. Denise Helwerth serves on CURIA board.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for 'Talent Take Off' study orientation programme. 55 events reached nearly 1,800 school pupils and first-year students. Programme celebrating 15th anniversary in 2024. Cornelia Rojacher from Fraunhofer IPT won Femtec Award 2021.
• Kompetenzzentrum Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e.V. (kompetenzz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture programme coordinator taking over Femtec programmes from June 2026. Romy Stühmeier from kompetenzz serves as management contact for next programme phase. Femtec will continue under their coordination with partner companies and universities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's leading digital industry association with diversity initiatives for women in tech, engaging similar enterprise members and addressing STEM gender gaps at policy and programme level.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): US-based, globally recognized non-profit supporting women in engineering and technology through scholarships, awards, and career programmes, serving a comparable female STEM talent mission.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Larger German non-profit foundation supporting education, science, and innovation through corporate partnerships and programme funding, addressing STEM diversity among many other priorities.

Emerging players

• Girls Who Code: US-headquartered non-profit running school-to-career programmes to close the gender gap in tech, with similar mission focus on female STEM talent pipeline development.

Direct peers

• Kompetenzzentrum Technik-Diversity-Chancengleichheit e.V. (kompetenzz): The designated successor organization taking over Femtec programmes from June 2026, operating in the same German STEM diversity and gender-equality space with shared partner companies and universities.
• AnitaB.org: Non-profit focused on women in computing and technology, running career-development programmes, awards, and community-building for female technologists globally.
• MINT Zukunft schaffen: German national initiative promoting STEM education and careers among young people, with similar school-to-university pipeline focus and corporate sponsorship structure as Femtec.
• Ada-Lovelace-Projekt: Regional initiatives (e.g., in Rhineland-Palatinate) encouraging young women to pursue STEM degrees and careers, operating comparable workshop-and-mentoring programming for the same target demographic.
• Total E-Quality: German non-profit association promoting equal opportunities and diversity in business and academia, awarding certifications to organizations with similar gender-equality objectives as Femtec.

Others

• Initiative D21: German Public-Private Partnership advancing digitalization and related skills, addressing STEM and gender diversity as part of broader digital-economy agenda with similar cross-sector partnership model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/femtec-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Femtec Network