Female entrepreneurs not only submit fewer financing applications but also receive structurally less financing. This is evident from the recently published Code-V Data Report 2025. Code-V is a collaboration of various public and private parties.
The Code-V Data Report 2025 is the first national measurement of funding flows to female entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. The research was conducted by Deloitte in collaboration with the Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship.
The report shows that of the total € 28.1 billion available (subsidy) funding in the Netherlands, female entrepreneurs receive only 13.7%.
According to the Code-V Data Report 2025, a more equitable distribution of funding could yield an additional € 139 billion for the Netherlands annually. This would create more jobs and is beneficial for innovation and sustainability.
3 insights from the report
The report provides 3 key insights about funding for female entrepreneurs:
1. Women request lower amounts
The report shows that women consistently request lower amounts and also submit financing applications less frequently.
2. Financing applications are more often approved
The report shows that financing applications from female entrepreneurs are more often approved. And female entrepreneurs show better growth figures than their male counterparts.
3. International opportunities are ripe for the picking
Ellen Jacobs, director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at RVO: Women make less use of our instruments for international expansion. That is a waste of untapped potential.
Collaboration between public and private organizations
The Code-V Data Report 2025 was established through collaboration among 107 public and private organizations, including RVO. The client is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Code-V is active in 30 countries and is led by the global We-Fi initiative (Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative) of the World Bank.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs