Elisa Tarzia, co-founder and vice president of the board of directors at 351 Portuguese Startup Association, has been featured on Sifted’s inaugural “100 Women in Tech in Europe 2025” list – a recognition that celebrates the women shaping Europe’s technology and startup landscape.
The list was developed by Sifted, in collaboration with Station F and Sistafund, to highlight 100 rising female leaders across the continent.
According to Sifted’s official announcement, the goal was to showcase “women building incredible companies, landing career-making deals, working on breakthrough technology, and leading regulatory, policy, and cultural change.”
The initiative follows an extensive process: more than 2,500 nominations were received from Sifted readers, supported by a nomination committee composed of well-known figures in European venture capital, technology, and entrepreneurship.
From that pool, a shortlist of 200 candidates was evaluated by a panel of judges including founders, investors, and CEOs from across Europe before the final 100 were selected.
The 100 Women in Tech in Europe list was officially presented at the Sifted Summit in London. It marks the first edition of what Sifted hopes will grow into an annual celebration of women driving innovation and impact in Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Representing Portugal’s startup ecosystem
Tarzia’s inclusion places a spotlight on the Portuguese startup ecosystem and particularly on 351 Portuguese Startup Association.
Made by startup founders for startup founders, 351 began as a grassroots initiative and has grown into Portugal’s largest startup community, with more than 2,300 members, over 500 supported events, 31,000 people impacted, and 20+ initiatives in collaboration with corporate partners. The association aims to strengthen Portugal’s entrepreneurial network through advocacy, community building, and knowledge sharing.
Beyond 351
In addition to her role at 351, Tarzia is co-founder of Simplifyer, a consumer data and fintech startup, and vice president of growth at BRIDGE IN, a company that helps startups and scale-ups expand into Portugal and Europe through Employer of Record, payroll, and incorporation services. She is also chapter leader at Founder Institute Portugal, supporting early-stage founders and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Recognizing collective effort
In a LinkedIn post following the announcement, Tarzia emphasized that the acknowledgement represents the collective work of the women leading 351: “This recognition is a proxy. It validates the extraordinary, often ‘underdog’ work and dedication of the entire female leadership core at 351 Portuguese Startup Association.”
She added that her name on the list “is simply a spotlight cast on the other architects of our success – the women whose relentless strategy and expertise are the actual substance of our mission.”
About the initiative
Sifted’s editor Amy Lewin explained that the list emerged from a shared effort with Roxanne Varza, director of Station F, and Alice Groth, investor at Sistafund, to celebrate the women leading Europe’s next wave of innovation.
The editorial team noted that the challenge was not finding candidates but narrowing them down, underscoring the abundance of female talent in European tech.
“Europe isn’t short of amazing female tech leaders. It’s just sometimes lacking the spaces to celebrate them in,” Sifted wrote.
Featured image: Elisa Tarzia, co-founder and vice president of the board of directors at 351 Portuguese Startup Association, which supports and connects over 2,300 members across Portugal’s startup ecosystem. (Photo courtesy of Elisa Tarzia/LinkedIn)
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