Europe’s second largest deep tech incubation program expands

EIT Digital is casting a wider net across Europe with the launch of its expanded Venture Incubation Program, now covering 32 countries compared to 24 in the previous edition. The program, entering its ninth year, has added five Horizon Europe Associated Countries to its roster: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, alongside all 27 EU member states. 

The expansion represents EIT Digital's strategic push to tap into emerging innovation ecosystems across Eastern Europe and the Balkans, regions that have been producing increasingly competitive tech talent in recent years. 

The program maintains its proven two-phase approach, starting with a 12-week incubation period through EIT Digital's SpeedLauncher program. During this phase, startups focus on market validation, business model development, and go-to-market strategy preparation. 

Successful teams then advance to a 12-week pre-acceleration phase, where they receive a €5,000 Growth Package Prize and tailored mentoring to finalize their minimum viable product. 

This phase will be executed by three specialized partners selected through an open call in June: Found.ation from Greece, Inneürope from Spain, and Techcelerator from Romania. The program culminates with a Demo Day, where startups can secure up to €15,000 in additional funding. In exchange, EIT Digital takes a 3% equity stake at nominal value.

Perhaps the most significant change for 2025 is the program's opening to external sponsors. Technology companies, venture capital firms, and innovation organizations can now partner with the program, gaining exclusive visibility, direct access to validated startups, and jury participation at Demo Day events. 

The program's track record speaks through its alumni success stories. Portuguese startup Full Venue, which participated in 2020, has since raised €2 million in seed funding led by GED Ventures. The company's AI-powered platform for sports organizations and entertainment brands has delivered tangible results, including a 36% revenue boost for the Romanian Football Federation and helping the Belgian FA achieve complete sellouts for national matches. 

Italian startup BILLD, emerging from the 2023 cohort, secured a Demo Day prize that accelerated its MVP development and market positioning, demonstrating the program's ability to fast-track promising ventures toward investor readiness. 

The fully online delivery model removes geographical barriers, enabling founders from emerging ecosystems to access the same quality of support as their counterparts in established tech hubs like Berlin, Stockholm, or Amsterdam. 

"By extending the reach of the Venture Incubation Program, we're unlocking untapped potential in Europe’s rising innovation hubs and by integrating external sponsors, we create a win-win situation: startups gain more resources, and partners get early access to Europe’s next wave of disruptive tech ventures," said Mirko Tadic, Venture Incubation Program Lead at EIT Digital.