The 2nd application window is now open until 30 June. Apply today!
Benefits you will receive during the programme:
Compete to win €2,500, €5,000, or €10,000 to use to jumpstart your start-up.
Receive €2,000 + €1,000 in Travel Budget.
Receive training on Business Basics and Pitching Practice.
Develop your Business Plan and receive Soft Skills training.
Access a European-wide network of entrepreneurs and partners.
Work with experienced mentors and industry-leading investors.
Pitch your project to real investors and compete for the final price.
April 30, 2025
This year, we received an unprecedented 908 applications for the EIT Jumpstarter programme — a 49% increase compared to 2024’s 609 submissions, marking the highest number in the initiative’s history.
March 15, 2025
The investment follows a pre-seed funding of €230K received from the SabancıARF programme in May 2024, bringing the company’s total funding in 2024 to €630K. Discover more about this company that started with the EIT Jumpstarter programme.
March 7, 2025
How Women Are Shaping the Future of Entrepreneurship.
We spoke with three female-led startups from the EIT Jumpstarter programme to hear about their journeys, challenges, and successes. Their inspiring stories show that the future of entrepreneurship is diverse, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
Applicants (at least 1 participating team member) must hold citizenship from one of the following countries or regions:
EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia
Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine
Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)
Additional regions: Moldova, Albania, and Kosovo* (*this designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.)
If your idea or start-up aligns with one of these key sectors, you’re in the right place:
CEO & Co-Founder at Lightly Technologies
“The programme helped us sharpen our value proposition, improve communication with stakeholders, and develop a clear go-to-market strategy. It also guided us in identifying the most promising markets and refining our commercialisation approach.”
Founder and CEO @Energy Shift
“[EIT Jumpstarter] connected us with an amazing mentor from the relevant VC firm, that helped us improve our pitch deck and attractively frame our ideas from the investor’s perspective, which proved to be successful so far.”
CEO & Founder @Alghètica
“The main thing EIT Jumpstarter taught us is that often start-ups are formed by technical people who speak the same “language”. Still, in some cases, that’s not the case, and in a varied team, it helps to understand better how to communicate appropriately to maximize efficiency.”
CEO & Co-Founder @NeWay
“EIT Jumpstarter had a great impact on our understanding of building a startup company, what are our future tasks, the risks to have in mind, etc. We consider it as a fantastic mentorship programme and during this period, we were exceptionally motivated to continuously work on developing our platform.”
The EIT Jumpstarter is powered by 7 EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). Each KIC focuses on a key sector, offering expertise and resources during the EIT Jumpstarter Program to help early-stage innovators turn ideas into successful ventures.
