Browse accelerator organisations across Europe. Each entry links to its country, city, and sector pages.
141 entries.
[m]spark, powered by Knowledge Hub, is described as the first marketing-technology (MarTech) accelerator programme for startups on the Polish market. Based in Poland, it supports early-stage MarTech and adtech founders with mentoring, corporate connections and access to its ecosystem to help them validate and scale their products.
Founded in 2000, 3TS Capital Partners is a Vienna-based VC and growth equity firm investing EUR 5-20M at Series B and beyond in technology, media, and telecom companies across Central and Eastern Europe. The firm manages over EUR 500M and has completed 70+ investments with 30+ exits. Notable portfolio companies include SALESmanago (acquired by Bain Capital), Evrotrust, and Emarsys (acquired by SAP). 3TS focuses on profitable, scaling B2B software and digital media businesses in the DACH and CEE regions.
Founded in 2017 as Capital300 and rebranded to 3VC, this Vienna-based firm invests EUR 1-10M at Series A in European tech challengers originating from DACH and CEE. The firm manages over EUR 250M and targets enterprise software, developer tools, and consumer internet companies with strong product-market fit. Portfolio includes GoStudent (edtech unicorn), Prewave (supply chain AI), and Storyblok (headless CMS). 3VC provides deep operational support through its network of 100+ tech executives across Europe.
Founded 2012 by 50 entrepreneurs. Accelerator offering hands-on mentorship and seed investment for tech, impact, and healthtech ventures; the mentor network includes founders behind BlaBlaCar, Le Bon Coin, and Showroomprivé. Support: equity investment, mentorship, Paris workspace. Scope: National.
A Tbilisi-based accelerator programme run by 500 Global in a four-year partnership with GITA and Bank of Georgia, launched in 2022. The 12-week programme accepts cohorts of early-stage tech startups from across the Eurasia region twice a year, providing $100,000 in investment per company and culminating in a Demo Day. As of mid-2024, six batches had accelerated more than 70 startups from over 15 countries.
ABB Innovation Center is the corporate innovation arm of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (ABB Bank), founded in 2019. It runs multi-cohort incubation and hackathon programs for early-stage fintech startups, alongside ABB Tech Academy for developer education. The center focuses specifically on startups whose products can augment ABB Bank's digital and online services.
ABC Accelerator was founded in 2015 and is the largest private startup accelerator in South Eastern Europe, based at BTC City in Ljubljana. It runs a three-month programme accepting up to 12 startups per cohort, offering a €25,000 convertible loan and an option for €100,000–€250,000 follow-on investment. To date it has accelerated over 130 startups from 30 countries and helped them raise approximately €30 million in funding. It has been recognised as the best accelerator programme by the Central European Startup Awards.
Accelerace is Denmark's longest-running accelerator and pre-seed investor, founded in 2008 to help early-stage teams validate products, refine go-to-market strategy, and access investors. The program runs multiple tracks across general tech, life science, and sustainability, and pairs founders with a large mentor network. Accelerace also invests small tickets in selected teams and helps them prepare for follow-on funding. It has supported 800+ Nordic startups and remains a core launchpad in the Danish ecosystem.
Accelerate Green is Ireland's flagship climate-tech and sustainability accelerator, launched in 2021 and operated by state energy company Bord na Móna in partnership with Resolve Partners and ERINN Innovation, part-funded by the European Commission's LIFE Programme and a €5M Bord na Móna commitment. Based at a dedicated hub beside Lough Boora in Co. Offaly, it takes no equity and runs an eight-module series of residential workshops, mentoring and site visits over roughly four months, culminating in a public showcase conference. The programme runs two tracks — GROW for established climate-focused SMEs and START for early-stage founders — and gives participants access to Bord na Móna as a reference customer and pilot partner. Focus sectors span renewable energy, circular economy, carbon capture, sustainable agriculture and low-carbon mobility across the island of Ireland. Since 2022 it has supported 60+ companies across five cohorts, with alumni including EpiSensor, CameraMatics, Hibra Design and Volta Robotics.
Active since 2018. Smart-tech accelerator scaling startups across Central and Eastern Europe with programs like AccelStart, AccelBoost, and Green Impact. Support: specialized accelerators, corporate partner network, mentoring. Scope: Regional (CEE).
ACT Venture Capital is Ireland's most established and most active venture firm, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dublin. Over three decades it has backed more than 140 Irish and European technology companies, raising over €600M across six funds — including its largest, a €140M fund closed in 2022 — and generating dozens of exits with a combined enterprise value of around €4.6bn. Its limited partners include the European Investment Fund, Enterprise Ireland, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and AIB, several of whom have backed the firm for more than twenty years. Led by Managing Partner John Flynn alongside General Partners Debbie Rennick and John O'Sullivan, ACT invests from seed to expansion stage with cheques up to €10M across software, AI, deep tech, health tech, energy and fintech in Ireland and the UK. Landmark outcomes include the $400M sale of UWB semiconductor company Decawave to Qorvo (2020), the acquisition of digital-mental-health platform SilverCloud Health by Amwell (2021), and SoftBank's €473M investment into connected-vehicle company Cubic Telecom at a €900M+ valuation (2024). Recent active deals include AI pathology company Deciphex and energy-optimisation platform GridBeyond.
Founded in 2005, Adara Ventures is a Madrid-based deep tech VC managing over EUR 200M across four funds. The firm invests EUR 1-5M at Series A in cybersecurity, applied AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software across Europe. Its AV4 fund targets EUR 100M for next-generation digital infrastructure. Notable portfolio companies include Countercraft (acquired by Thales), Devo Technology, and Nearby Computing. Adara brings deep technical expertise and supports founders in navigating complex enterprise sales cycles.
Created 2016 by Raiffeisen Ware Austria and BayWa. Agritech accelerator offering mentoring, pilot opportunities on farms, industry networking, and hackathons; pilots can lead to strategic cooperation or investment with BayWa/RWA. Scope: International (Europe).
Operating since 1999. Venture capital arm of Allied Irish Banks (AIB) providing early-stage equity, growth capital, and bridge financing to Irish startups and SMEs. Support: equity funding, banking services, financial advisory. Scope: National.
Established 2009 by the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT). Two-stage program for engineering and hardware startups: incubation with mentoring and business modeling, then seed funding up to EUR 200K. Support: expert consulting, seed capital, office space. Scope: National.
The Alentejo Accelerator is a regional startup acceleration programme run by ANJE, the Portuguese National Association of Young Entrepreneurs, supporting early-stage founders in the Alentejo region around Evora. It provides training, mentoring and networking to help new businesses develop and grow.
Founded 2017. Seed-stage investor focused on marketplaces, e-commerce, and travel tech. All Iron Ventures is an accelerator programme based in Bilbao, Spain. The programme supports startups in Marketplaces, E-commerce, Travel Tech.
Amena Ventures is a Dublin-based early-stage venture and venture-partner firm incorporated in 2021, co-led by Managing Directors José Sousa and Sukhdev Hansra, whose backgrounds span investment banking, corporate finance and business transformation across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. It focuses on seed and pre-seed investments in hardware-intensive sectors — robotics, autonomous systems, IoT and space-tech connectivity — primarily across the EMEA region. Beyond capital, Amena positions itself as a hands-on operating partner, supporting founders on business development, fundraising, governance and talent. Its portfolio — concentrated in Portugal — includes Connect Robotics (autonomous drone delivery), Ethiack (AI-powered ethical hacking, €4M seed 2024), Xpectraltek (multispectral imaging) and Connected (NB-IoT satellite connectivity, acquired by Open Cosmos in 2025).
Launched 2014 by Telefonica and the Andalusian government. Regional accelerator network with hubs like El Cubo (Seville) and La Farola (Malaga) supporting ICT, smart city, and social innovation startups. Support: free acceleration, workspace, investor forums. Scope: Regional (Andalusia).
Antler Berlin is the German branch of Antler's day-zero venture-building model, designed for people who want to start companies before they have a finished team or fully formed idea. Instead of operating like a conventional accelerator that waits for startups to apply, Antler brings together selected founders, operators, and domain experts, then structures an intensive process around co-founder matching, problem discovery, validation, and early company formation. The Berlin program matters because it plugs into one of Europe's deepest pools of technical, industrial, and cross-border startup talent. It is especially relevant for B2B SaaS, climate, and deep-tech founders who need both an initial company-building framework and access to follow-on capital. In ecosystem terms, Antler Berlin sits at the very beginning of the funding pipeline, upstream from seed funds and growth investors. That makes it a useful counterpart to more established accelerators and incubators already in the directory, broadening coverage of how new startups are formed in Germany before they become visible to mainstream venture capital. It also reinforces the directory's mapping of institutions that shape founder formation, not just later-stage company financing.
Pre-seed accelerator and VC program for founders in AI, data, and deep tech. The spring 2026 application cut-off passed on February 27, 2026 for a March 9 cohort start; applications continue on a rolling basis for subsequent 2026 cohorts. Typical Antler offer includes early investment and startup-building support from day zero.
The aws Gruenderfonds is an Austrian venture capital fund managed within Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), the promotional bank of the Austrian federal government. It provides equity and equity-like financing to young, high-growth Austrian startups, typically at seed and early stages, to help them scale and attract follow-on private investment.
Founder and team development accelerator led by Esade and IQS with a long-form program timeline. Application deadline: March 27, 2026. Notification target: April 14, 2026. Program timeline: April 2026 to July 2028, focused on entrepreneurial capability building and strategic networks.
Beta-i is a Lisbon-based innovation and acceleration organisation founded in 2009 that runs startup programmes, including its well-known Lisbon Challenge accelerator, and helps corporates innovate through open-innovation initiatives. With a presence spanning Lisbon, Brussels, Boston and Sao Paulo, it has supported thousands of startups across Europe and beyond.
Black Pearls VC was a Gdansk-based early-stage venture capital firm that invested in deep-tech and B2B software startups across the Baltic and Central and Eastern European region. It concluded its active investment period at the end of 2023, and its team has continued supporting founders under a new identity, Balnord.
National, state-backed scale-up program operated by Bpifrance. Intensive 12–18 month tracks combining training, consulting, and peer learning, with sector-specific programs (industry, health, luxury) and access to non-dilutive funding and Bpifrance capital.
Bright Pixel (formerly Sonae IM) is the technology investment arm of Portugal's Sonae Group, operating as a corporate venture studio from Porto and Lisbon. Founded as Sonae IM and rebranded in 2020, Bright Pixel invests EUR 1-5M at Series A and B in cybersecurity, retail tech, telecom, and fintech companies across Europe and Israel. The firm manages over EUR 200M and has backed companies including Outsystems, Feedzai, and S21sec. Bright Pixel provides portfolio companies with strategic access to Sonae's retail and telecom operations for piloting and commercial partnerships.
Brisa Boost is the corporate startup accelerator and open-innovation programme of Brisa, Portugal's largest motorway operator. It works with early-stage startups in mobility, smart infrastructure and sustainability, offering pilots on Brisa's road network, mentoring and access to its business units.
Accelerator by Budimex for construction-tech startups in green construction, AI, robotics, and site automation. Offers pilots on construction sites, industry mentors, and potential investment or procurement. Scope: Regional (Poland and CEE).
Founded in 2016, Bynd Venture Capital is a Lisbon-based early-stage VC managing over EUR 60M, investing EUR 0.5-2M at seed and Series A in digital transformation, consumer internet, and e-commerce startups across the Iberian Peninsula. Portfolio companies include Kitch (ghost kitchens), Sensei (autonomous retail), and Nutrium (nutrition SaaS). Bynd focuses on product-driven founders and leverages Lisbon's growing tech ecosystem to connect Portuguese startups with European and US investors.
Opened 2018 with Dieter Schwarz Foundation support. Runs an Incubator for idea validation and a 12-week Accelerator for investor readiness; notable mobility and AI startups. Support: training, mentorship, foundation grants. Scope: Regional (Heilbronn-Franken).
CodeBase is the UK's largest technology incubator, founded in Edinburgh in 2014 and now operating across 27 locations throughout the UK, including a hub in Glasgow. It delivers the Scottish Government's £42 million Techscaler programme, supporting over 1,400 startups with world-class education, mentorship, and networking. Companies supported by CodeBase have collectively raised over £4 billion in funding, making it one of the most impactful startup accelerator organisations in the UK.
Commercialization Reactor is a deep-tech venture creation platform and accelerator established in 2009 in Riga, ranked among the most experienced science-commercialisation programmes in Europe. It pairs scientists and researchers with entrepreneurial co-founders to build deep-tech startups, and provides up to €50k in pre-seed investment through a six-month programme focused on market and customer development. In 2024 it launched ESA BIC Latvia as the national ESA incubation centre operator, and has supported over 40 portfolio ventures across biotech, cleantech, materials, and space.
Founded 2013 by prominent Spanish entrepreneurs. Runs 5-month batches for early-stage digital startups in media, gaming, and mobile; mentors take equity and support Demo Day. Notable alumni include Glovo and Meller. Scope: Regional (Barcelona & Madrid).
The Cross-Border Impact Venture Accelerator (also known as Unsung Tech’s Poland-Ukraine program) is a fully online accelerator launched in 2022 to support young Ukrainian entrepreneurs in building humanitarian and impact-focused startups amid the ongoing crisis. This unique six-month program was co-founded by Polish and international tech non-profits in response to the war in Ukraine, aiming to empower Ukrainian youth (often refugees or internally displaced) to address challenges faced by their communities. The program provides equity-free stipends to participants (to cover living and working costs), mentorship in business fundamentals and pitching, and connections to NGOs and international partners. Topics emphasized include leadership under adversity, social entrepreneurship, and financial planning in volatile environments. Notably, the accelerator connects startups with NGOs across seven countries to pilot their solutions in real humanitarian contexts. For example, a cohort team developing a mobile app for reconnecting separated families was paired with relief organizations working in Poland and Ukraine to test and deploy the app. Other startup ideas have included portable water purification units, mental health support platforms, and low-cost prosthetics – all direly needed due to war impacts. The accelerator is run online with occasional in-person meetups in safe locations (e.g., at Google for Startups Warsaw), enabling participants dispersed across Ukraine, Poland, and beyond to collaborate. By late 2023, the Cross-Border Impact Accelerator had supported two cohorts (around 20 startups). Successes included one venture securing grant funding from UNICEF to expand a digital education tool for Ukrainian children, and another joining a global humanitarian tech competition. The program is backed by international donors and tech companies’ CSR arms. Its broader significance lies in showing how entrepreneurship can be a tool for resilience: instead of seeing war-affected youth solely as victims, it empowers them as innovators solving problems like displacement, infrastructure damage, and trauma. The name “Unsung Tech” reflects the mission to uplift underrepresented voices and create solutions that might otherwise go unsung. In sum, the Cross-Border Impact Accelerator stands out as a bold initiative turning tragedy into an impetus for social innovation, forging a new generation of Ukrainian impact-driven founders even in the face of adversity.
Founded in 1994, Delta Partners is one of Ireland's longest-running venture capital firms, investing EUR 0.5-3M at seed and Series A in enterprise software and consumer technology across Ireland and the UK. The firm manages over EUR 300M across multiple funds backed by Enterprise Ireland and private LPs. Delta has backed 90+ companies including Movidius (acquired by Intel), CurrencyFair, and Luzern. The team focuses on capital-efficient B2B and consumer startups with international scaling potential.
Digital innovation hub founded in 2017 for the Rhineland region offering structured accelerator programs, mentorship, networking, and investor access to digital startups. Focus on digital transformation with alumni in cybersecurity and enterprise software. Scope: Local (Bonn/Rhineland).
E.ON:agile is the corporate accelerator and innovation unit of E.ON, one of Europe's largest energy utilities, based in Essen. It runs a structured programme for early-stage energy and cleantech startups, offering funding, mentoring and access to E.ON's business units and customer base to pilot and scale new energy solutions.
EDP Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of EDP — Energias de Portugal, one of Europe's largest energy utilities. Established in 2008 and headquartered in Lisbon, with investment teams in Madrid and São Paulo, it manages €150M and makes five to eight investments a year, writing €1–10M cheques from Seed through Series B with follow-on capacity. Its mandate is tightly aligned with EDP's decarbonisation strategy, targeting renewable energy, grid infrastructure, distributed energy resources, green hydrogen, storage and flexibility, electric mobility and energy-use decarbonisation, plus AI and digital. The fund has backed 40+ active companies across Europe and the Americas, including Portuguese AI unicorn Feedzai, battery-recycling firm Green Li-ion and grid-data platform Energyworx (acquired by Gridspertise in 2025); four portfolio companies featured in the 2024 Global Cleantech 100. By end-2023 EDP Ventures had deployed a cumulative €70M and generated over €115M in contract value for EDP group companies.
EIT Climate-KIC — now operating as Climate KIC — is Europe's leading climate innovation agency and accelerator, founded in 2010 as one of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology's first Knowledge and Innovation Communities. Headquartered in Amsterdam and active across 50 countries, it has supported more than 2,300 startups generating €1.1bn in investment, 15,000 jobs and 790 new products over 15 years, transitioning to an independent public-benefit foundation in 2025. Its flagship ClimAccelerator is a multi-stage, equity-free programme offering up to €95,000 in grant-style support plus coaching and investor matchmaking, spanning cleantech, clean energy, circular economy, sustainable cities and agri-food. In Germany the DACH hub runs from the EUREF-Campus in Berlin-Schöneberg — home to the Green Garage climate incubator — alongside a Munich node. Alumni include Climeworks (Switzerland), tado° and Thermondo (Germany) and Ÿnsect (France).
EIT Digital Accelerator is a pan-European programme backed by the EU's European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), supporting deep tech scaleups with tailored business development, investor introductions, and international customer acquisition since 2012. It operates across 18 European cities and a San Francisco hub, and has supported nearly 300 startups that collectively raised €1.5 billion, with over €100 million directly facilitated by the Accelerator. Focus areas include AI, cybersecurity, digital industry, digital health, and fintech.
Established 2010. EU-backed accelerator and investor driving sustainable energy transition with funding, IP support, and industry partnerships; 248 investments and 8 exits, including early backing of Northvolt. Scope: International (EU).
Elevator Ventures is the corporate venture capital unit of Raiffeisen Bank International, co-backed by Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien and Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark, managing funds of more than €100 million. The firm targets Series A and B fintech and beyond-banking companies, with a focus on the DACH and CEE regions, and has invested over €60 million in 21 companies, achieving seven exits. It originated from Elevator Lab, an RBI accelerator launched in 2017 to scout startup partners globally.
Elkstone is a Dublin-based investment firm and one of Ireland's most active private venture investors, backing early-stage Irish technology and life-science startups alongside its broader private-markets and wealth activities. Its venture arm provides seed and early-stage capital and hands-on support to founders building high-growth companies.
Entrepreneur First (EF) is a London-headquartered talent-first investor founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck, both former McKinsey consultants. EF pioneered the concept of Talent Investing — recruiting exceptional individuals before they have a co-founder or idea, then supporting them to form teams and build companies — across offices in London, Paris, Bangalore, New York, and San Francisco. The firm manages a fund of $158 million and has helped create over 600 companies with a combined portfolio value exceeding $11 billion. EF's standout portfolio companies include Tractable (AI for accident repair, valued at ~$1 billion), Cleo (personal finance AI), and Magic Pony Technology (acquired by Twitter).
EQT Ventures is the VC arm of EQT Group, launched in 2016 in Stockholm with offices in London, Berlin, and San Francisco. Managing over EUR 2.2B, the firm invests EUR 1-25M from seed through Series C in AI, fintech, mobility, and marketplaces. EQT Ventures uses Motherbrain, its proprietary AI deal-sourcing platform, to identify opportunities early. Portfolio includes Einride, Epidemic Sound, Voi, and Wolt. The fund leverages EQT's network of 300+ industrial advisors for strategic support.
Six-month EIT Food program run by Startup Hub Poland for female agrifood entrepreneurs. Provides EUR 1,000 stipend, training, 1:1 mentorship, and a chance to win up to EUR 10,000 grants. Scope: National with EU-wide network.
Experior Venture Fund is a Warsaw-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups, notably in fintech, medtech and digital services, typically at seed and Series A stages. One of Poland's prominent independent VCs, it is known for being co-led by women investors and backs founders across Central and Eastern Europe.
Fashion for Good is an Amsterdam-based innovation platform and accelerator dedicated to making the fashion industry more sustainable and circular. Launched in 2017 with backing from founding partner Laudes Foundation (formerly C&A Foundation), Fashion for Good runs a 9-month accelerator program for startups developing technologies or business models that improve fashion’s environmental or social impact. Focus areas include innovative materials (e.g. bio-based fibers, textile recycling), new dyeing and finishing processes, circular business models (rental, resale), and supply chain traceability solutions. Each batch (around 10 companies) receives coaching, pilot opportunities, and a small grant; uniquely, the program is venture client-oriented: Fashion for Good’s corporate partners – which include Adidas, Kering, PVH, Stella McCartney, C&A and other major brands – collaborate with the startups to test and implement their innovations. For example, early cohort member Ambercycle (USA) has partnered with Adidas on textile recycling pilots, and Pili Bio (France) worked with brands on microbial dyes. In addition to the accelerator, Fashion for Good runs Scaling Programs for more mature innovators to facilitate larger deals (often joint ventures or first-of-a-kind factory deployments). It also operates a public Experience Museum in Amsterdam showcasing sustainable fashion and educating consumers. By 2022, Fashion for Good had accelerated over 125 startups, helping many secure follow-on funding – alumni have collectively raised hundreds of millions. Notable graduates include Renewcell (Sweden, textile recycling, IPO’d), Natural Fiber Welding (US, plant-based leather, now partnering with Ralph Lauren) and Circular.Fashion (Germany, circular design SaaS acquired by Zalando). Fashion for Good’s success lies in its consortium approach: besides brands, it engages manufacturers and investors (like AccelR8, a fashion-focused VC) to ensure innovations can actually be adopted at scale. Its impact is tangible – alumni like Orange Fiber (Italy, citrus-based silk) have seen their materials used in collections by H&M and Ferragamo. As the fashion industry faces pressure to reduce waste and emissions, Fashion for Good has positioned Amsterdam as a key nexus of fashion tech and sustainability, proving that collaboration across the value chain can accelerate the transition to a Good Fashion future.
Fast Track Malmö is a startup accelerator based in Malmö, Sweden, that has gained recognition for its founder-friendly approach and strong results. Launched in 2015 and backed by Malmö’s public and private stakeholders (including Malmö City, Minc incubator, and VC firm Hax), Fast Track Malmö (FTM) selects around 10 startups per year from around the world for its program. The accelerator provides an up-front investment of €50,000 for 5% equity – a relatively generous seed deal – along with a 3-month intensive program and free housing for international teams. Each cohort gets access to mentors from successful Swedish startups (like King, Truecaller, etc.) and a series of workshops on product, growth, and fundraising. FTM has been particularly successful in drawing startups from across Europe to Malmö, turning the city into a surprising startup hotspot. Alumni have gone on to raise over $100M collectively. For instance, Worldfavor (sustainability data platform) and Bibliotech (UK edtech) both participated in FTM and later raised significant rounds. The program culminates in Demo Day during Malmö Startup Live, where founders pitch to a curated audience of Nordic and international investors. Fast Track Malmö prides itself on its supportive community – it often ranks highly in founder NPS surveys. Notably, 70%+ of its startups secure funding within 6 months post-program. Malmö’s strengths in game development and IoT sometimes reflect in FTM cohorts (some gaming startups and hardware/IoT teams have come through). Another distinctive trait: FTM works closely with Minc, the Malmö incubator, to offer follow-on incubation and soft landings for teams that relocate to Sweden. This extended support helped Fast Track Malmö produce success stories despite operating in a smaller ecosystem. By 2023, the accelerator reported its alumni have created 100+ jobs and 30% of them have at least one female founder – stats that underscore its impact and inclusive ethos. Fast Track Malmö demonstrates that with smart funding and community backing, even a mid-sized city can accelerate startups to global success.
Barcelona chapter of the global Founder Institute pre-seed program for idea-stage and early-stage founders. Application deadline: November 18, 2026. Structured cohort model designed to move founders from concept to traction and funding readiness.
Founders Factory is a London-based venture studio and accelerator founded in 2015 by Brent Hoberman, Henry Lane Fox, and George Northcott. The firm co-builds and accelerates pre-seed and seed stage startups across fintech, health, climate, media, and consumer sectors, operating sector-specific programmes with corporate partners including Aviva, L'Oréal, and Deutsche Telekom. Since launch, Founders Factory has backed over 300 companies globally, which have collectively raised more than $800 million in follow-on funding. Its venture studio model — co-founding businesses from day zero — distinguishes it from conventional accelerators and gives it a distinctive builder-investor role in the European ecosystem.
Fountain Healthcare Partners is Ireland's largest dedicated life-sciences venture firm, founded in 2008 as a spin-out from Elan Corporation's investment group. Headquartered in Dublin with an office in New York, it was established by Manus Rogan, Aidan King, Ena Prosser and Justin Lynch, and manages more than €425M across four funds. The firm invests at seed and early stage across specialty pharma, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics — primarily in Europe with selective US positions — typically leading or co-leading syndicates with €0.5–7M initial cheques and active follow-on. Fund III closed at €125M in 2020 with anchor commitments from the European Investment Fund, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, AIB and Japan's Kyowa Kirin, and Fund IV is now active. The portfolio has produced landmark exits including Inflazome (acquired by Roche for €380M upfront, 2020), KaNDy Therapeutics (Bayer, $425M upfront, 2020), Syndesi Therapeutics (AbbVie, 2022), Calypso Biotech (Novartis, 2024) and Vivasure Medical (Haemonetics, 2026). Active holdings include the Irish medtechs Neuromod Devices and Neurent Medical, Germany's Exciva and Belgium's Dualyx.
Concierge-style soft-landing hub integrated with local partners such as SeedRocket and Pier01. Strong on mobile, gaming, and impact startups, with frequent networking to fast-track community access.
Community hub bridging France and Germany with market-access programming and the Franco-German Tech Lab. Strong focus on deep tech and Industry 4.0 partnerships with German corporates.
CEE gateway hub running cross-landing programs with French Tech Lyon–Saint Etienne. Helps French startups build Polish R&D teams and supports Polish founders entering France.
La French Tech London is a chapter of the global French Tech network, bringing together French founders, investors, engineers, and tech professionals active in the London startup ecosystem. As part of a network of over 100 French Tech communities worldwide, it works alongside French embassies and Business France to facilitate knowledge exchange and market entry between the French and British ecosystems. The community hosts regular sector events across fintech, AI, quantum computing, and deeptech, and helps French entrepreneurs soft-land in London.
La French Tech Munich is one of three German chapters of the global French Tech network, connecting French and German entrepreneurs, investors, and corporates in Bavaria. Its programs focus on helping French companies enter the Bavarian market and German companies expand into France, offering mentoring, networking workshops, and recruiting events. The community operates alongside French Tech Berlin and La French Tech Düsseldorf as part of the French government's international startup promotion initiative.
French Tech Tremplin is a national programme run by La French Tech, launched in 2019, that promotes equal opportunity in the French tech ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented and less-privileged backgrounds. It combines grants, incubation and mentoring to help these founders launch and grow their startups across France.
German Accelerator is a non-equity programme launched in 2012, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, that helps high-potential German startups expand into international markets. Starting with a Silicon Valley office in 2012, it expanded to New York (2014), Boston (2016, with a life sciences focus), and Singapore (2018), and has supported over 600 startups that have collectively raised more than $13.5 billion in funding. The programme provides individually tailored workshops, expert mentorship, and access to investor networks at no equity cost to participants.
GP Bullhound is a global technology investment bank and investment firm founded in 1999, advising technology companies and entrepreneurs on capital raising and M&A while also managing funds that invest in leading tech businesses. It has advised on more than 700 transactions worth over 58 billion dollars and operates from offices across Europe and the United States, including a long-standing Nordic presence.
Launched 2017. Corporate venture program connecting startups with the Jose de Mello Group in healthcare, energy, and infrastructure. Support: pilot agreements, corporate guidance, and potential customer contracts. Scope: National.
Grow F is an accelerator programme run by Female Founders, a Vienna-based organisation building one of Europe's leading communities and support networks for women entrepreneurs. The programme supports female-led, high-growth startups with mentoring, investor access and a structured curriculum to help them raise funding and scale internationally.
H-Farm was founded in 2005 by Riccardo Donadon and Maurizio Rossi near Treviso in the Venetian countryside, positioning itself as one of the earliest startup incubators in Europe — predating Y Combinator's launch by only months. The platform has since grown into a publicly listed (since 2015) innovation campus combining startup acceleration, corporate digital transformation services, and three international schools educating over 1,150 students aged 3–18. H-Farm has supported approximately 120 startups and is ranked among Italy's top innovation hubs by the Financial Times.
Specialized accelerator (since 2018) for aquaculture and alternative seafood startups with ~USD 100K investment, mentorship, and pilot opportunities in global aquaculture facilities. Programs run in Ireland, Norway, and Hawaii. Scope: International.
Selection process for deep-tech startups seeking curated access to Investor Day matchmaking during Amsterdam Deep Tech Days. Deadlines for Pioneer status typically close in early spring 2026 ahead of June programming.
Established 2014. EU-backed accelerator for mobile and digital startups (edtech, mobility, etc.) with online program, equity-free grants, mentoring, and international roadshows. Notable alumni include ChainGO. Scope: International (EU).
Part of the global Impact Hub network of 100+ hubs and 20,000+ members, the Tbilisi chapter is located at the Fabrika creative quarter. It offers co-working memberships, an accelerator programme for early-stage social and tech entrepreneurs, and runs a pre-accelerator in partnership with GITA. Three cohorts since 2021 have seen participating teams raise over €1 million in investments and grants.
Industrifonden is one of the Nordics' longest-established venture capital firms, an evergreen fund based in Stockholm that invests in early-stage Nordic technology and life-science companies. Founded in 1979, it takes a long-term, evergreen approach, recycling returns into new investments and backing deep-tech, industrial and health startups.
Founded in 2007, Innogest Capital is a Turin and Milan-based early-stage VC managing over EUR 150M across funds focused on technology and life sciences. The firm invests EUR 0.5-5M at Series A in digital platforms, IoT, healthcare, and industrial tech. Notable portfolio companies include Genenta Science (IPO on Nasdaq), Musement (acquired by TUI), and Pharmacell. Innogest is one of Italy's pioneer independent VC firms with deep networks in the Piedmont and Lombardy tech ecosystems.
A public-private partnership created in May 2018 by Luxembourg's Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Environment, and twelve private financial sector entities. The ICFA supports emerging fund managers focused on innovative climate finance investment strategies, providing coaching, training, and financial support to help them reach scale. It selects cohorts annually and expanded in 2024 to also include a parallel International Social Finance Accelerator track.
Founded in 2008, Inveready is a Barcelona-based multi-strategy investment group managing over EUR 200M across ten fund vehicles spanning venture capital, venture debt, and corporate finance. The firm invests at seed through growth in software, biotech, and fintech, with typical early-stage tickets of EUR 0.5-3M. Notable portfolio companies include Kantox (acquired by BNP Paribas), Vlex, and Aelix Therapeutics. Inveready is one of Spain's most prolific investors with 100+ portfolio companies.
Founded in 2014, JME Venture Capital is a Madrid-based early-stage VC backed by prominent Spanish tech entrepreneurs and family offices. The firm manages over EUR 100M and invests EUR 0.5-3M at seed and Series A in consumer internet, enterprise software, and marketplaces. Notable portfolio companies include Jobandtalent (HR unicorn), Spotahome, and Lingokids. JME's LP base of successful founders provides portfolio companies with operational mentorship and strategic business development support across Southern Europe.
Kfund is a Madrid-based venture capital firm investing from Southern Europe into technology companies worldwide, writing cheques from roughly 100,000 to 10 million euros with deliberately simple, founder-friendly terms. Through several vehicles spanning pre-seed to growth, it backs entrepreneurs building differentiated, technology-based products and has become one of Spain's most active tech investors.
Founded in 2002, Kernel Capital manages the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Venture Funds, one of Ireland's largest venture fund series with over EUR 350M under management. The firm invests EUR 0.5-5M at seed and early growth in ICT, engineering, medtech, and university spin-outs across all regions of Ireland. Notable portfolio companies include Metabolomic Diagnostics, Lincor Solutions, and Aylien (acquired by Quantexa). Kernel is co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and focuses on turning Irish research into scalable enterprises.
Kibo Ventures is a Madrid-based venture capital firm and technology investment platform that backs early-stage startups led by ambitious founders and helps them scale globally. One of Spain's most active tech investors, it invests across sectors including software, fintech, digital health and marketplaces.
KLAK is a non-profit accelerator and entrepreneurship support organization founded in 2000, formed through the 2013 merger of Klak and Innovit. It is owned by the University of Iceland, Reykjavík University, the Kría Innovation Fund, and the Federation of Icelandic Industries. KLAK runs three to four sector-specific accelerator programs annually, operates the Gulleggið startup competition (Iceland's largest, with over 3,000 ideas submitted since 2008), and provides mentorship and international growth support to early-stage Icelandic companies.
Lanzadera is a philanthropic, non-equity startup accelerator founded in 2013 by Juan Roig, chairman of Mercadona — Spain's largest supermarket chain — and housed at Marina de Empresas, a 10,000 m² entrepreneurship campus on Valencia's port that also hosts EDEM Business School and Angels Capital. The programme admits roughly 120 startups per cohort across two annual intakes and four maturity tracks (Start, Traction, Growth and Scale Up), each running a minimum of six months. Rather than taking equity, Lanzadera offers flexible loans from €1,000 up to €500,000 at favourable terms, alongside a dedicated project director, mentorship, training grounded in Mercadona's Total Quality Model, and access to Angels Capital. Since 2013 it has accelerated over 1,700 companies and recorded 19 exits including the IPO of Place to Plug; the Financial Times ranked it the #1 startup hub in Spain and #7 in Europe in 2025. Notable alumni include Paack, encrypted-cloud provider Internxt, pet-health platform Barkibu, eSIM provider Holafly and robotics startup Keybotic (acquired by defence-AI firm Helsing in 2026).
Launched 2014 by Credit Agricole. National accelerator network with 30+ villages across France offering coworking, mentorship, and business connections with CA's banking network. Sector-agnostic (fintech, agritech, etc.). Scope: National.
A startup accelerator backed by five Crédit Agricole entities present in Luxembourg (Caceis, Amundi, CA Indosuez, Cali Europe, and Camca Assurance), part of the global Village by CA network active since 2014. Based at the House of Startups, it targets growth-stage startups seeking access to the Crédit Agricole financial group network, expert mentoring, and co-development with large corporate partners.
Market One Capital (MOC) is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Warsaw and Barcelona that specialises in marketplaces and platforms with network effects. It backs pre-seed and seed founders across Europe building two-sided marketplaces and B2B platforms, and its portfolio includes companies such as Docplanner and Packhelp.
Mastercard Start Path is Mastercard's flagship global startup engagement programme, launched in 2014 to connect high-growth fintechs with Mastercard's commercial network, mentorship and co-innovation resources. Unlike traditional equity accelerators it takes no equity and charges no fees; selected startups gain access to Mastercard's ecosystem of 150M+ merchants, thousands of banking partners and billions of cards. Dublin — Mastercard's sole European Technology Hub, with 2,000+ staff — anchors the programme's European engagement. The programme runs rolling cohorts of five to fifteen startups across specialised tracks including Emerging Fintech, Acceptance, Blockchain & Digital Assets, Open Finance, Small Business, Security Solutions and the newest Agentic Commerce track (added 2026). Since inception it has engaged more than 500 startups from 60+ countries, whose alumni have raised over $25bn in follow-on capital. Notable alumni include unicorns Revolut and Thought Machine (UK), Razorpay and Zeta (India) and Airwallex, alongside European fintechs such as Doconomy (Sweden) and Irish fraud-prevention startup Urban Fox.
Founded 2018 with backing from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Runs the Maze X 3-month accelerator for social impact startups, providing tailored mentoring, impact investor access, and a EUR 50K stipend. Notable alumni include Speak. Scope: International.
Ran 2013-2016 as part of Microsoft for Startups. Four-month cohort with expert mentorship, Azure credits, and investor connections. Support: coaching, cloud infrastructure, partner network. Scope: Global.
Nauta Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2004 with offices in Barcelona, London and Munich that invests in early-stage B2B software companies, emphasising capital-efficient growth. It typically leads rounds and backs European and transatlantic startups building enterprise technology.
NDRC (National Digital Research Centre) was originally established in 2007 as an Irish state-backed digital research and accelerator body affiliated with a consortium of Irish universities. From 2020 it transitioned to a new operator — Dogpatch Labs and regional partners — under a contract worth up to €17 million, delivering pre-seed funding and mentorship-driven accelerator programmes across Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Kerry. The programme has been extended to the end of 2026, with Enterprise Ireland planning a successor National Accelerator Platform starting in 2026.
New Frontiers is Enterprise Ireland's nationwide startup incubation and funding programme, delivered through partner universities and institutes of technology across Ireland. It supports early-stage founders with innovative, scalable business ideas through structured phases of training, mentoring, workspace and a stipend, helping them build revenue-generating companies.
Newion is an Amsterdam-based venture firm founded in 2000 by Jaap van Barneveld and Patrick Polak, and one of the Netherlands' most established early-stage B2B software investors. It backs seed and Series A rounds exclusively in business software across the Benelux, DACH and Nordic regions, managing roughly €300M across four funds — including Fund IV (€130M first close, 2022) backed by the European Investment Fund, BNP Paribas, PMV and Reggeborgh. Initial cheques range from €1M to €10M with reserves for follow-on. Newion applies a hands-on 'controlled growth' philosophy, taking active board roles during the critical first 12–18 months after investment. Across 60+ companies it has cultivated three unicorns — Collibra (data governance, Belgium), Deliverect (food-tech SaaS, Belgium) and Parloa (conversational AI, Germany) — and recorded exits including airfocus (acquired by Lucid Software, 2025). The team is led by Managing Partner Mathijs de Wit with partners Pieter Welten and Dorus Olgers.
Nicoya is a Stockholm-based venture capital firm investing at the frontier of food innovation as a dedicated 'future foods' investor. It partners with entrepreneurs transforming how food is produced and consumed, backing companies working on healthier, smarter and more resilient food systems with a long-term perspective on value creation.
Norrsken Foundation is a Swedish non-profit organization founded in 2016 by Klarna co-founder Niklas Adalberth, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs solve the world's greatest challenges including poverty, climate change, and mental health. The foundation operates an accelerator program and co-working hubs called Norrsken House in Stockholm, Brussels, Amsterdam, Kigali, and Barcelona, supporting early-stage impact startups with pre-seed investment and mentorship from over 110 entrepreneurs and investors. In 2025 it rebranded its accelerator as Norrsken Evolve and closed a €57 million fund for early-stage impact companies across Europe. Norrsken House Stockholm serves as a key venue for Nordic Tech Week events.
Founded 2016 by the Norrsken Foundation. Eight-week impact accelerator selecting 20 startups annually; offers USD 125K for 5% equity and mentorship from global tech leaders. Focus on climate, health, and education. Scope: International.
Nucleus Ventures is a venture building and corporate innovation advisory firm based in Cyprus, founded in 2014. It offers services including venture building, fundraising, soft-landing support for international market entry, operational advisory, and capacity building programmes. The firm serves governments, corporations, and founders across the EMENA region, with particular experience in FinTech, HealthTech, and AI. Nucleus Ventures has also managed government-backed accelerator and seed fund programmes.
Corporate accelerator by Orange Polska (est. 2015) focused on 5G, IoT, AI, and customer experience. Provides proof-of-concept projects, telecom mentorship, and access to Orange's global Fab network in 18 countries. Scope: National with global reach.
OTB Ventures is a Warsaw-based deep-technology venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests across Europe in early-growth companies working on space technology, AI and automation, fintech infrastructure and enterprise software. It targets capital-efficient deeptech businesses with proven technology and early revenue, and has backed companies such as ICEYE. It is one of the largest deeptech-focused funds in Central and Eastern Europe.
Founded in 2015, Panakes Partners is a Milan-based healthcare VC investing EUR 1-8M at Series A and B in medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and biotech across Europe. The firm manages over EUR 100M and focuses on companies with clear clinical evidence and regulatory pathways. Portfolio includes MMI (surgical robotics, IPO on Euronext), Novavido, and Kither Biotech. The team of medtech executives and clinicians provides hands-on support in clinical trials, CE marking, and commercialization.
Competition track for early-stage Web3 companies at Paris Blockchain Week. Applications close close to event week, with selected finalists pitching on stage to investors and digital-asset industry participants.
Plug and Play Cyprus is the first Cyprus location of Plug and Play, the Silicon Valley-based global innovation platform, launched in Limassol in April 2026. The programme is co-funded by the Republic of Cyprus through the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and the Research and Innovation Foundation. It plans to run six cycles of incubation and acceleration targeting fintech, regtech, gaming, and shipping and energy, aiming to support around 60 startups and create approximately 500 jobs. Corporate partners include ASBIS, Tototheo, Mastercard, and ECOMMBX.
Spanish arm of Plug and Play (since 2012) connecting startups with corporate partners in fintech, insurtech, and mobility. Operates from Valencia with pilots and venture funding; global alumni include PayPal and Dropbox. Scope: International.
Equity-free acceleration program run by Startup Hub Poland with public funding support. It offers structured tracks such as Corporate Plugin, VC Forge, and Poland Prize, with non-dilutive grants for eligible startups.
Founded 2015. World's first port and maritime industry accelerator based in Rotterdam (now also Antwerp and Singapore). Three-month program with 100+ mentors and a Shakedown demo day; alumni include We4Sea and CargoLedger. Scope: International.
Founded in 2016, Primomiglio SGR is a Milan-based venture capital firm managing over EUR 200M across sector-specific funds. Its Barcamper Ventures fund invests EUR 0.5-3M at seed and Series A in digital and ICT startups, while a dedicated SpaceTech fund targets newspace and satellite technology. Primomiglio's scouting approach uses a touring bus (the 'Barcamper') to visit Italian universities and tech hubs to discover early-stage talent. Portfolio includes companies in SaaS, IoT, and space infrastructure.
Spring 2026 application windows for Rockstart domain programs (including energy, agrifood, and emerging tech) with initial investment and follow-on funding pathways. Programs are opening through March 2026 with track-specific deadlines.
Amsterdam-founded accelerator and seed investor with domain-specific programs in energy, agrifood, and emerging tech. Spring 2026 application windows are opening in March with track-specific deadlines. Model combines acceleration, initial capital, and potential follow-on funding for scaling teams.
Founded 2011. Early-stage investor focused on digital health, telemedicine, and SaaS. RTA Ventures is an accelerator programme based in Warsaw, Poland. The programme supports startups in Digital Health, Telemedicine, SaaS.
SABAH.HUB is a private innovation center and accelerator founded in 2021 that supports startups at pre-seed and seed stages. It offers incubation, acceleration, and education tracks (SABAH.academy, SABAH.incubation, SABAH.lab) and has made 16 investments in its portfolio. It co-organizes the Baku Investment Day (Baku ID) conference in partnership with the World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network.
Founded 2008. Spain's pioneering ICT accelerator providing training, seed funding, and mentorship by experienced entrepreneurs. Runs intensive campus programs; funded ~70 startups with 15 exits (e.g., Divisoft, Ulabox). Support: 3-month acceleration, angel network investment, free office space. Scope: National.
Semapa Next is the corporate venture capital arm of Semapa Group, one of Portugal's largest industrial conglomerates (pulp, paper, cement). Launched to invest in industrial tech, environmental solutions, mobility, and fintech, Semapa Next deploys EUR 1-5M at Series A in startups aligned with the group's strategic interests. The fund provides portfolio companies with access to Semapa's industrial operations for piloting and commercial partnerships, focusing on sustainability, circular economy, and digital transformation of traditional industries.
Seroba Life Sciences is a Dublin-based healthcare venture capital firm founded in 2002, investing in biotech, medical devices, and diagnostics across Europe with a focus on companies emerging from strong clinical and scientific foundations. The firm manages over EUR 300M and typically invests EUR 2-10M at Series A and B, taking board seats and providing strategic guidance on regulatory strategy and commercialization. Seroba has backed companies including Mainstay Medical, Aerogen, and Fire1, leveraging Ireland's deep life sciences talent pool and its proximity to major pharma and medtech multinationals headquartered in the country.
SET Ventures is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm that invests in digital technologies for a carbon-free energy system, spanning smart grids, energy storage, electrification, energy efficiency and grid intelligence. Investing across Europe, it backs early-growth companies whose software and data platforms accelerate the energy transition.
Founded 2013. Impact accelerator and investment fund for social enterprises in health, cleantech, and energy. Runs acceleration programs and an impact fund; has accelerated 50+ startups. Support: mentoring, CSR partners, impact investment up to EUR 400K. Scope: National.
The Siemens Technology Accelerator (STA) is a unique corporate accelerator program run by Siemens AG since 2001, aimed at spinning out non-core technologies from Siemens’ R&D into independent startups. Based in Munich, STA essentially identifies promising internal innovations (often developed at Siemens Corporate Technology labs) that don’t fit Siemens’ core business, and forms new ventures around them. STA provides seed funding, co-founding management, and access to Siemens’ infrastructure to these ventures, effectively acting as a venture builder. Over its history, the Siemens Technology Accelerator has spun out more than 12 companies across sectors like energy, industrial automation, healthcare, and materials. Notable spin-offs include MetisMotion (advanced actuators), Magazino (warehouse robotics – which STA helped early on), and Epiqo (a digital twin software). One high-profile case is Rethink Robotics GmbH: in 2020, STA helped relaunch assets of Rethink Robotics (the US cobot pioneer) in a joint venture, integrating it with Siemens technology. The typical STA project starts with identifying a tech with market potential. STA then recruits external entrepreneurs or Siemens intrapreneurs to lead the startup, develops a business plan, secures intellectual property rights (license or assign IP from Siemens to the newco), and provides initial funding (often low millions of euros). Siemens often remains a minority shareholder and provides pilot customers or manufacturing help. The time from project inception to an independent company launch is around 18–24 months. STA’s model addresses a common big-corporate problem: great inventions that don’t make it to market. By essentially incubating startups from within, Siemens both creates value from dormant IP and fosters innovation culture. Many STA spin-outs go on to raise venture capital or get acquired. For example, Ionity (an EV charging network) was seeded by Siemens’ STA and later became a major joint venture with automakers. The Siemens Technology Accelerator operates with a small specialized team and has won awards for corporate venturing. It serves as a best-practice example of how large industrial firms can proactively spin off new ventures rather than let R&D sit on a shelf. In essence, STA extends Siemens’ innovation beyond its core by unleashing startups that bring cutting-edge tech (like novel sensors, new materials, etc.) to the broader market.
Social innovation accelerator promoted in the Munich ecosystem for mission-driven startups and social impact business models. Application deadline: April 15, 2026. Program start: mid-2026. Program notes include zero-equity participation, no-fee access, and travel reimbursement support for selected teams.
Founded 2016. Accelerator for the video game industry connecting German and French hubs; provides workshops, industry mentoring, and investor access. Notable studios: Burning Glass Creative, HandyGames. Support: game-specific mentorship, networking, funding access. Scope: Regional.
Founded 2014. Six-month program for entrepreneurial teams with coworking, mentoring, and technology partners; alumni include energy and healthcare startups. Support: mentorship, workspace, partner resources. Scope: Regional (East Germany).
Founded in 2009 in Malmo, Spintop Ventures is a Nordic early-stage VC investing EUR 0.5-3M at seed and Series A in enterprise software, digital consumer platforms, and IoT. The firm manages over EUR 150M across multiple funds and focuses on B2B SaaS and data-driven businesses in Sweden and the broader Nordics. Portfolio companies include Bambuser (live video shopping), Doktor.se (digital health), and Ingrid (e-commerce delivery). Spintop provides hands-on operational support in sales, recruitment, and go-to-market strategy.
StartLife is a Wageningen-based incubator and accelerator specialising in agri-food-tech, located on the Wageningen University campus, a leading centre for food and agriculture research. It supports startups working on food, agriculture and biotechnology with programmes, access to funding and connections to the region's science and corporate ecosystem.
Mazovian regional startup competition and support program for ventures under three years old. It runs tracks for INNO-TECH, SOCIAL IMPACT, and START with grant-based awards for early product validation and growth.
Startup Booster is the acceleration programme run by Huge Thing, a Poznan-based innovation firm with over a decade of experience that helps startups scale and supports corporations with their innovation strategy. Huge Thing has worked with dozens of corporate partners and screened thousands of startups, running structured programmes to strengthen founding teams and their go-to-market.
Impact-focused accelerator operated by SWPS University for ventures aligned with sustainable development goals. The program supports startups, micro-enterprises, and NGOs through commercialization, corporate piloting, and funding-readiness tracks.
Innovation hub and accelerator supported by Microsoft, nurturing deep-tech startups in biotech, nanotech, and digital sectors. Provides acceleration, access to University of Minho labs, and corporate partners; backed 120+ companies. Scope: Regional (Northern Portugal).
PARP-backed accelerator attracting international startups to Poland, run by Space3ac in Gdansk. Offers up to EUR 65,000 equity-free funding plus soft-landing support (incorporation, legal/tax, accommodation, visas). Focus on smart cities, space, and logistics. Scope: International.
Established in 2018 to support tech startups in the Tyrol region with tailored mentorship, business plan coaching, and connections to experts and Alpine industry partners. Scope: Regional (Tyrol). Support: mentor network, strategy workshops, investor introductions.
Startup Wise Guys is a Tallinn-founded B2B startup accelerator and early-stage VC founded in 2012, operating as one of the most active and prolific accelerators in the Central and Eastern European ecosystem. The firm runs over 45 sector-specific programmes annually spanning fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, sustainability, and agritech, and has invested in over 600 startups from more than 60 countries. Its most recent fund of €45 million reached a first close of €25 million in 2023. Startup Wise Guys provides €100K–200K investments at pre-seed stage in exchange for equity, combined with intensive hands-on mentorship from operators and investors. Notable portfolio exits include VitalFields (acquired by Climate Corporation), StepShot (acquired by UiPath), and VOCHI (acquired by Pinterest).
Amsterdam hub of Startupbootcamp (est. 2010) running 3-month accelerators in fintech, cybersecurity, smart cities, IoT, and commerce. Provides EUR 15K seed funding, 6% equity, mentorship, and partner deals; alumni include early Adyen mentoring. Scope: International.
StartupLab is Norway's largest technology incubator and most active early-stage investor, founded in 2012 at the Oslo Science Park in partnership with the University of Oslo. It operates six industry-specific programs including a dedicated Energy and Climate track, has supported over 450 tech startups, and has invested in more than 130 companies. Notable alumni include reMarkable, Kahoot, No Isolation, and Huddly. At ONS 2026 in Stavanger, StartupLab chairs the Scale-Ups committee, curating the dedicated exhibition and pitching venue in Hall 4 for energy startups and scale-ups at the Seed-to-Series-B stage.
Sting (Stockholm Innovation & Growth) is Sweden’s leading startup accelerator and incubator, founded in 2002 and based in Stockholm. Over two decades, Sting has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most successful support programs for high-tech startups. Each year, ~25 startups participate in Sting’s programs, which are tailored to ICT, sustainability, and deep tech ventures. Sting offers two main tracks: the Accelerate program (a shorter, intensive accelerator with investment) and the Incubate program (a longer incubation with office space and coaching). Startups benefit from SEK 400,000 (≈€35,000) in pre-seed investment via Sting’s Propel Capital angel fund, as well as hands-on mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. Sting is notable for its extensive network in the Nordics – participants get access to 80+ industry mentors and introductions to a broad investor pool in Sweden and internationally. The results speak volumes: Sting has supported 270+ startups since inception, with a survival rate over 70% and multiple high-profile alumni. Success stories include Yubico (security keys unicorn), Sellpy (fashion recommerce, acquired by H&M), and ClimateView (climate planning SaaS). In addition to funding and coaching, Sting offers free office space at A House in Stockholm, product development labs, and perks from partners. The program emphasizes key performance indicators (KPIs) and growth milestones – Sting aims to help companies reach first customers, significant revenues, or Series A readiness within 6–18 months. Beyond individual companies, Sting has played a crucial role in Stockholm’s ecosystem: it co-founded SUP46 (Start-Up People of Sweden) co-working space and hosts Sweden’s annual Startup Demo Day. Sting alumni have collectively raised over €600 million. With the Swedish ecosystem maturing, Sting remains a cornerstone – providing new founders with structured support, an entrepreneurial community, and that all-important first investment to turbocharge their growth.
SuperCharger Ventures runs a 12-week, equity-free EdTech and Future of Work accelerator programme in Malta, co-funded by Malta Enterprise. Up to 15 startups per cohort receive mentoring from 40+ local stakeholders, access to grants and soft loans of €300,000–€1.5 million, and connections to a global investor network. The Malta programme is one of several international hubs operated by SuperCharger alongside London, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Rwanda.
The Pearse Lyons Accelerator, now run as the Pearse Lyons Cultivator, is an agri-food-tech accelerator backed by Alltech and Dogpatch Labs in Dublin. It connects ag-tech startups with the global food and agriculture supply chain, using Alltech's presence in more than 120 countries to help founders run commercial pilots with Alltech and its partner companies.
UniLab is Latvia's university-backed startup accelerator, jointly run by Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, Riga Stradinš University, and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Its programmes include UniLab Elevate (incubation for technology-based university spinouts), Venture Catalysts (a commercialisation course for scientists), and UniLab Defence (co-led with NATO DIANA). Active since 2020, UniLab has supported more than 53 emerging startups with personalised mentoring and financial grants.
UNIQA Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of UNIQA Insurance Group, founded in 2016 and based in Vienna, with €150 million in investment capital. It invests at Series A and B stages in insurtech, digital health, mobility, and fintech companies, with a particular emphasis on CEE startups. The portfolio has grown to over 50 companies including unicorn Bitpanda, with eight acquisitions among its exits.
VEF (Vostok Emerging Finance) is a Stockholm-listed investment company that backs growth-stage fintech companies in emerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico, India and Pakistan. It takes minority stakes with a long-term perspective, supporting founders building financial services for underserved consumers and businesses from investment through to exit.
Venionaire Capital is a Vienna-based boutique venture capital and advisory firm founded in 2012 by Berthold Baurek-Karlic. The firm manages venture funds focused on DACH-region technology startups, investing at seed and Series A in fintech, IoT, and entertainment tech. Venionaire combines direct fund investments with corporate innovation advisory services, helping connect startups with strategic corporate partners. The firm also organizes the ViennaUP conference track and provides M&A advisory for tech companies, positioning itself as a bridge between the Austrian startup ecosystem and international capital markets.
Launched in 2020, VentureCake is a Vienna-based early-stage accelerator providing a structured mentoring track, ecosystem access, and coworking space in central Vienna. The program supports pre-seed and seed startups across tech sectors with workshops on fundraising, product development, and go-to-market. Each cohort culminates in a Demo Day with a EUR 250K pitch prize. VentureCake connects founders with Austrian corporate partners and angel investors. Scope: Local (Vienna).
Established 2016. 100-day accelerator for web and software startups with intensive coaching, mentoring, and free workspace. Focus on B2B software with SaaS and fintech alumni. Support: mentorship, coworking, investor connections. Scope: Regional (Northern Germany).
Founded in 2007, Vertis Ventures (formerly Vertis SGR) is a Naples-based VC bridging northern and southern Italy, managing over EUR 200M across early-stage and growth funds. The firm invests EUR 0.5-10M in media, fintech, and industrial tech, with a mandate to support innovation in Italy's Mezzogiorno region. Portfolio includes Buzzoole (influencer marketing), Optima Italia, and Mosaicoon. Vertis is notable for its focus on developing venture capital culture in southern Italy while maintaining national deal flow.
Challenge-based corporate innovation tracks connected to VivaTech 2026. Deadlines are rolling and usually close between late March and early April 2026 depending on partner challenge. Selected startups can receive exhibition visibility, pilot opportunities, and enterprise integration support.
Walerud Ventures is a Stockholm-based venture firm that backs Nordic deep-tech companies at the pre-seed and seed stage, working hands-on as investors, advisers and part-time operators rather than passive backers. Founded by members of the Walerud family, it focuses on 'planet-positive' science and technology and has helped build early Nordic deep-tech companies.
City of Warsaw acceleration initiative connecting startups with municipal companies for pilot implementations, especially in sustainability and urban innovation. Participants receive mentoring and can compete for demo-day prizes.
Founded 2011. Telefonica's open innovation hub connecting startups to telecom, IoT, and cybersecurity opportunities; typically invests around EUR 150K for equity and provides partnerships. Supports 500+ startups across 10 countries; notable alum Carto. Scope: International.
Hybrid VC fund and tech innovation hub founded in 2016 running accelerator programs at The Factory and investing in early-stage digital and fintech startups. Support: equity investment, mentorship from in-house experts, workspace access. Scope: National.
Founded 2001. Multi-sector accelerator helping early-stage tech startups reach first customers and EUR 1M ARR within 3 years. KPI-driven programs, zero-equity loans, and coaching; portfolio has 50+ exits. Scope: Regional (Ile-de-France).