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Some 24 new, science-based start-ups were awarded at the EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final: 49 teams from 21 countries competed in nine categories, collectively winning prizes worth 150,000 euros.
This year’s final of the EIT Jumpstarter programme was held on November 28 in Budapest, Hungary, along with the EIT Community conference, The next decade of innovation for the future of Europe, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme.
EIT Jumpstarter is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union.
“The pipeline of start-ups established in non-Western countries through programmes like EIT Jumpstarter is growing every year, and many ventures from previous editions have now reached multimillion valuations. This is particularly important to close the funding gap in the European innovation ecosystem. The programme helps create new jobs, brings new skills, and stimulates entrepreneurship in the region,” says Piotr Boulange, representing the EIT Jumpstarter programme.
“Considering that every euro invested in the programme generates 30 euros in external funding for newly built start-ups, EIT Jumpstarter truly serves as a springboard for talented founders,” he adds.
Market-ready start-ups
Throughout the seven-month programme, participants identified and validated the best business model for their science-based innovative ideas. The aim of this process is to turn their ideas into market-ready start-ups.
From 600 applications, only 180 innovators were selected for the training, and the best 49 teams were shortlisted to compete in Budapest, during a dynamic live pitching session divided into eight categories based on the industry—from food to energy. In each of the categories, three awardees were selected, collectively winning prizes worth 150,000 euros.
The winning teams ranked first in their categories were: NEAMO from Latvia (EIT Food), BIOCHIP-PATHFINDER from Portugal (EIT Health), StoreNow from Portugal (EIT InnoEnergy), Yapar3D from Türkiye (EIT Manufacturing), Total Energy from Croatia (EIT RawMaterials), Urbix Hub from Bulgaria (EIT Urban Mobility), POWAR STEAM from Spain (New European Bauhaus), Drone NonDestructiveTesting from Ukraine (Rebuild Ukraine), WellscanPro from Kosovo for the Western Balkans special award, and the Most Outstanding EIT Jumpstarter Alumni statuette went to Lightly from Czechia.
The next edition of the programme will be opened in January, but pre-registration is already available.
In 2025, the EIT Jumpstarter foresees additional support for Western Balkan and Ukrainian talents and a new prize to recognise the best newly created start-up in the Mediterranean region and Outermost Regions of the European Union.
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