EIT Jumpstarter (Climate-KIC)
Offers EIT Jumpstarter for early-stage European teams with structured validation, mentoring, and prize-based preparation for market testing.
EIT Jumpstarter 2026 is a seven-month pre-acceleration program connected to Climate-KIC and the wider EIT innovation network, built for early-stage ideas from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. It runs as a prize-based competition that ends in an international pitch stage rather than as a company equity round. The program supports individuals and teams with a strong idea, and it does not require an existing company. It covers healthcare, food and agritech, materials, energy and renewables, advanced and green manufacturing, smart cities and mobility, plus a Malta track, and it offers financial support with final prizes of up to €10,000. The cycle is annual, the 2026 deadline was 17 May 2026, and the next cycle is expected in 2027. Applicants do best when they bring an early concept with a plausible market path and a team willing to work through training, mentoring, peer learning, and structured validation. The program suits ventures that need a disciplined first push into market testing, not companies that are already raising a large round or looking for a later-stage subsidy.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.