EIT Jumpstarter 2025

Do you have an innovative idea and want to jumpstart your business?

The EIT Jumpstarter 2025, a flagship pre-accelerator focused on unveiling talented innovators from emerging European countries, is now open. This year’s programme will seek innovative ideas in more than 27 countries and territories in Europe, with a special radar on the Western Balkans, the EU Outermost Regions and Mediterranean, offering additional prizes and opportunities.

This programme supports innovators in transforming their innovative ideas into prosperous start-ups in a safe and supportive business environment. It does not require equity and is free of charge for individuals and teams coming from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, where the pace of innovation is still progressing. During the last eight editions the EIT Jumpstarter has upskilled more than 1300 talents in the field of entrepreneurship and helped establish 124 start-ups. These companies have already raised approximately EUR 150M in the form of external investment. 

The EIT Jumpstarter is the perfect platform to validate an innovative idea and determine whether your research results can be commercialized as a product or service. We offer support in the initial stages of setting up a start-up and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and learn from industry experts who will help you refine your idea and establish a prosperous startup

Tina Benda, EIT RawMaterials, who curates the Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams Cohort in the EIT Jumpstarter

Refreshed cohorts

The 2025 edition of EIT Jumpstarter features eight dynamic categories, powered by the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs):

• Healthcare powered by EIT Health
• Food & Agritech powered by EIT Food
• Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams powered by EIT RawMaterials
• Energy and Renewables powered by EIT InnoEnergy
• Advanced and Green Manufacturing powered by EIT Manufacturing
• Smart Cities and Mobility powered by EIT Urban Mobility
• New European Bauhaus (NEB) powered by EIT Culture & Creativity
• Rebuild Ukraine powered by EIT Health

In each category, winners can receive EUR 10,000 in prize money and gain access to tailored support to help bring their innovations to market.

Special Focus on Mediterranean, the EU Outermost Regions and Western Balkans economies

EIT Jumpstarter 2025 introduces special awards for innovators from the Mediterranean and the EU Outermost Regions. The EIT Community aims to support even more talents from such territories as Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Reunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain). Two cash prizes will be waiting for the best start-up from the EU outermost Regions and for the best one from the Mediterranean, regardless of the thematic cohort. In addition, EIT Jumpstarter aims to support even more actively the Western Balkans economies, offering additional 30 seats for talents coming from North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The best team from this region will also be awarded an additional cash prize, regardless of the thematic cohort.

There is much more than the award itself, as it is the recognition of our project from the EIT Community that means a lot. Also, the support of the EIT Community in developing our start-up is huge and can take us to the top. The EIT Jumpstarter programme taught us the basic, but also the most important steps for setting up a healthy, lean start-up, how to be fast and how to be the first on the market. Perhaps the most important of all is how crucial the team and communication are for success and reaching the goal

Neo Pill’s team, winners of the Healthcare category at the 2023 EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final

Neo Pill, a Serbian start-up, which has developed an innovative oral cleaning product specifically designed for people with fixed dental braces. It is the world’s only dental product powered by electrolysis, made from recyclable materials. This convenient solution requires no water or access to a bathroom, making it both practical and eco-friendly.

How to Join

The applications can be submitted until April 2, 2025 via the EIT Jumpstarter page. The selected 190 teams will join the online bootcamps and the Pitch Days. Only 80 teams will advance to local trainings, build their business plan and register their start-up. In November 48 teams will enter the final pitching competition with the chance to win cash prizes (EUR 150,000 in total) and get exposure to the largest innovators network in Europe – EIT.

Apply here