New Venture Builder set to invest €1.5M equity-free to address funding shortages and growth difficulties among deeptech startups in CEE

The European Innovation Council Summit, Wolves Summit, Acceler8, and Anthology Ventures announce the launch of Ventures Thrive – a new pan-European venture-building studio to accelerate deeptech startups with equity-free funding and a curated growth programme. The initiative is funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and is set to address funding shortages and growth difficulties among deeptech startups in CEE.  Over the course of two years, Ventures Thrive will invest a cumulative €1.5M in 32 selected deeptech startups from Central Eastern Europe and widening countries (such as Malta, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, etc).  core element of the programme is matching selected ventures with key challenges defined by our programme partners with the ultimate goal of increasing the chances of commercialization. Ventures Thrive was designed for growth-stage (TRL Level 6 and beyond) businesses from CEE and widening countries that employ deeptech technologies (blockchain/DLT, AI/ML, nanotech, etc.). The 8-month programme will accept applications from both privately and publicly funded ventures including portfolio companies of the EIC accelerator or other deep tech related programmes like Eurostars, HEurope, Digital Europe Programme, or MS programmes. Startups are invited to submit their interest at  https://www.venturesthrive.eu/

 The applications will open in January 2023.