Crack the Code to Europe’s Toughest Funding: EIC Accelerator - Insights, Strategies & Success
The EIC Accelerator is the EU’s flagship program to support deep-tech startups and SMEs with breakthrough innovations. With a budget of €7 billion (2021–2027), it provides up to €2.5M in grants, €15M in equity, and access to expert mentoring and coaching. With its attractive support, it remains one of Europe’s toughest funding programs, with only 5-8% of applicants succeeding. Germany has been among the top performers, with 441 startups receiving more than €565M so far.
❓Who can apply?
Applicants must come from EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. Eligible entities include:
- Single startups or SMEs (including spin-outs)
- Small mid-caps (≤ 499 employees) that need rapid scale-up of TRL 9 activity (investment-only)
- Individuals or legal entities planning to set up an SME or small mid-cap
Applicants from third countries may become eligible by relocating before submitting the full application, while applicants from the United Kingdom can only apply for the grant-only scheme.
🎯Application Process & Deadlines
- Open Call: No predefined topic – innovations in any field are eligible
- Short applications: accepted continuously
- Full applications deadlines:
🔎 Strategic Sectoral Focus
EIC-backed startups are concentrated in critical sectors such as Climate Tech, Deep Tech, AI, Biotech, and Space. Notably, 80% develop physical technologies, compared to the broader ecosystem’s SaaS focus. These physical tech ventures show a higher graduation and success rate when EU-backed, and most are still early stage, creating significant growth potential.
💡Insights from the UnternehmerTUM Ecosystem
To better understand how startups navigate this process, Vivian Wiljanen (Program & Event Manager at XPRENEURS Incubator) led a survey among UnternehmerTUM-affiliated founders who applied for or secured EIC Accelerator funding.
📊 Key insights from the survey:
- 50% of the teams invested 300+ hours in the application
- 87.5% of the startups worked with external agencies (e.g., ZAZ, Eura, BayFor) and successfully secured EIC funding
- Top tip from the founders: “Do it with an agency or with a qualified expert!”
📈 Founders also mentioned:
- Understand the jury
- Align with EU policy goals
- Expect long timelines & bureaucracy
- LOIs and traction are key
The survey highlights a clear growing opportunity to expand EIC-specific support – and we’re embedding this into our program with a dedicated workshop together with the highest ranked agency, stepping up with more targeted guidance, training, and resources for deep-tech founders.
🌟 Success story: Quantum Diamonds’ path to EIC Funding with Zaz Ventures
A powerful example of what the right support can achieve is the success story of our alumni startup QuantumDiamonds. With Zaz Ventures at their side, the team transformed a groundbreaking quantum-sensing platform into a focused business case. Instead of presenting the full breadth of their technology, they narrowed in on one urgent application – semiconductor fault analysis – directly aligned with Europe’s reshoring strategy. Backed by Letters of Intent from leading manufacturers and sharpened through intensive pitch training, their story resonated with the EIC jury.
The result: millions in EIC funding that accelerated hiring, enabled state-of-the-art equipment purchases, and opened doors to Europe’s top innovation networks. As Kevin Berghoff, Co-Founder and CEO of Quantum Diamonds, put it: “Treat it like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Focus your story, prepare relentlessly, and apply with your core vision.”
✨ Stories like this highlight both the challenges and opportunities in Europe’s toughest funding program – and why smart strategy, expert support, and relentless preparation make the difference.
Interviewed for success story: Kevin Berghoff (CEO, QuantumDiamonds) and Stephan Decher (Managing Partner, Zaz Ventures) & Florian Schlehuber (Head of Business Development, Zaz Ventures).
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