Do you want to start your entrepreneurial journey? Do you have a business idea and want to turn your innovative digital technology into an MVP and start your venture?
What is the 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program?
The 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program is a two-stage initiative supporting the creation and growth of digital and deep-tech ventures (including projects and spin-offs originating from the universities, research organisation, and academic laboratories seeking to realise the commercial potential of their innovation) across Europe.
The program helps teams to:
- validate a business idea and shape an MVP
- strengthen entrepreneurial and venture-building skills
- incorporate a company in the EU
- prepare for market entry, investment, and growth
Program structure
Stage 1: Growth Package
Introductory bootcamp followed by a 12-week incubation program including mentoring, MVP development, and validation, concluding in Demo Day. Selected teams receive a €5,000 Growth Package Prize.
Stage 2: Final Prize
Selected ventures may apply for the final stage and compete for up to €25,000 based on performance.
Important: Selected ventures will commit to providing 28DIGITAL with 5% equity through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity).
Who can apply?
The 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program 2026 is open to multidisciplinary teams (minimum two members) and early-stage startups incorporated in 2025 or later who reside in or are established in one of the following eligible locations. Startups incorporated before 1 January 2025 are not eligible.
EU Member States
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Horizon Europe Associated Countries
Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine.
Additional Requirements
Startups must not have been legally established before 1 January 2025.
Only one application per team or startup is allowed.
Applicants must operate within one of 28DIGITAL’s strategic domains and demonstrate a prototype, Proof-of-Concept, or near-MVP stage.
Participation from Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries and gender-balanced teams is encouraged.
Detailed eligibility and requirements: Call document Rules and regulations.
Who is the 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program for?
EUROPEAN ENTREPRENEURS
- Develop your entrepreneurial skills through structured education and hands-on mentoring.
- Validate your product idea and build a functional MVP.
- Get access to a €5,000 Growth Package Prize and expert support during the 12-week incubation phase.
- Establish your deep tech venture.
- Pitch your solution at Demo Day and become eligible for the Final Prize stage, with up to €25,000 financial support and prepare for seed-stage investment.
- Get business development help from top international experts.
- Find your first investor.
- Join Europe’s leading innovation ecosystem.
From Entrepreneurial Exploration to Venture Creation
The 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program is a two-stage competition designed to support the development of deep tech ventures, including projects and spin-offs originating from the universities research organisation, and academic laboratories seeking to realise the commercial potential of their innovation, from the earliest stages - helping entrepreneurial teams move from concept to MVP, validation, and investment readiness within a structured timeline.
Stage 1 - Growth Package
Kick-off starts with a Bootcamp, followed by a structured 12-week incubation program for selected teams. The program includes mentoring, MVP development and validation, and concludes with a Demo Day, where teams present their progress and results. Selected teams receive a €5,000 cash prize.
Stage 2 - Final Prize
Teams that successfully complete Stage 1, incorporate their venture, and demonstrate a validated MVP may apply for the Final Prize and compete for up to €25,000 in financial support.
The entire program is delivered fully online, enabling broad accessibility while ensuring high-quality mentorship, training, and peer learning.
Growth Package
Kick-off phase including an introductory bootcamp, followed by a structured 12-week incubation program for selected teams.
Participants develop and validate their MVP through tailored mentoring, hands-on support, and structured venture-building activities covering problem validation, business model development, technology advancement, and go-to-market strategy.
The stage concludes with a Demo Day, where teams present their results and progress.
€5,000 cash prize
Final Prize
Teams that successfully complete Stage 1, incorporate their venture, and demonstrate a validated MVP may apply for the Final Prize stage.
Selected ventures pitch their results and compete based on performance, including progress in product validation, market traction, and execution.
Top-performing teams may receive financial support and gain access to follow-on funding and growth opportunities.
Up to €25,000 financial support
Sponsors & Partners
Partner With Us — Boost Innovation, Gain Visibility
28DIGITAL invites leading players in tech, investment, and innovation to sponsor or partner with our Venture Incubation Program. Join us in empowering the next generation of European deep tech startups.
Why join?
- Exclusive visibility as a program partner
- Access to a pipeline of validated deep tech startups
- Get a jury place in our Demo Day
- Engage with 28DIGITAL’s pan-European innovation network
We’re collecting interest now — submit your details through our sponsorship form or reach us at venture_program@eitdigital.eu
How to apply
1. Read carefully the Rules & Regulations
2. Complete the application form
- Visit the Application page
- Select your country of residence or establishment.
- Describe your team.
- Explain the business model, the technology underlying your product or solution, and your innovative idea.
- Upload your pitch deck and any required supporting materials.
3. Application deadline
Applications closing on 9 June 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time).
Get started today!
Webinar
Testimonials
"Thanks to EIT Digital, we built our initial MVP and validated business hypotheses. With their ongoing support we survived the pandemic, pivoted our product and raised the next investment round." - Tomasz Marcińczyk, Co-founder of Restimo
"We are extremely grateful to the EIT Digital Venture Program for taking a chance on us in such an early stage of our startup journey. They provided us with essential knowledge on how to start and grow our business and gave us a financial support without which we would not be able to build our MVP and validate our idea." - co-founder Karolina Czaplicka, Subjective Guide
"The EIT Digital Venture Program helped us building a solid foundation to grow and scale. Its main focus was on business and how to prepare an MVP. During the program, we had different courses from pitching sessions and customer interviews to ‘how to talk to potential investors’ training. It made our service clearer and helped us to identify the other sectors to cover." - Igor Anicic, founder of Hotspoter
"During the EIT Digital Venture Program, we were able to develop our MVP and to gain access to experts in the entrepreneurship world, who provided us with important tools to scale our project. It was essential to leverage our idea and to transform it into a real thing." - Diana Mota, CMO and co-founder of PARQIST
"During the Venture Program, our service became more complex and clearer at the same time. Our mentor was a senior software engineer and he and other experts helped us develop the perfect software base for our solution. Besides the mentoring and financial support, EIT Digital helped us with the incorporation process, with their experience in investments in the EU. The Venture Program gave us the opportunity and support to think bigger." - George Foroglou, Project Manager at EMBIOTS
"Good ideas need development help in the beginning. EIT Digital's Venture Program offered a funding and development program, providing the basics of running a company and new connections essential for improvement." - Jurij Triller, founder of Smart Octopus Solutions
"We faced so many hurdles and obstacles when we started our project. So we took the chance and enrolled in the Venture Program. The first steps were much easier with the support of EIT Digital and we gained dozens of new contacts during the program." - Marco Marques, CEO of Indoor 4.0
"Every session the startup gets is tailor-made. The benefits are huge, and the programme can help startups find the right path for growth." - Andrej Evtimov, KIIMO
"It is the only programme we found that actually understands early-stage startups. We needed money before our incorporation, specific mentorship for our startup and the investment afterwards. ARISE has it all!" - Miloš Jokić, Gradoid
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program? Below you will find answers to the most common questions about eligibility, application requirements, program structure, prizes, timeline and participation.
General
What is the 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program?
The 28DIGITAL Venture Incubation Program is a two-stage initiative supporting the creation and growth of early-stage digital and deep-tech ventures across Europe. It is designed for teams that are developing innovative digital technologies and want to validate their solution, strengthen their business model, prepare for market entry, and move towards investment readiness.
Who is the program for?
The program is for multidisciplinary founder teams and early-stage startups working on digital or deep-tech solutions. It is especially relevant for teams developing projects or spin-offs from universities, research organisations, academic laboratories, or early venture-building environments.
Is the program online or in person?
The program is delivered fully online, making it accessible to teams from eligible countries across Europe while still providing structured training, mentoring and peer-learning opportunities.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
The program is open to multidisciplinary teams with at least two members and early-stage startups incorporated in 2025 or later. Applicants must reside in or be established in an eligible EU Member State or selected Horizon Europe Associated Country.
Can a startup incorporated before 1 January 2025 apply?
No. Startups legally established before 1 January 2025 are not eligible for this edition of the program.
Can solo founders apply?
The program is intended for teams with a minimum of two members. Multidisciplinary teams combining technology and business skills are encouraged.
Are RIS countries encouraged to apply?
Yes. Participation from Regional Innovation Scheme countries is encouraged, as are gender-balanced teams.
What stage should our solution be at?
Applicants should have a prototype, proof-of-concept, or a near market-ready functional version. The program is intended for teams that are beyond the idea-only stage and can demonstrate technology, product progress, and venture potential.
Application
How do we apply?
Applicants should complete the online application form through the 28DIGITAL application page. The application requires information about the team, business model, technology, innovation, pitch deck, and supporting materials.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 9 June 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.
Can we submit more than one application?
Only one application per team or startup is allowed for this call.
Does “only one application” mean we cannot apply to another separate 28DIGITAL call?
For this call, the rule means that one team or startup should submit only one application to this specific Venture Incubation Program call. If there are separate calls or editions with different application processes, applicants should follow the rules of each specific call.
Selection and Evaluation
What makes a strong application?
A strong application clearly explains the problem, the technology, the market need, the team, the business model, and the expected path to market. It should show that the team has a functional solution direction, strong execution potential, and a realistic plan for validation, growth, and incorporation.
Are gender-balanced teams encouraged?
Yes. Gender-balanced teams are encouraged to apply.
Are university or research spin-offs eligible?
Yes. The program explicitly includes projects and spin-offs originating from universities, research organisations, and academic laboratories that want to realise the commercial potential of their innovation.
Practical Questions
Do we need to incorporate a company before applying?
Early-stage startups incorporated in 2025 or later may apply. Teams that are not yet incorporated may also be relevant if they meet the program requirements and are ready to move towards venture creation. The Final Prize stage requires successful completion of Stage 1, venture incorporation and demonstrated validation progress.
Can we apply if we are still students or researchers?
Yes, provided the team meets the eligibility requirements and is working on an innovative digital or deep-tech solution with commercial potential.
Can we apply if our product is not yet on the market?
Yes. The program is designed for early-stage teams that have a prototype, proof-of-concept, or near market-ready functional version and need structured support to validate and prepare for market entry.
Do we need previous investment to apply?
No previous investment is mentioned as a requirement. The program is intended to help early-stage teams prepare for investment readiness and growth.
Who can we contact for questions?
For questions about the Venture Incubation Program, applicants can contact the 28DIGITAL team at venture_program@28digital.eu.
What should we do if we experience technical difficulties with the application form?
If you experience technical difficulties while completing or submitting your application, please contact the 28DIGITAL Venture Program team as soon as possible at venture_program@28digital.eu. Please include a short description of the issue, screenshots if possible, and the email address used for the application, so the team can support you efficiently.
