Top 20 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in Europe in 2025
As the European startup ecosystem continues to flourish, 2025 offers numerous funding opportunities for early-stage startups looking to innovate and grow. Below is a comprehensive list of the Top 20 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in Europe in 2025, detailing the eligibility, funding scope, focus areas, and more.
Write FREE SEO-optimized Blog Articles! Our Article Writer ensures your blog is loved by both Google and your readers, turning those clicks into customers.
👉 Write your article here
1. EIC Accelerator
Funding: Grants below €2.5 million; equity investments ranging from €0.5 to €10 million; larger amounts available for STEP Scale-Up.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with high-impact innovations.
Focus: Deep tech and market-creating innovations.
Deadlines: Continuous short applications; Full applications due March 12 and October 1, 2025.
2. EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up
Funding: Equity investments from €10 to €30 million.
Eligibility: SMEs, startups, spin-offs, and small mid-caps innovating in critical technology areas.
Focus: Scaling up strategic technologies and attracting larger private investments.
Budget: Expected to expand to €900 million for 2025-27.
3. EIC Pathfinder
Funding: Grants up to €4 million.
Eligibility: Research teams engaged in visionary, multi-disciplinary research projects.
Focus: High-potential early-stage R&D for future technologies.
Deadlines: Refer to EIC Pathfinder for details.
Boost Your SEO by listing your startup and get a FREE backlink.
Create a profile in the F/MS Startup Game, add the link to your website and submit.
👉 List your startup now!
4. EIC Transition
Funding: Grants up to €2.5 million; up to €3 million for Open Calls and €4 million for Challenge Calls.
Eligibility: Projects capitalizing on previous EIC or Horizon Europe results.
Focus: Validating scientific foundations and achieving proof of concept for breakthrough technologies.
Deadlines: March 11, 2025 (Open) and October 14, 2025 (Challenges).
5. EIT Urban Mobility Financial Support for Startups
Funding: Up to €2 million per company.
Eligibility: Startups from RIS countries and others focused on urban mobility innovations.
Focus: Developing and scaling urban mobility solutions.
Deadlines: Check the EIT Urban Mobility website for updates.
6. Horizon Europe – Digital Europe Programme
Funding: Varies by project.
Eligibility: SMEs and startups in digital technology sectors.
Focus: AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.
Deadlines: Check the Digital Europe Programme for specific deadlines.
7. Horizon Europe – Innovation Fund
Funding: Varies by project.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs developing climate-neutral technologies.
Focus: Green technologies and climate-neutral solutions.
Deadlines: Specific deadlines can be found on the Innovation Fund page.
8. Eurostars
Funding: Public funding dedicated to international collaborative R&D projects.
Eligibility: Innovative SMEs in a leading role, collaborating with other entities.
Focus: Developing marketable products, processes, or services through international cooperation.
Deadlines: From January 10, 2025, to March 13, 2025.
Boost Your SEO with 1,500+ Free Business Directories: increase your DA, get backlinks and traffic.
We've compiled an exclusive list of directories and websites where you can submit your business and start building high-quality backlinks to boost your website traffic and get your SEO snowball rolling.
👉 Submit your startup now!
9. Catalyse NEB 2025
Funding: €20,000 cash plus business and entrepreneurship support.
Eligibility: Startups tackling climate, food, manufacturing, and mobility challenges.
Focus: Promoting innovations aligned with New European Bauhaus objectives.
10. EIT Manufacturing Venture Building Programme 2025
Funding: Check specific program website for details.
Eligibility: Startups in the manufacturing sector focusing on innovative solutions.
Focus: Venture building support for early-stage manufacturing startups.
11. Startup Europe Programme
Funding: Varies by program component.
Eligibility: Startups seeking to connect with local ecosystems and cross-border acceleration.
Focus: Supporting digital and deep tech startups at various stages.
12. EIC Pre-Accelerator Pilot
Funding: Specific funding thresholds are program-dependent.
Eligibility: Early-stage deep tech startups in widening countries.
Focus: Equipping startups with development, business planning, and investment readiness support.
13. AU-EU Youth Lab Innovation Grant 2025
Funding: Specific details vary.
Eligibility: Youth organizations demonstrating innovation.
Focus: Empowering young entrepreneurs in Africa.
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.
We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.
👉 Get featured now!
14. Creative Europe
Funding: Varies depending on the project scale.
Eligibility: Cultural and creative sectors, including innovative startups.
Focus: Cross-border cooperation in the culture and creative sectors.
15. Horizon Europe – European Innovation Ecosystems
Funding: Project-based funding applicable to partner organizations.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs within an innovation ecosystem.
Focus: Connecting and developing synergies among European innovation hubs.
16. European Space Agency – Start-Up Funding
Funding: Varies by innovative projects in space tech.
Eligibility: Startups working on innovative space technologies and applications.
Focus: Advancing and commercializing space-related innovations.
17. TRANSPARENT Project Funding
Funding: Specific allocations based on project needs.
Eligibility: Emerging startups in transparency-driven fields.
Focus: Supporting innovation around transparency and accountability.
18. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Funding: Amounts vary based on regional support.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs located in EU regions targeting economic development.
Focus: Promoting regional development and innovation.
19. LIFE Programme
Funding: Varies by environmental and conservation projects.
Eligibility: Startups focusing on climate action and environmentally-friendly initiatives.
Focus: Sustainability and biodiversity initiatives.
20. Cohesion Fund
Funding: Supports projects related to environmental and transport infrastructure.
Eligibility: Startups contributing to EU cohesion objectives.
Focus: Infrastructure projects that promote regional cohesion.
Important Notes:
- TRL: Many EU grants assess projects based on their Technology Readiness Level (TRL), which often influences the funding amount.
- Application Process: Startups must prepare for a comprehensive application process that may involve detailed proposals and potentially demo presentations.
This curated list outlines significant funding opportunities for startups across Europe in 2025, reflecting the spirit of innovation and growth integral to the continent's entrepreneurial landscape.
Join F/MS: Startup Facilitator & Incubator and unlock your startup dreams today! Get your first customers, register you company in the Netherlands and get startup visas for the team.
FAQ
Q: What is the EIC Accelerator and who can apply?
A: The EIC Accelerator, part of the European Innovation Council, supports startups and SMEs to develop and scale up high-impact innovations. Eligible applicants are startups and SMEs with innovative products, services, or business models. Learn more about EIC Accelerator.
Q: How much funding can startups receive from the EIC Pathfinder?
A: The EIC Pathfinder supports research teams with grants up to €4 million for visionary projects. Discover more about EIC Pathfinder.
Q: What type of projects does the EIC Transition fund?
A: The EIC Transition funds projects that follow up on previous EIC Pathfinder or Horizon Europe results, helping to achieve proof of concept. Grants can reach up to €4 million. Find out more about EIC Transition.
Q: Can startups working on urban mobility apply for financial support?
A: Yes, the EIT Urban Mobility provides financial support up to €2 million for startups focused on innovative urban mobility solutions. Check details on EIT Urban Mobility.
Q: What does the Horizon Europe – Digital Europe Programme focus on?
A: This programme supports startups working on AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills, with funding varying by project. Learn more about Digital Europe Programme.
Q: What is the funding range for the EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up?
A: The STEP Scale Up provides equity investments ranging from €10 to €30 million for promising companies in strategic technologies. Explore more on STEP Scale Up.
Q: What is the Eurostars initiative?
A: Eurostars supports innovative SMEs and project partners in international collaborative R&D projects, providing public funding for ventures focused on commercializable innovations. Check out Eurostars.
Q: What type of companies can apply for the Catalyse NEB 2025 program?
A: Startups addressing challenges in climate, food, manufacturing, and urban mobility can apply for the €20,000 funding under the Catalyse NEB 2025 program. Find out more about Catalyse NEB 2025.
Q: Are there specific deadlines for each grant program?
A: Yes, each grant program has its own deadlines. It is crucial to check the official websites for the most accurate information. Learn about EIC funding opportunities.
Q: Where can I find additional startup funding programs in Europe?
A: Additional programs, such as the Startup Europe Programme and the EIC Pre-Accelerator Pilot, offer various opportunities for startup funding in Europe. Explore Startup Europe Programme.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
