Ventures Thrive

Ventures Thrive represents an innovative eight-month acceleration program specifically crafted for Central and Eastern European deeptech startups. The program offers participants access to €1.5 million in equity-free funding, creating a unique opportunity for early-stage companies to scale without diluting ownership. Launching its inaugural cycle with a focus on climate technology solutions, this venture-building initiative aims to nurture groundbreaking innovations that address urgent environmental challenges facing our planet today.

The comprehensive program extends far beyond mere financial support, delivering a robust curriculum of specialized masterclasses led by industry experts. These educational components are strategically designed to equip founding teams with critical business development skills, technical expertise, and market insights necessary for scaling deeptech ventures in the competitive European ecosystem. Participants benefit from personalized mentorship and hands-on guidance throughout their development journey, helping transform promising technologies into market-ready solutions with demonstrable impact.

A distinguishing feature of the program is its extensive network of corporate partners and international investors who provide invaluable industry connections, potential pilot opportunities, and pathways to follow-on funding. This carefully cultivated community creates a supportive environment where founders can validate their technologies with real-world applications, refine their business models based on market feedback, and establish strategic relationships that extend well beyond the program's duration. The initiative serves as a bridge between innovative CEE startups and global markets, addressing the historical funding gap in the region.

With applications opening in January 2023, the program employs a rigorous selection process to identify the most promising climate tech innovations with potential for significant environmental impact. Selected ventures receive customized support based on their development stage, technological readiness, and specific market challenges. By focusing on deeptech solutions for climate challenges in its first cycle, the program aligns with urgent European sustainability goals while positioning CEE as an emerging hub for technological innovation in environmental sectors. This initiative represents a significant investment in the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem and its capacity to develop globally relevant solutions.