Take your start-up global. The world is waiting!
The EIT Founders2Founders programme is a hybrid entrepreneurial training programme implemented in Ukraine for innovative SMEs and early-stage start-ups (TRL3–TRL5). The programme is developed to provide Ukrainian founders with tailored support for market expansion, funding readiness, legal compliance, and capacity building.
EIT Community, together with Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration are accepting applications for ambitious Ukrainian entrepreneurs to participate in an intensive training programme. The Community is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union under Horizon Europe, fostering the largest innovation network in Europe.
The event is aimed at founders and employees of innovative SMEs in the early and middle stages of development (TRL3-TRL5)* who:
- are interested in expanding their business to international markets;
- are looking for knowledge and support in legal and financial aspects;
- seek to improve their business strategies and market approaches;
- improve their pitching and presentation skills to attract investors.
* TRL 3 – 5
- TRL 3 — The concept is confirmed by experiment.
- TRL 4 — Аvailable prototype.
- TRL 5 — The first tests of prototype were performed
The initiative is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and implemented by Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, in cooperation with Diia.City, Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, Diia.Business, YEP Accelerator and Win-Win EDIH project.
“The EIT Community has supported Ukraine for the last few years, mainly in ecosystem development. Currently, we offer top-tier entrepreneurial support to bring Ukrainian talents closer to the European innovation ecosystem and equip them with a specific skill set that will aid in the future reconstruction of the country. With a strong track record of successful ventures and built-in programmes such as EIT Jumpstarter, the EIT Community continues working with Ukrainian talents interested in changing the world via deep technologies,”
Piotr Pawelec, RIS and EIT Community Manager, EIT InnoEnergy KIC.
Application period: from June 2, 2025 to June 23rd, 2025
Requirements for applicants:
- SMEs, including start-ups registered in Ukraine or companies that have moved from Ukraine to a member state of the European Union, its overseas countries and territories (EEA) or associated countries of the Horizon Europe programme after 02/24/2022.
- Companies that have an MVP or product in the early and middle stages of development (TRL3-TRL5).
- They are working on innovative solutions, services and/or products.
The process of reviewing applications and determining the winners:
- Open call: Submission of the application here.
- Eligibility check: Review of applications for compliance with the basic eligibility and selection criteria.
- Evaluation of the application: The Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration project team, together with the EIT Community Officer in Ukraine conduct a detailed review of the applications.
- Selection of start-ups: 30 start-ups are selected
- Invitations: Selected start-ups receive an invitation to participate in the workshop.
Last year results
The EIT Founders2Founders programme has already demonstrated a strong track record in supporting early-stage Ukrainian start-ups.
- 5 regional workshops, the initiative has provided
- training 70 start-ups, offering them practical tools, strategic guidance, and access to a network of international experts, in total,
- 60,000 euros in prizes have been awarded.
What to expect in 2025
The EIT Founders2Founders 2025 programme has been redesigned to offer a deeper, more hands-on experience tailored to the needs of early-stage Ukrainian start-ups. Participants will benefit from a powerful mix of strategic training, international
mentorship, and ecosystem exposure — all designed to accelerate their path to global markets.
Programme highlights:
- One full day of intensive online learning featuring go-to-market workshops, training, and actionable business tools.
- Ongoing personalised support throughout the learning journey, with guidance from top experts and individualised recommendations to help each team stay on track.
- Training and mentorship are delivered by leading international experts and experienced Ukrainian founders who understand the realities of scaling from Ukraine to the world.
- Three hybrid growth-focused events across Ukraine — starting in Kyiv, continuing in Odesa, and concluding in Lviv.
- Finale at IT Arena 2025 — the top-performing start-ups will pitch live to a global audience of investors, corporate leaders, and international organisations, with a chance to win a cash prize.
- Access to a curated content library of templates, videos, and resources to support long-term business growth.
- Peer-to-peer networking and expert support through live Q&A sessions and a dedicated WhatsApp group.
Also, this year’s programme became more personalised for each selected start-up. Each of them will receive a more individualised programme that includes:
Tailored support for each selected start-up:
- Individual mentoring session with a carefully matched expert.
- A customised follow-up note after the training day, including feedback, insights, and next steps.
- Continued access to personalised resources and expert advice beyond the training days.
Training topics:
- Business strategy, including USP (unique selling proposition), marketing and sales.
- Entering the European market and product development.
- Financing, including fundraising and external financing.
- Partner search tools, national and international business development and innovation programmes, and investment attraction.
- Legal requirements, including IPR, GDPR and investment documents.
- Effective pitching and product presentation.
EIT Founders2Founders is part of a broader initiative aimed at building a strong, resilient, and globally competitive innovation ecosystem in Ukraine. By empowering entrepreneurs with knowledge, mentorship, and international exposure, the programme contributes to the long-term development of the country’s tech and start-up sectors.
For more information and to apply: eit-ris.eu/eit-founders2founders
Deadline: 23rd of June
Take your start-up global. The world is waiting!