Venture Building Programme for University Spinoffs and Startups 2025

The EIT Manufacturing Venture Building Programme 2025 returns to fuel Europe’s next generation of high-growth industrial startups and university spinoffs. Designed to drive transformation across manufacturing, the Venture Building Programme 2025 is a gateway to shaping a future built on efficiency, sustainability and innovation.

Designed to drive transformation across manufacturing, the Venture Building Programme 2025 is a gateway to shaping a future built on efficiency, sustainability and innovation.

Objectives

• The programme is seeking for B2B startups and university spinoffs that are actively fundraising and fit within one or more of the following Strategic Objectives of EIT Manufacturing as set out in the Strategic Agenda 2021-2027:
  • Put people at the centre of manufacturing
  • Accelerate green manufacturing
  • Foster sovereignty and competitiveness.

Topics

• Startups and university spinoffs should also focus on any of the following topics:
  • Critical components, such as semiconductors/photonics/quantum, electronics, advanced materials, additive manufacturing;
  • Energy transition such as renewables, decarbonisation, circular economy, carbon capture;
  • Automation and digitalisation technologies.
  • As industries drive toward digitalisation, sustainability, and operational efficiency, tackling these challenges is essential to boost global competitiveness and advance the manufacturing sector.

Benefits

• The 3-month online Venture Building Programme is tailored to equip industrial startups and university spinoffs with the tools they need to thrive. Participants will benefit from:
  • Expert-led workshops and mentoring: develop market and investment readiness with guidance from experienced industry experts;
  • Networking and pitching events: connect with industry leaders and showcase your vision;
  • Targeted introductions: gain access to potential corporate clients and investors through EIT Manufacturing’s ecosystem.
  • Fast-track to an investment opportunity: startups and university spinoffs completing the programme can be evaluated for a potential fast-track investment of EUR 100,000.00 on average and per startup/university spinoff, through the EIT Manufacturing Accelerate Call.
  • Additionally, participating startups and university spinoffs will join EIT Manufacturing’s extensive pan-European innovation network, gaining valuable visibility and international exposure through EIT Manufacturing’s communication channels and those of its partner UnternehmerTUM.

Eligibility Criteria

• To apply to the Venture Building Programme 2025, all university spinoffs and startups should meet the following requirements:
  • Solutions should have a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4.
  • A Business-to-business (B2B) Business Model and serving manufacturing companies as customers.
  • Applicants must align with one or more of EIT Manufacturing’s Strategic Objectives and topics mentioned above.
  • Applicants must be incorporated as a for-profit legal entity after 1 January 2022, at the time of application submission.
  • Sole proprietorships are ineligible to participate and are not permitted to apply.
  • Applicants’ registered headquarters must be within the EU or in one of the countries associated to Horizon Europe, at the time of their application to the call.
  • The applicant is currently fundraising from investors.
  • A dedicated team of at least two members is required.
  • Applicants that participated in or were previously rejected by the EIT Manufacturing Venture Building Programme in 2023 or 2024 are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit EIT Manufacturing.