Deadline: October 13, 2025
The Katapult Acceleration Program is a targeted initiative designed to support innovative, growth-oriented companies in Serbia through intensive training, mentoring, and grant funding.
The program’s focus areas are the four priority domains of Serbia’s Smart Specialization Strategy: Food for Future, Information and Communication Technologies, Machines and Production Processes of the Future, and Creative Industries. The objectives include assisting founders in early-stage product and market development through the “Ideation” stream, and supporting companies with proven traction in scaling up growth via the “Scale-up” stream. The program priorities include customized mentoring, intensive training, connection to investors, and allocation of at least 50% of available funding to applications in the priority domains. Themes emphasized are support for women co-founders, non-dilutive grant funding, business development, product experimentation, compliance with environmental, social, and trustworthy AI principles, and equitable, transparent procedures that encourage significant technological innovation.
The Katapult program offers a segmented approach, providing two streams for applicants at different growth stages. The “Ideation” stream targets early-stage founders seeking market validation, while the “Scale-up” stream is tailored for companies with market traction aiming for late Seed or Series A investment. Both streams incorporate a structured yet highly personalized curriculum, residential components near Belgrade, and hands-on sessions with world-class mentors.
Successful applicants receive At-Entry Grants – up to €20,000 for Ideation and up to €50,000 for Scale-up – along with access to Co-Investment Grants that match private investment up to a ceiling of €300,000. All support is delivered in the form of state aid for newly established enterprises, compliant with European and national regulations.
Eligible micro or small limited liability companies must be registered in Serbia, majority-owned by founding entrepreneurs, and meet a range of criteria including financial and operational thresholds, residency status, and non-involvement in excluded sectors or activities. Special encouragement is given to women co-founders and companies active in Serbia’s Smart Specialization priority domains.
Applicants progress through a clear application process handled via the Katapult portal, with screening for eligibility, review by external experts, and a live pitch before a Selection Committee. Finalists sign an Acceleration Agreement, ensuring strong ties to Serbia, social and ethical compliance, and dedicated reporting procedures.
Katapult funding is designed to be flexible and non-dilutive, supporting team, product development, business development, goods, and overheads, while strictly excluding costs such as debts, taxes, property purchases, entertainment, and activities violating ethical or AI principles. Disbursement combines up-front and reimbursable portions, with rigorous financial monitoring.
Awardees must comply with environmental, social, and AI safeguards through screening checklists, impact assessments, and mitigation plans. The Co-Investment Grant mechanism requires matching qualified private investment, with investor eligibility vetted by the Innovation Fund.
Quarterly progress and financial reporting, dedicated bank accounts, and on-site monitoring visits ensure transparency and accountability throughout the implementation period. All funded activities must align with the program’s integrity requirements, and breaches can result in termination and repayment obligations.
The Katapult Acceleration Program stands as a robust platform for nurturing Serbia’s most promising innovators, promoting sustainable growth, technological advancement, and international competitiveness.
For more information, visit Innovation Fund.
