Hundred innovators who dare to solve global challenges will compete in Athens in the EIT Jumpstarter 2023 Finals
ATHENS, 15th November 2023. Six months ago, more than 500 passionate teams from 25 countries, including the EU’s outermost regions, embarked on their journey with the EIT Jumpstarter 2023 programme. Now, after intensive 7-month-long training, 54 most diligent teams, comprising more than 100 innovators, are poised to present their pioneering solutions at the EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final in Athens, Greece, on 30th November 2023.
The journey from an idea to an early-stage start-up is filled with uncertainties, challenges, and steep learning curves. Yet, this process underscores the importance of investing time, knowledge, and resources into these nascent enterprises. The potential for economic growth, job creation, and societal impact multiplies by equipping innovators with the right tools, skills, and knowledge.
“The early-stage entrepreneurial journey is fraught with challenges, from understanding market dynamics to attracting initial funding,” says Programme lead Piotr Boulange. “But as our EIT Jumpstarter participants have shown, with the right guidance, preparation, and resilience, one can overcome these challenges. These innovators are now better positioned to attract investment, not just because of the viability of their ideas, but because of their improved business acumen and pitching expertise.”
Powered by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and its community, it is the seventh edition of this well-known pre-accelerator programme. As the continent shifts its focus to Athens, both budding innovators and seasoned investors are encouraged to witness this entrepreneurial metamorphosis via live stream online at https://grandfinal.eitjumpstarter.eu on November 30, 2023. One can register for the live stream by following this link. With a total award fund of €160,000 at stake and each category’s first-place winner bagging €10,000, excitement and potential are sky-high.
Marios Vlachogiannis, Co-founder and Production Manager of the Coffe-Eco startup and an alumnus of the EIT Jumpstarter 2020, shares his story of co-creating the company. He recalls how, three years ago, the EIT Jumpstarter acted like a catalyst for his team, turning their idea and research into a tangible business. The programme provided them with essential training, knowledge, networking opportunities, and funding, all of which were instrumental in their transformation.
“In 2020, our journey with EIT Jumpstarter transformed my University of Patras research into Coffe-eco, a business valued today at multi-million euros. The company, initially focusing on coffee residue utilization, now has evolved into an innovative approach to agro-industrial waste, pioneering in upcycling and sustainable practices. Our progress, fuelled by a significant 400-thousand-euro investment from Coffee Island shareholders, exemplifies the transformative power of knowledge, networking, and funding in turning visionary ideas into reality,” said Vlachogiannis.
The Grand Final will be streamed online, offering a front-row seat to innovation in action. During the event, the 100 innovators from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe will present ideas in nine categories: EIT Health, EIT Digital, EIT Raw Materials, EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Urban Mobility, New European Bauhaus, and Rebuild Ukraine – a new category in the programme. This event promises to be a testament to the transformative power of structured guidance, unwavering commitment, and visionary thinking.
Join us on November 30, 2023, and celebrate the success stories birthed by the programme, and perhaps, get inspired to embark on your entrepreneurial journey as the pre-registration for EIT Jumpstarter 2024 is also open at https://eitjumpstarter.eu/pre-register-for-eit-jumpstater-2024/.
Additionally, the day before, on 29th November 2023, Athens will host the BoostUp! Southeast 2023 Grand Final powered by EIT Manufacturing. Learn more about it here https://www.eitmanufacturing.eu/news-events/events/boostup-south-east-2023-grand-final/ .
70+ start-ups were born thanks to the EIT JS
Launched in 2017, the EIT Jumpstarter pre-accelerator programme has flourished under the collaborative stewardship of seven EIT communities: EIT Health, EIT Digital, EIT Raw Materials, EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Urban Mobility. Since its inception, the programme has mentored and nurtured over 750 start-up teams coming from Central, Eastern and Southern European regions. Over 70 start-ups were created that tackle issues like innovative food production, better patient care, smart and integrated transportation or green cities and many others. A testament to its impact and excellence, EIT Jumpstarter was honoured with the Best Association Training Initiative Award at the European Association Awards.
Originally, participants competed within seven distinct cohorts, each corresponding to one of the seven EIT communities. However, in 2021, the programme expanded its horizons by welcoming applications aligned with the New European Bauhaus initiative. This year marked yet another milestone with the introduction of the “Rebuild Ukraine” cohort, which received a record interest this year: 20% of all applications arrived from Ukraine.
The programme is coordinated by EIT Health under the EIT Community Strategic Regional Innovations Cluster.
A Snapshot of the Journey:
Starting Line: Over 500+ enthusiastic teams with a vision.
Online Bootcamps: 210 teams enhanced their skills, tapping into online courses and benefiting from expert mentoring and coaching.
Local Joint Training: 90 teams further refined their propositions.
Grand Finalists: 54 exemplary teams, with at least 27 anticipated to take the leap into establishing companies.