Source:Invest Europe
Baltic Startup VC HUB is a space for collaboration between innovative startups and companies seeking real innovations in the maritime and space industries, global logistics and global production network.
It’s a place where young, dynamic businesses meet fundraising systems and build long-lasting social bonds, creating a dynamic ecosystem in the Pentagon Helix formula.
It’s a place where startups meet venture capital, where young, dynamic, innovative companies and startups with high growth potential raise funds to commercialize their ideas and enter the global maritime and space industry.
EIC Accelerator
Lump sum contribution below € 2.5 million, for innovation activities (TRL 6-8), to be completed within 24 months.
To fill the gap for high – risk innovation to a stage where they can be fully financed by other investments. €1 – €10 million. Higher amounts available in STEP ScaleUP.
For projects that match any of the pre-defined topics of the EIC Accelerator Challenges. The overall budget in 2026 is €220 million.
Proposals will be batched for evaluation at 5pm Brussels time on the following dates:
- 7/01/2026
- 04/03/2026
- 06/05/2026
- 08/07/2026
- 02/09/2026
- 04/11/2026
For projects that don’t match the EIC Accelerator topics, the EIC Accelerator Open is open to proposals in any field of technology. The overall budget for the EIC Accelerator Open in 2026 is €414 million.
Access to a range of tailor-made Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for beneficiaries to leverage investments:
- Access to global partners
- Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training
- Access to innovation ecosystem and peers
EIC Accelerator selection process comprises 3 steps. Each step passed successfully give access to the next step:
- Writing a short proposal
- Submission of a full proposal
- Face to face interview with the EIC Jury
VC ECOSYSTEM
10 of Europe’s largest 2026 VC funds
Kembara – €750 million
E2D – €500 million
Earlybird VC – €360 million
Mouro Capital – €347 million
Seedcamp – €279 million
daphni / daphni Blue – €260 million
Quantonation Ventures – €220 million
Kurma Partners – €215 million
2150 – €210 million
b2venture – €150 million
FUNDRAISING ECOSYSTEM
Venture Capital Forum 2026
European capital under management reaches record €1.37tn in 2025, portfolio at cost and dry powder hit new highs
European Ecosystem Pages
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
Looking at start-up growth two years instead of four years after the VC investment does not result in major differences across start-up profiles. Most companies stick to the same group anyway. The commoners is the most stable profile, with almost 82% of firms remaining after four years as well. They are also the group most start-ups gravitate towards, particularly from the laggards profile – 53%. Laggards are also the companies with the highest probability of defaulting – 39%. However, relatively few start-ups (from any given profile) default before their fourth post-investment year.
We see more defaults between four and six years of growth than between two and four years. Why? Well, it’s a question of fund life. In line with other studies, we find that most VC investors stick to their invested companies for at least four years – resulting in only 7% of defaulted start-ups at year four. After that, under-performing investments tend to be written off, resulting in 10% default rate by year six. Naturally, laggard companies are still the most likely to default, with more than 20% of firms sharing this fate. Conversely, superstars are the least likely to go bust.
Investments in countries in Europe as a percentage of GDP
Investment News Europe – Here are the Investments in companies in each European country as a percentage of GDP in 2024, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook Database, Invest Europe and the EDC:
Investment in Europe rose by 24% to reach €126 billion in 2024, representing the third highest annual result. Buyout investment was up by 42% to reach €87 billion, just slightly below the record investment level in 2021.
Venture Capital also had a strong year in Europe in 2024, with investment increasing by 26% to reach €18 billion. VC fundraising had its second best-ever year in 2024 at €22 billion, just marginally below the peak of 2022.
In Europe, almost 50% of the companies backed by private equity and venture capital are in the ICT and Biotech & Healthcare sectors in 2024. ICT was also the largest sector by number of exits, and at €11.1 billion only narrowly behind Consumer Goods & Services in terms of value.