Who Really Supports Startups in Europe?

Who Really Supports Startups in Europe? 

When founders ask “Where do I start in Europe?” the answer isn’t one program—it’s a stack of players that work together at EU and national levels.

1) EU-level funding & networks

• European Innovation Council (EIC) — €10.1B program under Horizon Europe with Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator, plus the EIC Fund for equity. In 2025, the EIC Accelerator Open alone allocates €384M.

• European Investment Fund (EIF) & European Investment Bank (EIB) — the EIF is the largest LP in European VC funds, and together with EIB and InvestEU they de-risk equity and loans, crowding in private capital.

• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) — the world’s largest SME support network for cross-border growth.

• EIT Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs) — nine thematic ecosystems (Digital, Health, Climate, Energy, and more) with 2,400+ partners across Europe.

• Eurostars (Eureka) — the go-to program for SME-led international R&D collaborations.

• EU Startup Strategy (2025) — “Choose Europe to Start and Scale” plus a new Scaleup Europe Fund (>€10B target) to close Europe’s late-stage financing gap.

2) National catalysts
At the national level, agencies amplify EU support with local access:

• Nordics → Vinnova (SE), Business Finland, Innovation Norway, Innovation Fund Denmark.

• Baltics → EISA/Startup Estonia, Startup Lithuania, LIAA (Latvia).

• Netherlands → RVO, Techleap.nl, Invest-NL, Regional Development Agencies (ROMs).

• Portugal → Startup Portugal, IAPMEI (Startup Visa), Banco Português de Fomento, Portugal Ventures.

• Spain → ENISA (co-investment loans), CDTI/NEOTEC, ICEX (Rising UP in Spain).

Takeaway: Europe’s support system is powerful but fragmented. The best founders stack the stack: leverage EU-level credibility and capital, then pair it with national programs to accelerate execution.

💡 Question: Which EU or national program has helped you most—or confused you the most? Share your experience—your tip might save another founder weeks.

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