- EIT Culture & Creativity will distribute a budget of EUR 990K between 20 aspiring creative startups and scaleups
- New calls are opened for incubation, acceleration, and post-acceleration programmes across diverse creative sectors
- Applications for Programmes and their funding, training, and networking are due until July 11th
EIT Culture & Creativity, EIT’s newest Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), is launching two new funding opportunities. With a sizable total budget of EUR 990, the new open calls are designed to bolster up to 20 promising founders and companies across Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) through comprehensive incubation, acceleration, and post-acceleration programs.
Established in 2023 and now fully operational, EIT Culture & Creativity is dedicated to fostering a sustainable, resilient, and competitive landscape within Europe’s CCSI. Headquartered in Cologne and supported by six strategic regional hubs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Košice, and Vienna, the organization plays a pivotal role in delivering the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy within the creative economy. It connects research, industry, academia, and cultural institutions to drive systemic innovation, empowering the CCSI as a vital force for economic, social, and environmental transformation. The initial strategic focus areas include architecture, gaming, fashion, cultural heritage, and audiovisual media.
Funding Opportunities: Incubation and Acceleration Programs
EIT Culture & Creativity is offering two programs tailored to different stages of startup development: the Spark – Incubation Programme and the Shape (Acceleration) & Scale (Post-Acceleration) Programmes. Both are open to startups and scaleups legally established in EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe, operating within one or more cultural and creative sectors. Selected ventures stand to receive financial support ranging from EUR 7.5K to 60K.
Spark – Incubation Programme 2025
This programme is specifically designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage innovators in the architecture and cultural heritage sectors. This program aims to support the creation of new ventures by helping individuals and teams develop business ideas, validate market potential, and build an MVP.
Timeline:
- Application deadline: July 11th, 2025, at 17:00 CET
- Results announced: Mid-August 2025
- Programme start: Mid-September 2025
- Programme duration: 8–10 weeks
- Demo Day: December 2025 (location to be announced)
Benefits of Participation:
- All-expenses-paid, in-person kick-off bootcamp in Europe
- Weekly online entrepreneurial training sessions
- Personalized mentoring and strategic coaching
- Participation in a Demo Day to pitch to investors and potential customers
- Networking opportunities with mentors, experts, and partners
- Opportunity to compete for financial prizes: 1st Prize (EUR 10K x2), 2nd Prize (EUR 7.5K x3), 3rd Prize (EUR 5K x3).
- Free membership in the EIT Culture & Creativity Community during the program.
Shape (Acceleration) & Scale (Post-Acceleration) Programmes 2025
These programs are tailored to accelerate the growth of promising startups and scaleups already operating in fashion, architecture, cultural heritage, audio-visual media, and gaming. The Shape program targets startups with at least two years of operation and a market-tested product, while Scale is for more mature scaleups with proven commercial success seeking international expansion and investment.
Timeline:
- Application deadlines: July 11th, 2025, at 17:00 CET
- Programme start: Mid-September 2025
- Programme Duration: 8–10 weeks
- Demo Days: December 2025
Benefits of Participation:
- In-person and online training tailored to company maturity.
- Personalized mentoring and strategic business coaching.
- Access to industry events, including Demo Days.
- Visibility and long-term support via the 100 to Watch list.
- Opportunities to connect with investors and industry leaders.
- Chance to win significant financial prizes: 3 prizes of EUR 30K, 3 prizes of EUR 15K, 4 prizes of EUR 7.5K in the Shape Programme; 3 prizes of EUR 60K, 3 prizes of EUR 30K, 4 prizes of EUR 15K in the Scale Programme.
Insights from Previous Participants
EIT Culture & Creativity’s commitment to long-term partnership extends beyond initial funding, aiming for sustained success and European expansion for its ventures. Participants benefit from refined business plans, revised product-market fit, and effective expansion strategies. The 2024 pilot Acceleration Programme (Shape) saw participants gain invaluable experience, culminating in a Demo Day that provided opportunities to pitch to investors and gain insights into sector-specific bottlenecks.
Standout Examples from 2024 Acceleration Programme:
- Adire Lounge: Founded by a Nigerian female entrepreneur now based in France, this company creates authentic, ethical, and artisanal textiles. The founder comes from a banking background and now builds a venture focused on sustainable production methods in Nigeria. The venture promotes traditional craftsmanship and ethical practices in fashion.
- Make Waves: Started by two Amsterdam-based brothers with music industry backgrounds, this platform empowers independent artists by facilitating fair content distribution. The company has already secured public funding from the Dutch government, demonstrating its commitment to supporting artists in the evolving music landscape.
- Reality Telling: Co-founded by a female entrepreneur, Reality Telling utilizes eXtended Reality (XR) and gamification to enhance rehabilitation programs. This innovative project has shown positive patient outcomes and has garnered significant support from both EIT Health and EIT Culture & Creativity, highlighting its impact in healthcare.
Such initiatives are crucial for strengthening Europe’s creative economy, offering vital support to startups and scaleups in often overlooked sectors. By providing targeted funding, mentorship, and a vast network, EIT Culture & Creativity actively addresses key barriers to growth, in line with the EU’s vision for a more innovative and competitive single market. These open calls represent a significant opportunity for cultural and creative ventures to gain the resources and exposure needed to thrive and make a lasting impact.
To learn more and apply, visit the corresponding EIT Culture & Creativity web pages:
Kostiantyn is a freelance writer from Crimea but based in Lviv. He loves writing about IT and high tech because those topics are always upbeat and he’s an inherent optimist!
