EIT Jumpstarter is a program to create a sustainable impact in the Central-Eastern and Southern-European Regions by boosting innovation and entrepreneurship within this part of Europe. It is a selective, competitive program for the earliest-stage start-ups, which have not funded a company yet, and often have only an idea.

During the Grand Final, teams – from healthcare, agri-food, raw materials, energy, urban mobility, manufacturing and sustainable living – will pitch their business ideas at a live event, after which the jury will pick the winners. The top 6 start-ups in each category will compete for the first prize of €10,000. Participating in EIT Jumpstarter opens doors toward the European markets and connects the best teams with the six EIT Communities’ large industrial partners. These companies include GE Healthcare, Siemens, Philips, Roche, Bosch, Nestlé, Pepsico and Maspex. With the contribution of best-in-class experts, a creative community, and unique know-how, we aim to support idea-holders to turn their ideas into business. We help innovators and entrepreneurs build a viable business model around their innovative product or service idea, validate it and if their business idea is sustainable, we encourage them to register their company. Six EIT Communities teamed up to jointly run EIT Jumpstarter. The competition is organized by EIT Health, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility. These six Knowledge and Innovation Communities of EIT, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, bring together businesses, research centers and universities as partners creating a favorable environment for creative thought and innovation to flourish. EIT is a valuable, credible partner in getting a business idea up and running.