From eligibility to application for every EU startup grant: the EIC (Pathfinder, Accelerator, Transition), Horizon Europe, Eurostars, and national programmes.
The biggest EU grant schemes, all with one application
Free
Eligibility check after you sign up
4 routes
Grants, family offices, angel investors & VCs
The EIC 2026 work programme carries €1.4B+ for deep tech, with up to €4M per project and EIC Accelerator equity up to €15M; UK companies are eligible for the grant components.
Non-dilutive funding
Why European Founders Start With Grants
Equity is not the only way to fund a European startup. The European Innovation Council (EIC), Horizon Europe, Eurostars, and national programmes are non-dilutive capital: money that does not require you to sell ownership. The EIC alone runs one of the largest deep-tech funding pots in the world, over €1.4 billion in its 2026 work programme.
The strongest founders treat grants as the first layer of a funding stack: use non-dilutive capital to de-risk the technology, then raise equity from a position of strength. UK companies are eligible for EIC and Horizon Europe as an associated country (grant-only). Our free check shows every European grant you qualify for.
Non-Dilutive Funding
The Main EU Funding Routes for Startups
The EIC suite covers every stage from lab to market, alongside collaborative Horizon Europe / Eurostars funding and strong national programmes.
EIC Accelerator
The flagship for deep-tech SMEs ready to scale (TRL 5–8). A grant of up to €2.5M plus optional equity up to €15M (blended finance). UK companies can access the grant component.
Funds visionary, early-stage deep-tech research (TRL 1–4) with breakthrough potential. Up to €4M, 100% funded. UK companies are eligible as an associated country.
Matures validated research toward market, the bridge between Pathfinder and Accelerator. Up to €2.5M at a 70% rate. Requires a qualifying prior project, so far less competitive.
Collaborative R&D across borders. Eurostars funds R&D-performing SMEs leading international consortia; Horizon Europe runs themed collaborative calls. Strong national top-ups too.
Germany's technology-open innovation grant for SMEs, across individual, cooperative, and network projects. Up to around €690K per company. Requires a German-incorporated entity.
Bpifrance's flagship i-Lab competition awards non-repayable subsidies of up to €600K to scientifically innovative French startups. Requires a French-incorporated company.
Not sure which EU programme fits your startup?Complete the application form and we'll automatically match you with the most relevant grants - including the one you're researching - in minutes. It's 100% free.
Every European programme is listed below by default. Tell us your stage and sector to narrow them to the EIC, Horizon Europe, and national programmes that match your startup. Getting matched is 100% free - no fee, no commission, no credit card.
Choose your stage and sector below to see which EU grants you may be eligible for
Want a definitive eligibility report? It's free.
This is a first-pass match based on stage, sector, and geography. Complete the application form and we'll automatically match you with the most relevant grants - including the one you're researching - cross-referencing your technology, IP, team, and traction against every active European programme. This matching service is completely free: no fee, no commission, no credit card required.
The single entry point for all Horizon Europe and EIC calls: register your organisation, find open topics, and submit and manage every EU grant application.
The Eureka Network runs Eurostars and other collaborative R&D funding for international SME-led consortia, with national funding bodies in each member country.
No referral arrangements. Listings are selected for founder utility and SEO accuracy only.
Done-for-you service
Don't want to write it yourself? We build the application for you.
The steps above are the do-it-yourself route. If you would rather hand it off, our grant specialists write, package and manage the whole application for you, working alongside you so the technical detail stays yours while we handle the process.
1ApplyTell us about your startup and the grant you are targeting. It takes a few minutes.
2Chat with a specialistA grant specialist checks your fit, confirms the right programme, and scopes the work with you.
3We build your applicationWe write the narrative, budget and supporting documents to the funder's exact scoring criteria.
4We guide every stageMany grants run in several rounds (assessment, interviews, sometimes multiple phases, then reporting). We handle each step and explain everything as we go.
Transparent, mostly success-based pricingA modest upfront fee to scope and start the work (not always tied to your metrics), plus a success fee based on the grant, the amount awarded, and your business. Every engagement is quoted individually.
Apply and we'll come back with a tailored budget for your specific grant.
The Full Capital Stack
Grants Are Only Part of the Stack
EIC and Horizon Europe grants cover early-stage R&D, but most European startups need equity capital to scale. The strongest raises combine non-dilutive grants with angel or VC investment.
AngelsPartners is the only platform where a founder can access all three capital pathways in one place: grants (this page), debt financing, and 120,000+ equity investors.
Equity funding
European Angels & VCs
Search a database of angels, micro-VCs, and funds investing across Europe. Filter by country, sector, ticket size, and stage. Direct contact details included - no gatekeepers, no pay-to-pitch.
Venture debt, revenue-based financing, and startup loan programmes - without diluting your cap table. Our AI matches you to a curated lender network based on your revenue, traction, and geography.
Yes. The UK is an associated country to Horizon Europe, so UK companies can participate in the EIC and Horizon Europe. For EIC Accelerator, UK firms access the grant component only (not the equity), funded through UK guarantee arrangements. National schemes (ZIM, BPI) require local incorporation.
It depends on the programme. EIC Accelerator allows single-company applications. EIC Pathfinder Open and Eurostars require a consortium with partners from multiple countries. Our free check flags which programmes fit your structure.
Very. EIC Accelerator success rates are typically around 3–5%, and the process includes a jury interview. EIC Transition is less competitive because the prior-project requirement filters the field. Applying to the right programme, with strong evidence, matters enormously, which is exactly what our matching helps with.
Yes. EIC Accelerator is explicitly designed as blended finance (grant + equity), and grants from any EU programme are a strong validation signal for investors. After your grant, find European angels and VCs on AngelsPartners.
