Venture Incubation Program 2026
28DIGITAL is looking for partners to support the development and deployment of the Venture Incubation Programme edition.
The duration of project support is until the end of 2026. 28DIGITAL is seeking for entrepreneurial education providers like incubators, accelerators, university entrepreneurship centers, university TTOs, venture builders, industry associations, science and tech parks, VC funds or similar organizations with capacity and expertise to support the programme delivery.
The Venture Incubation Programme edition should be designed to support a cohort of early-stage venture teams at scale, demonstrating the operational capacity to deliver a structured 12-week entrepreneurial education and venture creation programme. A strong and impactful proposal should clearly demonstrate alignment with 28DIGITAL’s strategic domains (Deep Tech, Strategic Tech, or Green & Social Tech), a strong entrepreneurial and venture-building focus, and the ability to attract and engage high-potential founders and early-stage startups from across Europe.
What Is The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP)?
The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) is a structured, 12-week entrepreneurial education and venture creation programme designed to support early-stage digital and deep-tech innovators in establishing and scaling new ventures. The programme combines venture-building know-how, market validation, and business development with access to 28DIGITAL’s European innovation ecosystem. VIP targets founders and startup teams with a prototype, proof of concept, or near-MVP and supports them in progressing towards company incorporation, product-market fit, and investment readiness.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be or become partners of 28DIGITAL if selected. Proposers must be or become partners of 28DIGITAL once selected. For organizations that are not yet partners please see partnership models for more information about joining 28DIGITAL. Eligible applicants include incubators, accelerators, university entrepreneurship centres, technology transfer offices, venture builders, innovation hubs, industry associations, science and technology parks, venture capital funds, or similar organisations established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe–associated countries.
What Is The Format Of The Venture Incubation Programme?
The programme follows a structured 12-week format that balances entrepreneurial education, venture development, and hands-on mentoring.
Typically, this includes:
- An intensive bootcamp focused on venture fundamentals, market orientation, and value proposition refinement;
- A multi-week mentoring and coaching phase combining online sessions, expert guidance, and milestone-driven venture development;
A Pitch Day or final evaluation event, where teams present their progress to experts, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.
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