EU Funding for Startups – Workshop

How can you access the €3 billion of EU grant funds available for startups and SMEs through the SME Instrument?

The SME Instrument enables startups and SMEs to receive funding for highly innovative projects. A Phase 1 grant of up to €50 000 could be available to bring your innovations to market or a Phase 2 grant of between €500 000 and €2,5 M could provide you with the means to grow your concept and scale across European borders. Learn whether you are eligible, how to apply and the ingredients of a successful proposal, all in one session.

After the successful networking event held on 30 April, Valkiria Hub Space and EYIF joins forces again with their hub partnership for the first full-day workshop event organised ever in Barcelona. So far almost 20 workshops have been organised across Europe, reaching and coaching over 750 startups and SMEs in cities from London, Paris and Berlin to Barcelona at the 4YFN Conference, running as part of the Mobile World Congress.

EU StartUp Services coordinates and run the workshops as the service arm of the European Young Innovators Forum (EYIF). EYIF is the leading foundation for youth innovation in Europe, reaching in excess of 500 000 young innovators and entrepreneurs across Europe. In the context of these workshops, EYIF has contributed to the design of the SME instrument and thus can help you access the funds you need to grow your business.

Is this workshop for you?

Are you an entrepreneur who is planning to establish your own startup/SME? Or have you already started and are in the early stages of development? Is your startup/SME based on an innovative IT concept, product or service harnessing the potential to disrupt existing markets? Are you looking for rapid funding between the value of €50 000 and €2,5 M in 2015? If so, then this networking event is for you!

Background

The European Union has, for the first time in its 60 year history, launched a initiative aimed at directly funding entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs. HORIZON 2020 is the biggest EU research and innovation programme ever and incorporates €80 billion worth of grant funding, of which €2,8 billion is set aside exclusively for entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs. Through the SME Instrument, entrepreneurs and startups can apply and receive grants up to the value of €2,5 M with no strings attached. That means no repayment plan, no equity exchange and no restrictions on future financing options.

Workshop

This workshop is organised in partnership with Valkiria Hub Space and is aimed at developing your understanding of the three important stages that you must go through when considering applying for the SME Instrument. We will elaborate on how the grant functions and provide expertise on who should apply, when and which are the steps. This includes a discussion on the distinction between Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications to illustrate which is relevant for your startup.
It will explain how to assess which phase your StartUp is eligible for and how to apply to that phase – the whole process from proposal to grant, including what types of activities are funded.
Most importantly, the workshop will equip you with all the information, tools and hands-on training to write winning proposals – taking a case study of a typical entrepreneur and their StartUp/SME, a detailed step-by-step live demonstration of how to write a proposal with high chances of succeeding.

Finally, the workshop will enable you to rate your idea and proposals and improve them before submitting. We will pre-evaluate your project BEFORE THE WORKSHOP thanks to our ELIGIBILITY CHECK.