The EIT Jumpstarter is back! Meet some of our 2020 participants

Now is the time to apply for the 2021 edition of the EIT Jumpstarter. The Jumpstarter is one of the most well-known European pre-accelerator programmes for individual entrepreneurs with a business idea in its early stages. During the programme, participants get coaching and support to better frame their business idea, and to pitch it to potential customers, or investors. Participants also compete for a cash prize.

Curious about what the programme could offer to you? We gathered some testimonials from the 2020 participants, joining us from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. All in all, 120 startups joined the 2020 programme and competition with business ideas covering six of the EIT’s focus areas: Health, Food, Raw Materials, Energy, Manufacturing and Urban Mobility.

Why/for whom would you recommend the Jumpstarter programme?

“The Jumpstarter program is great for anyone who wants to take their business idea further. If you have an idea you believe in, you should apply. The Jumpstarter program is a great opportunity to test your wings.” Damir Grguraš, Assistant at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

“The programme is great for early-stage startups who are ready and willing to grow their idea and get contacts and ideas to get their first funding.  It’s quite an intensive program, attendees are supposed to be 100 percent into what they are doing.” Liucija Urbelyte, R&D Intern – Bioactive Compounds at Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)

“I am very grateful to have participated on this program and I truly recommend it to all starting European entrepreneurs.” Nuno Frutuoso, FabInventors Co-Founder & CEO.

Why did you apply for the Jumpstarter programme?

“We believed in the potential of the idea. However, we didn’t know exactly how to develop it further – into the business potential. And the Jumpstarter program seemed a great opportunity for that.” Damir Grguraš, Assistant at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

“The main reason why we applied for the Jumpstarter program was that we saw a need to boost our business savvy.  At the start we only had an idea of the concept but needed more guidance on who could be our potential customers, the final offer, our business model.Liucija Urbelyte, R&D Intern – Bioactive Compounds at Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)

“The EIT Jumpstarter 2020 aggregates all the experiences from the EIT KICs! It’s an opportunity for any innovation project to get valuable support.” Nuno Frutuoso, FabInventors Co-Founder & CEO

What did you learn from the Jumpstarter programme?

“We learned how to transfer our idea into a potential business by learning how to prepare/choose the right: business model, market segmentation, financial plan, marketing, selling, approach to customers.” Damir Grguraš, Assistant at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

“We learned a lot of things, starting by identifying who would be our customers, how to contact them, how to present the offer, and building our business model.” Liucija Urbelyte, R&D Intern – Bioactive Compounds at Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)

“We had the pleasure to benefit both from online and local joint trainings which instructed us on developing and strengthening our project idea. We pivoted, worked hard, and found ways to launch this business in a sustainable way. We had access to mentors, experienced in Manufacturing that supported us during the process.” Nuno Frutuoso, FabInventors Co-Founder & CEO

How did it help you in the development of your business idea?

“During the program, we raised the idea/system from the garage-prototype level to the customer- and industry-ready system and followed by the first successful sales.” Damir Grguraš, Assistant at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

“Jumpstarter helped us rethink our business idea, frame it better to make it more attractive to potential customers.  Liucija Urbelyte, R&D Intern – Bioactive Compounds at Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)

“The knowledge we acquired in this competition, the business plan and the confidence on the project launched us to a 3rd prize in the European competition, BoostUp! Now, we are closer to establish our startup!” Nuno Frutuoso, FabInventors Co-Founder & CEO

Now is the time to apply for the 2021 edition. Apply here.