Empowering Climate Start-ups with Digital Solutions
ClimaTech Connect is a joint training and mentoring programme, designed to accelerate early-stage European start-ups offering digital solutions for climate impact. Through expert-led workshops, tailored mentorship, and exclusive funding opportunities, we're helping 100 entrepreneurs turn their ideas into scalable ventures.
Join the info session on the 29th of May, 12:30 (CEST) for more information!
Strong partnerships
empowered by EU support
ClimaTech Connect is co-designed and co-delivered by Climate KIC and EIT Digital, showcasing the power of cross-KIC collaboration to deliver digital climate innovation.
The ClimaTech Connect initiative is funded by the EIT.
What ClimaTech Connect Offers
Unlock exclusive support, visibility, and funding tailored for climate tech founders.
Up to €25,000 in Funding
Four top-performing teams will each receive a non-dilutive grant of up to €25K to develop and refine their climate tech solution.
Paid Trip to Demo Day
10 selected teams receive covered travel and accommodation for the in-person Demo Day in Valencia on the 8th of October, including networking with investors and corporates.
Expert-Led Entrepreneurial Training
Benefit from structured workshops delivered by seasoned mentors from Climate KIC and EIT Digital, covering both climate and digital innovation.
Personalised Mentorship
Deep, hands-on support from leading European experts in both climate and digital entrepreneurship.
Visibility with Investors & Corporates
Pitch at a high-profile Demo Day attended by the EIT community, investors, corporates, and public stakeholders across Europe.
Recognition from the EIT ecosysem
Tap into a powerful pan-European network of funders, corporates, and mentors through the EIT ecosystem.
Fast-Track, High-Impact Support
Join an innovation sprint designed for busy founders — only 20 hours of total engagement + 2 days of travel — for maximum results.
A 3-stage incubation framework for practical development
Problem Identification
Define your solution's climate relevance and digital potential with expert guidance.
Ideation and Validation
Test and iterate on your business model and product fit through tailored coaching.
Technology Adoption
Embed impact measurement, DEI, and circularity principles into your digital solution.
Business Planning
Structure your value proposition, investment roadmap, and scale-up strategy.
Go-to-Market Strategies
Build investor-ready pitches and corporate engagement plans to unlock funding.
Define your solution's climate relevance and digital potential with expert guidance.
Test and iterate on your business model and product fit through tailored coaching.
Embed impact measurement, DEI, and circularity principles into your digital solution.
Structure your value proposition, investment roadmap, and scale-up strategy.
Build investor-ready pitches and corporate engagement plans to unlock funding.
The programme will progress through 3 selection gates
Gate 1
A maximum of 100 participants (representing 35–40 teams) will be selected after the open call for expressions of interest.
Gate 2
10 high-potential teams will be selected based on eligibility, solution maturity, team composition, and alignment with climate and digital goals.
Gate 3 (Demo Day)
Final 4 winners selected at Demo Day will each receive a grant ranging from €15K-25K for product development, based on jury evaluation.
Eligibility requirements for applicants
To ensure alignment with EIT goals and programme objectives, participating start-ups must meet the following criteria:
Climate focus
Start-up must be climate-focused with a strong digital innovation component.
EIT involvement
At least one founder or C-level team member must be a graduate of an EIT-labelled programme.
Stage & registration
Pre-seed stage start-up, registered as a legal entity for at least 1 year in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country (preference given to EIT RIS countries).
Women in leadership
We strongly encourage start-ups with 50% or more women founders/co-founders or women at C-suite level to apply.
English proficiency
Team must demonstrate working proficiency in English (verified during interview).
Founder-level participation
All listed participants must be founders or C-suite team members; only one application per start-up is allowed.
Professional workshop delivery
Dive deep into the climate side of your solution with expert-led sessions designed to amplify real-world impact.
Understanding my theory of change around Climate
Explore how to define and articulate your start-up’s theory of change, aligning your mission with actionable strategies to tackle climate challenges.
Building technologies to impact the Climate
Collaborate with experts to design and develop innovative technologies aimed at driving sustainable solutions for climate impact.
Measuring the impact in my impact
Learn to quantify and communicate the environmental and social impact of your product, ensuring alignment with key sustainability metrics.
Embedding DEI capacities in my business model
Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into your business strategy to drive innovation and foster a resilient organizational culture.
Product-market fit
Gain practical tools and guidance to help your digital climate startup reach product-market fit and align your solution with real customer needs.
Team dynamics
Discover how to build and maintain a motivated, well-balanced team—one of the key drivers of startup resilience and long-term success.
Management
Understand how to manage growth by scaling your team, processes, and operations while keeping your mission and impact in focus.
Fundraising and investability
Learn how to navigate the fundraising landscape, assess your investor readiness, and present your startup as an attractive investment opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The programme requires approximately 20 hours of training and mentoring, plus 2 days for travel and participation in the in-person Demo Day.
No, the programme is completely free for selected start-ups, including training, mentoring, and Demo Day travel support.
ClimaTech Connect will cover one flight and one night of accommodation per participant, up to three participants per each of the final 10 selected teams.
The Demo Day is scheduled for October 8, 2025, in Valencia.
No, each startup can submit only one application.
EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia
Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine
Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain).
EIT-labeled programmes are awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology to education initiatives that combine academic excellence with real-world innovation and entrepreneurship training.
Click here to see the complete list of EIT-labeled programmes.