1:1 meetings with investors & corporates,
cash prizes, and exposure at DTS26
First application round closed
Second application round
Announcement of finalists
Investment Day + CEE Summit + Side events
CEE Challenge (call for applications)
Announcement of finalists
Investor Day + Summit + Side events
CEE Challenge (call for applications)
Announcement of finalists
Investor Day + Summit + Side events
Get selected for Investment Day, meet investors 1:1, and compete for €5,000, €3,000, or €1,000 in prizes.
Meet corporates, CXOs, and industry leaders looking for deep tech solutions they can pilot or buy.
Present your startup to the right people: investors, partners, media, and the CEE deep tech ecosystem.
Connect with startups, accelerators, research institutions, and innovation networks across CEE and Europe.
Apply to the Deep Tech CEE Rising Stars Category if your startup or project sits between TRL 3/4 and 8/9, and seize the opportunity to showcase your innovative solutions across Central and Eastern Europe. By joining, you will gain visibility, connect with key players in the ecosystem, and earn the support you need to reach new heights and accelerate your growth.
This funding program, created with Deep Tech CEE and Capital Kinetics London, helps you improve your startup’s economics and sharpen your funding strategy to pitch selected investors interested in your sector. By joining this accelerator programme, you will refine your investment narrative directly to a curated group of angels, VCs, and strategic partners.
ERNESTAS ZVAIGZDINAS
RISING STARS 2025 Finalist
"Winning at the Deep Tech CEE Summit significantly increased our visibility and credibility within the European deep tech ecosystem. It directly helped us connect with several high-quality VCs and strategic stakeholders who are relevant to our space. Following the Summit, we’ve seen growing recognition of BROSWARM and initiated conversations that are now progressing further. Overall, the experience played a meaningful role in expanding our network and reinforcing the relevance of our technology in the defense innovation landscape."
DAVID MINAŘÍK
DTCEE Rising Star 2024
Since the Summit, MYCO has accelerated key milestones that are pushing us toward international scale. We’ve deepened cooperation with industrial clients like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Camea, and Meopta, delivering even more tailored mycelium packaging solutions that meet their needs. We’ve also officially kicked off development of our modular, containerized production line. This system is key to making our production technology replicable and scalable abroad. We’re also preparing an EIC Accelerator application to support our market expansion and complete certification processes. The visibility and connections from Deep Tech CEE definitely helped open new doors and strengthen our standing in the deep tech ecosystem.
JEKATERINA ROMANOVA
PrintyMed (Latvia)
DTCEE Rising Star 2024
Since Deep Tech CEE Challenge 2024, we have been awarded the WomentechEu grant and have secured additional funding. Consequently, we have scaled up our production capabilities. Currently, we are preparing to initiate our first sales in the cosmetics sector, in collaboration with Chanel. Additionally, we are expanding our business operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since these developments, we have also achieved success in numerous competitions.
RONALD TERRAZAS MALLEA
DTCEE Challenge Finalist 2024
The Deep Tech CEE Challenge is an unique opportunity for CEE region entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas on a high level event in front of industry leaders, investors and even EIC representatives. Besides the prizes, you will receive valuable feedback on your idea and have the opportunity to network with potential strategic partners or potential investors. The Deep Tech CEE summit itself is a must attend conference for any entrepreneur in the CEE region. It offers high quality presentations ranging from technologic panels to policy discussion on the new funding instruments.
MARIA MYCIELSKA
MetaSMithe (Poland)
DTCEE Rising Star 2024
"The Deep Tech Summit Challenge is a unique initiative that provides an opportunity for the CEE region to showcase innovative projects on an international stage. Because the event brings together experts, investors, and industry leaders it offers participants the chance to receive valuable feedback and accelerate project development through potential investments and strategic partnerships. It is an inspiring and dynamic event that promotes breakthrough technologies and has the potential to serve as a pivotal moment in the growth of any startup."
VAMEKH KHERKHEULIDZE
ELEVENTECH (GEORGIA)
DTCEE Rising Star 2023
“Since participating in Deep Tech CEE—which I still consider the best event I've ever attended, having been to over 300 startup events—we have made significant progress. We completed an 8-month project in Tallinn, Estonia, where, for the first time in history, we fully contained an EV-sized lithium battery fire. We have recently relocated to California and initiated two pilot projects with major electric vehicle (EV) companies, which I cannot disclose at this time. Additionally, our valuation has increased from $5 million to $15 million, with expectations to reach $50 million by the end of the year.”
DAWID KUCHTA
Microamp Solutions (Poland)
DTCEE Rising Star 2023
“Since we participated in the Deep Tech CEE Challenge 2023, we have established many new partnerships with international technology leaders such as Druid Software, AMD, CONGIV, Supermicro, Consort Digital, and Triopt Group. As a result, our products are reaching a wide audience. In December 2024, we were selected for the NATO DIANA program, which aims to support and accelerate innovations in defense and emergency communications. Additionally, during this year's edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, we announced our partnership with the European Space Agency. As part of the signed agreement, together with Creotech Instruments, we will be providing a private Microamp 5G mmWave network for the ESA 5G/6G Center at Harwell Campus.”
PRZEMEK BEN PĄCZEK
NEVOMO (Poland/Swiss)
DTCEE Rising Star 2022
Nevomo has commercialized its globally unique MagRail Booster technology, revolutionizing propulsion for existing rail wagons and infrastructure. By enabling locomotive-free operations, MagRail Booster delivers the capacity, frequency, and flexibility of road transport to underutilized rail networks. This breakthrough product innovation is complemented by a pioneering Rail-as-a-Service business model, which allows industrial and intermodal clients to adopt the solution with zero upfront investment, financing implementation entirely through OPEX savings. Nevomo is currently finalizing a €10 million Series A round, including co-investment from the EIC Fund.
MICHAŁ CYRANKIEWICZ
SEASOIL (Poland)
DTCEE Rising Star 2022
“Since participating in the Deep Tech CEE Summit 2022, Seasoil has significantly developed. We became the first Polish team to pass through the Deep Tech accelerator at Octopus Ventures, marking a significant step in our growth. We also secured investors, including Bitspiration Booster, which enabled us to expand further and develop the project. Additionally, we have received numerous grants and awards at the national and European levels, including Ventures Thrive, SoTecIn, WomenInTech, and Infoshare, which confirm the potential of our solution. Currently, we are in the prototyping stage and working intensively on product implementation to bring them to the market as quickly as possible.”
1. Deep Tech Innovators: Whether you’re a startup or a pioneering project rooted in R&D or high-tech engineering, your work has the potential to transform industries. We welcome deep techs operating on the market for up to 5 years.
2. Early-Stage Trailblazers: in the crucial phases of development (from pre-seed to late seed) and at the beginning of your commercialization journey (TRL 3/4 – 8/9). This CEE Challenge is designed to support your growth.
3. Game Changers: Your project is based on a new technology, scientific breakthrough (novel science), or sophisticated engineering processes that can solve real problems.
4. Impact Creators: Address unmet industrial, societal, or environmental needs or even create entirely new markets.
5. Team Players: You’ve got a dedicated team of at least 2 passionate innovators ready to disrupt and redefine.
6. Fresh & Independent: Your project isn’t a subsidiary or company spin-out; you’re a standalone force of innovation.
7. High-Risk, High-Reward: Your project involves significant scientific or engineering risks and is working towards achieving a strong product-market fit.
1. Deep Tech Innovators: Whether you’re a startup or a pioneering project rooted in R&D or high-tech engineering, your work has the potential to transform industries. We welcome deep techs operating in the market for up to 5 years.
2. Early-Stage Trailblazers: in the crucial phases of development (from pre-seed to late seed) and at the beginning of your commercialization journey (TRL 3/4 – 8). This CEE Challenge is designed to support your growth.
3. Game Changers: Your project is based on a new technology, scientific breakthrough (novel science), or sophisticated engineering process that can solve real problems.
4. Impact Creators: Address unmet industrial, societal, or environmental needs or even create entirely new markets.
5. Team Players: You’ve got a dedicated team of at least 2 passionate innovators ready to disrupt and redefine.
6. Fresh & Independent: Your project isn’t a subsidiary or company spin-out; you’re a standalone force of innovation.
7. High-Risk, High-Reward: Your project involves significant scientific or engineering risks and is working towards achieving a strong product-market fit.
Co-financed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education within the Task: “Organization by the Cracow University of Technology of three editions of a path dedicated to strengthen the potential and recognition of Polish science in the area of commercialization and internationalization, through support for the founding, development, and expansion into international markets of deep tech companies based on solutions originating from Polish universities and operating in areas strategic for Europe.
Współfinansowane ze środków Ministra Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego w ramach Zadania: „Organizacja przez Politechnikę Krakowską trzech edycji dedykowanej ścieżki wzmacniania potencjału i rozpoznawalności polskiej nauki w obszarze komercjalizacji i internacjonalizacji, poprzez wsparcie zakładania, rozwoju i ekspansji na rynki międzynarodowe spółek deep tech, bazujących na rozwiązaniach pochodzących z polskich uczelni i działających w strategicznych dla Europy obszarach”
