Seeds of Bravery

What Seeds of Bravery does

Seeds of Bravery (also referred to as UASEEDs) is a €20 million public grant programme funded by the European Union under the European Innovation Council (EIC) through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101104445), officially launched on 20 December 2023 in response to the full-scale war in Ukraine. The programme is implemented by a consortium of 17 partners and 2 associated partners spanning 12 European countries, with FundingBox Accelerator sp. z o.o. (Poland) and FOND ROZVYTKU INNOVACIJ UNK (Ukrainian Startup Fund, Ukraine) serving as joint controllers. Its mission is to support Ukrainian tech startups — early-stage ventures and SMEs in deep tech, AI, cybersecurity, healthtech, agritech, climate/energy, educational technology, quantum and infrastructure — and to integrate them into the European innovation ecosystem, with a geographic restriction that projects must be civilian in nature.

The core offering combines financial and non-financial support. On the financial side, Seeds of Bravery allocates €12 million in non-refundable grants across five programmes — Business and Innovation Services (up to €10,000), Innovative Entrepreneurship (up to €25,000), Deep Tech Incubators (up to €25,000), Rebuild Ukraine (up to €25,000) and Deep Tech Scale-up and Acceleration (up to €50,000), capped at €60,000 per company. Application routing runs through the FundingBox OnePass Platform (single short application with admissibility checks) followed by the USF Management System for full proposals, with external evaluators and a consensus meeting determining awards. The non-financial layer consists of 17+ programmes including the 12-week Deep Tech Accelerator (powered by Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration), the 3-month Digital and Deep Tech Booster (INNOV8), the Female Entrepreneurship & Leadership Programme, the Market & Legal Lab, the Funding Lab, the 4-week Finance Booster, the Matchmaking Programme (with Plug and Play and dedicated Matchmaking Officers), Market Discovery Workshops (37 countries, 100+ speakers), UA Tech Tickets (free access to 34 European exhibitions including Web Summit, VivaTech and Latitude59), Demo Days, and an interactive European Innovation Ecosystem Mapping of 1,600+ entities in 14 countries.

The business model is a closed-loop public grant administration model rather than a commercial revenue business. The €20M Horizon Europe grant is the sole funding source; €12M is passed through as grants, with the remainder covering consortium administration and non-financial service delivery. There are no shareholders, equity instruments or traditional ownership stakes. Commercial metrics are consequently non-applicable, while programme throughput is high: 451 grants were disbursed to more than 320 unique companies out of 2,173 applications within roughly two years, and over €10.3M of the €12M grant allocation was disbursed by late 2025. Portfolio outcomes include Beholder's €600k + €1.5M commitments at Latitude59, CheckEye's EIT Health InnoStars Awards 2024 win, Platma's $2M post-accelerator round, and Haiqu securing the full €60,000 funding cap, although these exits/investments accrue to portfolio companies rather than to Seeds of Bravery itself.

Name

Seeds of Bravery

Legal name

FundingBox Accelerator sp. z o.o. and FOND ROZVYTKU INNOVACIJ UNK (USF) as Joint Controllers

Website

https://seedsofbravery.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seeds of Bravery is a €20 million EU-funded EIC grant programme that distributes non-refundable grants and non-financial support to Ukrainian tech startups, integrating them into the European innovation ecosystem via a 17-partner consortium across 12 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Grants and Acceleration Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Startup grant funding
• Deep tech acceleration
• Innovation ecosystem integration
• Startup incubation programs
• EU EIC funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. European Innovation Council (EIC) Funding: Seeds of Bravery is a €20 million project funded entirely by the European Union under the European Innovation Council (EIC) through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101104445). The project allocates €12 million in non-refundable grants to Ukrainian startups. The organization itself does not generate commercial revenue—it distributes grant funding and provides non-financial support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Seeds of Bravery distributes non-refundable grants of €10,000 to €50,000 (up to €60,000 per company) to Ukrainian tech startups and scale-ups across five grant tracks. It complements the financial support with a network of non-financial programs covering acceleration, matchmaking, EU market entry, conference access, and ecosystem navigation. All offerings are delivered through a 17-partner consortium that integrates Ukrainian startups into European innovation markets.

Product overview

Seeds of Bravery is a €20 million EU-funded project under the European Innovation Council (EIC) that supports Ukrainian tech startups through a combination of financial grants and non-financial support services. The offering consists of five funding programs (Business and Innovation Services up to €10,000, Innovative Entrepreneurship up to €25,000, Deep Tech Incubators up to €25,000, Rebuild Ukraine up to €25,000, and Deep Tech Scale-up and Acceleration up to €50,000) that can provide up to €60,000 in total grant funding per company. These funding programs are complemented by an ecosystem of non-financial support including UA Tech Tickets for conference access, Digital and Deep Tech Booster for acceleration, Funding Lab for grant application support, Market and Legal Lab for EU market entry legal services, the Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership Programme, Finance Booster for investor readiness, Deep Tech Accelerator for commercialization support, the Matchmaking Program for investor connections, and Market Discovery Workshops for European market expansion. The project also maintains an interactive European Innovation Ecosystem Mapping tool to help startups navigate the EU innovation landscape. The programs are delivered through a consortium of 17 partners and 2 associated partners integrating Ukrainian tech innovators into European markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business and Innovation Services Grant Non-refundable grant of up to €10,000 for tech startups and SMEs to improve business models and growth strategies. Includes access to investor and accelerator networks and international technology conferences. Open to Ukrainian tech companies registered in Ukraine, relocated to EU/OCT/Horizon Europe Associated Countries after 24.02.2022, or registered in EU with a Ukrainian-citizen founder or top manager.
• Innovative Entrepreneurship Grant Non-refundable grant of up to €25,000 focusing on business sustainability and the promotion of women-led companies. Includes access to a 2-week online Market Fast Track program and specialized coaching for women entrepreneurs.
• Deep Tech Incubators Grant Non-refundable grant of up to €25,000 for early-stage Ukrainian startups engaged in pre-MVP activities. Includes access to an expanded technology community, a specialized Deep Tech Incubator, and the Market Fast Track program.
• Rebuild Ukraine Grant Non-refundable grant of up to €25,000 for tech SMEs focused on rapid post-war reconstruction and economic revitalization of Ukraine. Includes Digital and Deep Tech Boosters, Market Fast Track, Finance Booster, Deep Tech Accelerator, Funding Lab, and matchmaking services.
• Deep Tech Scale-up and Acceleration Grant Non-refundable grant of up to €50,000 for innovative tech startups and SMEs with Technology Readiness Level 7 or higher seeking rapid market reach and expansion. Includes free coworking access, tech event tickets, conferences, investors, accelerators, Market and Legal Lab, Deep Tech Accelerator, Finance Booster, Funding Lab, and specialized training.
• Deep Tech Accelerator Program 12-week accelerator program powered by Vacuum Deep Tech Accelerator, focused on identifying, nurturing, and commercializing science-based Ukrainian deep tech innovations. 63 startups have completed the program across 5 cohorts.
• Digital and Deep Tech Booster Program 3-month acceleration and mentorship program supporting Ukrainian startups from ideation to market success, helping develop fundraising readiness through Demo Day presentations. 79 startups have completed across 5 cohorts.
• Matchmaking Program Program pairing Ukrainian startups with dedicated Matchmaking Officers to facilitate tailored connections with European investors, experts, and ecosystem players. Facilitated by Plug and Play in collaboration with consortium partners. Over 300 meaningful interactions facilitated.
• Market Discovery Workshops Workshops covering market opportunities in European countries, with over 100 speakers from industry, academia, and investment sectors. 20 workshops covering 37 countries with 2,338 participants, helping Ukrainian startups develop go-to-market strategies for the EU.
• Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership (FEL) Programme Program aimed at strengthening female-led Ukrainian entrepreneurship through mentorship, leadership development, and connection to EU-wide resources and expertise. 99 females have participated.
• Finance Booster 4-week investment readiness program providing certificates of readiness for investor engagement and connecting startups with consortium partners and external experts to prepare them for funding rounds.
• Funding Lab Proposal writing bootcamps and pitch trainings designed to increase access to funding, including support for EIC Accelerator applications and other European funding programs.
• Market and Legal Lab Legal services for Ukrainian startups entering EU or global markets, including intellectual property protection, patent strategies, and regulatory compliance guidance.
• UA Tech Tickets Program providing free tickets to major European technology exhibitions, enabling Ukrainian startups to showcase innovations and network with international investors and ecosystem players. 532 free tickets enabled startups to attend 34 major tech exhibitions including Web Summit, VivaTech, Latitude59, and others.
• European Innovation Ecosystem Mapping Interactive Power BI mapping tool developed with Luxinnovation containing over 1,600 entities classified by country, category, support type, and engagement, designed to help Ukrainian startups integrate into the European innovation ecosystem across Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and Belgium.

Quantifiable outcome

• 451 grants awarded to more than 320 companies from 2,173 applications
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FundingBox AcceleratorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead administrative entity managing the Seeds of Bravery project from Warsaw, Poland. Operates the FundingBox OnePass Platform for applications and coordinates overall project implementation.
• Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUkrainian consortium partner (FOND ROZVYTKU INNOVACIJ UNK) based in Kyiv, managing proposal submissions and supporting Ukrainian startup engagement.
• Aalto UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish university partner hosting the Summer School on Entrepreneurship and contributing to the Deep Tech Incubators Programme with global expertise.
• AcceleracemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanish accelerator partner helping bridge Ukrainian startups and European investors through a digital platform and acceleration expertise.
• Impact Hub StockholmmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish partner contributing to the matchmaking program and female entrepreneurship initiatives, leveraging international innovation network.
• LuxinnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxembourg's national innovation agency coordinating the Pan-European Integration (EU-UA Gateway) work-package and European Innovation Ecosystem mapping with 1,600+ entities.
• Plug and PlaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal innovation platform spearheading the Matchmaking Program and hosting Demo Days, providing direct onboarding into the Plug and Play global ecosystem.
• YEP AcceleratormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUkrainian accelerator partner powering the Deep Tech Incubators Programme and organizing University Innovation Day events.
• Vacuum Deep Tech AccelerationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner powering the Deep Tech Accelerator Programme, a 12-week program for science-based innovations.
• INNOV8majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImplementing the Digital and Deep Tech Booster Programme and Science2Business Programme, supporting startups from ideation to market success.
• AxisBICmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizing Market Discovery Workshops covering 37 countries with over 2,338 participants, providing market intelligence for Ukrainian startups.
• EIT HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology Health partner contributing to healthcare/life science startup support and ecosystem connections.
• Erasmus Centre for EntrepreneurshipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch partner supporting Benelux market connections and startup integration into European markets.
• LUkraine asblminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxembourg-based nonprofit with public interest status. Memorandum of understanding signed August 2024 to foster collaboration between Ukrainian, Luxembourgian, and European innovation ecosystems, including supporting startup delegations to Luxembourg conferences.
• Ministry of Education and Science of UkrainemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on university innovation initiatives and startup ecosystem development policy.
• Ministry of Digital Transformation of UkrainemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner coordinating Ukrainian delegation at international tech events including Nexus Luxembourg.
• Cork BICminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish business innovation centre partner supporting startup development and European integration.
• Davinci LabsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnovation partner contributing to ecosystem development activities.
• Institute of Physics (National Academy of Science Ukraine)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorResearch institution partner supporting deep tech and scientific innovation commercialization.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF): Ukraine's flagship state-backed startup fund providing grant and equity financing to early-stage Ukrainian tech companies. Direct peer: Seeds of Bravery's consortium partner, sharing the same target beneficiary base (Ukrainian tech startups), overlapping grant mechanisms, and co-managing proposal submissions via joint platforms.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform and accelerator running industry-specific programs with corporate partners. Seeds of Bravery's matchmaking and Demo Day lead partner; comparable model of combining non-dilutive startup support with corporate/investor introductions across geographies.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator providing equity-free support, mentorship, and corporate connections to early-stage startups. Comparable zero-equity, non-financial-support-heavy model targeting diverse founder bases and deep tech verticals.
• EIT Health: European Institute of Innovation and Technology Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on healthcare innovation. Seeds of Bravery consortium partner; operates comparable grant and acceleration programs targeting European healthtech startups with similar EIT/EU governance.
• FundingBox Accelerate: European deep tech acceleration platform running Horizon Europe-backed cascade funding programs. Lead implementation partner for Seeds of Bravery; runs structurally identical grant + acceleration models for EU deep tech startups via the FundingBox OnePass Platform.

Broad incumbents

• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU's flagship deep tech innovation program providing grants and equity to European startups and SMEs. Direct funder of Seeds of Bravery and a comparable grantmaking vehicle; both operate under Horizon Europe, target similar deep tech TRL stages, and feed startups into each other's pipelines.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running 3-month cohort programs with mentor networks, demo days, and investor introductions. Similar accelerator structure but equity-based model versus Seeds of Bravery's grant-only approach; overlapping deep tech and sustainability verticals.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency providing grant funding, competitions, and acceleration support for UK-based innovators. Comparable public-sector grantmaking model targeting deep tech and high-growth startups, with similar Knowledge Transfer Partner and consortium-driven delivery.

Regional players

• German Accelerator: German government-backed program helping German startups scale into international markets, particularly the US and Asia. Comparable model of combining non-dilutive support, market access, and ecosystem mapping, though focused on outbound internationalization rather than war-context relocation.

Emerging players

• Antler: Global early-stage venture firm and accelerator running residency programs across multiple continents. Comparable in supporting founders from ideation through Series A with structured programs, mentor networks, and demo days, though operating an equity-based model versus Seeds of Bravery's grant-only approach.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@seedsofbravery
• Facebookfacebook.com/seedsofbravery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seeds-of-bravery
• Instagraminstagram.com/seedsofbravery
• Xx.com/seedsofbravery_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments114 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seeds of Bravery