What EIC Scaling Club does

EIC Scaling Club is a non-profit coordination program funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme and operated by a consortium of six European partners (Tech Tour as coordinator, Bpifrance/EuroQuity, Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu/Webrazzi, EurA, and IESE Business School). Launched in 2023 under the European Innovation Council, the program runs a curated community of 120 selected European deep tech scale-ups, organized into 10 Market Groups spanning Digital, Climate, Health, Space, Quantum, AgriTech, Energy Storage, Cybersecurity, and New Biotech Platforms. Members are by invitation only, drawn from companies that have previously benefited from EIC financial schemes or other European and national innovation programmes.

The program's core product is the community platform itself, supplemented by a stack of programme services: the Growth Forum in-person event series, an interactive Power BI Impact Report dashboard, educational webinars, the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme (with reverse pitches and Corporate Days), SPIN4EIC innovation procurement support, the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme (CES, MWC, GITEX, MEDICA), the STEP Scale Up funding channel, and published Market and Challenge Roadmaps. Distribution is delivered through consortium member networks, EU institutional channels (EIC Fund, EIB, EISMEA), the EIC Trusted Investor Network of 78+ qualified investors, and digital channels including a website hub, newsletter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: the program operates as a public-good acceleration initiative with no fees charged to members and no disclosed revenue. Reported member outcomes include €10-13 billion in combined valuation, €5.47 billion raised to date across the portfolio, €2.13 billion raised since joining, 67% average funding growth versus 26% for a European control group, 2,182 new jobs created, and 200 strategic partnerships closed.

Name

EIC Scaling Club

Legal name

EIC Scaling Club

Website

https://eicscalingclub.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EIC Scaling Club is an EU-funded coordination program (Horizon Europe) operating a curated community of 120 European deep tech scale-ups, connecting them with investors, corporates, and mentors to accelerate growth toward unicorn status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator / Deep Tech Scale-up Program

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Deep tech acceleration
• Scale-up program
• Innovation community
• Venture mentoring
• Startup ecosystem

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Funding: EIC Scaling Club is a coordination project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme. It is not a revenue-generating entity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded curated community where 120 European deep tech scale-ups connect with investors, corporate innovators, mentors and other industry stakeholders to accelerate scaling. It delivers tailored venture mentoring, a curated roadshow of events (Growth Forum, Ambition Forum), peer networking, visibility/PR support and access to EIC Fund and EIB financing instruments. Membership is by invitation/nomination only and is free for participants, with the programme funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme.

Product overview

EIC Scaling Club is a curated community platform for 120 European deep tech scale-ups, combining a core community network with multiple programme services including the Growth Forum event series, Impact Report analytics dashboard, EIC ITF trade fair access programme, educational webinars, STEP Scale Up funding support, Corporate Partnership Programme, SPIN4EIC innovation procurement support, and Market/Challenge Roadmaps research publications. The platform connects deep tech companies with investors, corporate innovators, mentors, and stakeholders to accelerate scaling and growth across Europe's deep tech ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curated Community Platform (EIC Scaling Club) A curated community connecting 120 European deep tech scale-ups with investors, corporate innovators, mentors, and industry stakeholders to spur growth and support scaling across 10 market groups.
• Growth Forum The programme's premier in-person gathering bringing together EIC Scaling Club companies, investors, mentors, corporates and public decision-makers for networking, panels, company pitching and award ceremonies.
• EIC International Trade Fairs Programme (ITF) Programme providing EIC Scaling Club members access to international trade fairs (CES, MWC, GITEX, MEDICA) with matchmaking services, pre-departure coaching, and post-event follow-up support.
• Webinars Online sessions covering topics such as EIB venture debt instruments, STEP funding opportunities, strategic procurement with SPIN4EIC, and corporate partnership programme guidance.
• EIC Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP) A curated programme connecting innovative scale-ups with corporate partners through open calls, reverse pitches, one-to-one coaching, and Corporate Day events to facilitate pilots, partnerships, and investments.
• SPIN4EIC Innovation Procurement Programme A flagship EIC initiative helping innovative European companies navigate procurement processes, become qualified suppliers, and unlock growth through public and corporate contracts with training, toolkits, and expert support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% average funding growth for members since joining (vs 26% for control group)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tech TourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator and managing partner of the EIC Scaling Club consortium. Responsible for overall program management, event organization, and coordination of consortium partners.
• Bpifrance (EuroQuity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench public investment bank and consortium partner. Hosts the Growth Forum at Bpifrance (EuroQuity) headquarters. Provides access to French and European investment networks.
• Hello TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep tech ecosystem organization and consortium partner focused on connecting deep tech founders with industry and investors.
• Tech.eu (Webrazzi)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology media outlet and consortium partner providing media coverage, visibility, and communication support for member companies.
• EurAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean consulting and advisory partner contributing expertise in innovation consulting and ecosystem development.
• IESE Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness education institution providing academic expertise, leadership development, and access to business school resources and alumni network.
• European Space Agency (ESA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace sector stakeholder that has provided funding to member companies like HyImpulse (€11.8 million) and works with the EIC ecosystem.
• EIC Innovation Procurement Programme (SPIN4EIC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgram helping innovative companies navigate procurement processes, become qualified suppliers, and unlock growth through public and corporate contracts.
• EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)minorOthersRegulatory body that certified Limatech's lithium batteries (first European designer/producer to achieve this), providing market access for member companies.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the world's largest startup accelerator networks, running mentorship-driven cohorts across multiple verticals. Highly comparable to EIC Scaling Club's curated community plus mentorship model, though Techstars is a global commercial accelerator with fee-based economics rather than an EU grant-funded program.
• Y Combinator: The benchmark global startup accelerator, providing seed capital, mentorship, and a curated founder community. YC's batch model and network effects mirror the EIC Scaling Club's curated cohort approach, though at a different stage focus and with full global reach.

Direct peers

• Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with strong European presence, running cohort-based programs and connecting founders to investors and corporates. Directly comparable to EIC Scaling Club's curated community model, particularly for European deep tech founders.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform running accelerator programs and corporate partnership matchmaking across verticals (including deep tech, fintech, health). Comparable to EIC Scaling Club in its corporate innovation focus and event-driven model (e.g., Summit and EXPO).
• Hello Tomorrow: Global deep tech organization running the Hello Tomorrow Challenge and connecting founders with industry and investors. Direct peer and consortium partner of EIC Scaling Club — shares deep tech focus and curated community model.
• Tech Tour: European deep tech community platform running the Growth50 listing and investor forums. Direct peer and managing consortium partner of EIC Scaling Club — operates analogous curated events and selection programs.

Regional players

• Station F: Paris-based world's largest startup campus, hosting accelerator programs and corporate partners. Highly comparable to EIC Scaling Club on French/EU deep tech founder community building, with strong Bpifrance overlap.
• Seedstars: Swiss-based emerging markets startup community running accelerator cohorts and a global competition. Comparable to EIC Scaling Club's cohort-based community model, though focused on emerging markets rather than EU deep tech.

Others

• Dealroom.co: European startup and scale-up intelligence platform tracking funding, valuations, and ecosystems. Comparable as an ecosystem intelligence provider feeding investor dealflow into programs like EIC Scaling Club.
• World Economic Forum UpLink: WEF platform curating innovators addressing global challenges, connecting them with investors and partners. Comparable in its curated top-of-funnel community plus impact-reporting structure aimed at deep tech and impact founders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScalingClubEIC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EICScalingClub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eic-scalingclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments46 records

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

Frequently asked questions about EIC Scaling Club