28DIGITAL

What 28DIGITAL does

28DIGITAL is a Brussels-headquartered, Belgian-domiciled non-profit open innovation organisation founded in 2010 (originally as EIT ICT Labs, then EIT Digital, and rebranded to 28DIGITAL in October 2025 upon completing its 15-year cycle as a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology). It operates Europe's largest open innovation ecosystem, running 23 offices across Europe plus a Silicon Valley hub, a network of 350+ corporate, academic, and investor partners, and an equity portfolio of 300+ companies, having received cumulative EIT funding of €1.1 billion over its history.

Its core platform is the pan-European innovation ecosystem organised around three divisions: Knowledge (Master School with 22 universities, Summer School, Professional School, and self-paced courses on Coursera covering Generative AI Essentials, FinTech, and related topics), Market (acceleration programmes such as Speed Master, Sports Master, SPIN: Rise, SpeedTech, Venture Incubation Program, Mentor Me, Champions, and the Open Innovation Factory matching platform), and Investments (5% SAFE-equity venture incubation plus €5,000 growth and €25,000 final prizes, and Access to Finance support for Series A/B rounds). The underlying technology layer is the curated Open Innovation Factory matching platform, which evaluates startups on excellence, impact, and execution and routes them to programmes, corporate partners, and EU funding instruments. Centralised coordination of EU co-funded projects under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe (e.g., the €3.79M UNITE digital health programme) functions as a structural backbone.

Revenue mechanics are dominated by EIT/EU programme funding, supplemented by paid executive education (Sports Master €790–€1,900, Scale Smart €4,000–€8,000 per participant), corporate scouting commissions (e.g., the European Insurance Group climate-risk project), and equity stakes taken in incubated ventures via SAFEs. Most programmes remain free or subsidised for EIT-affiliated companies. The go-to-market is multi-modal: enterprise field sales to corporates, event/programme-driven demand generation, and channel partnerships through 22 universities and specialised entities (EPSI, EBAN Sports, PoliMi, FBK, SIBB, IE University). Customer segments span startups, researchers/academics, corporates/SMEs, students/professionals, and EU consortium partners.

Name

28DIGITAL

Legal name

28DIGITAL

Website

https://28digital.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

28DIGITAL is a Brussels-based non-profit open innovation ecosystem operator that funds, accelerates, and educates European digital startups and researchers through 23 pan-European offices, a Silicon Valley hub, and 350+ partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open Innovation Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAH

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYFSANAAAM

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

SECONDARYEDAHAEAG

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

Keywords

• Open innovation ecosystem
• Startup acceleration programs
• Venture incubation services
• Executive education courses
• Corporate innovation partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EIT Funding: As a former Knowledge and Innovation Community of EIT, received €1.1 billion in funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Now operates independently while maintaining collaboration under Memorandum of Cooperation.
2. EU Programme Management: Coordinates EU co-funded projects including Horizon Europe collaborations, managing project budgets and consortium partnerships
3. Professional Education Programmes: Revenue from paid executive education programmes including Speed Master, Sports Master, Scale Smart, and SpeedTech. Scale Smart generates €8,000 per non-EIT company and €4,000 per EIT-supported company.
4. Venture Programme Services: Venture Incubation Program takes 5% equity through SAFE agreements. Provides €5,000 Growth Package and up to €25,000 Final Prize to selected ventures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

28DIGITAL operates Europe's largest open innovation ecosystem, connecting startups, corporates, universities, and investors through three service divisions: Knowledge (Master School, Summer School, Professional School for tech and entrepreneurship education), Market (acceleration programmes including Speed Master, Sports Master, SpeedTech, Scale Smart, Venture Incubation Program, Mentor Me, Open Innovation Factory matching platform), and Investments (venture building and equity support through SAFE agreements). The organization runs 23 European offices plus a Silicon Valley hub and coordinates EU-funded projects under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe.

Product overview

28DIGITAL operates as Europe's largest open innovation ecosystem, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across three divisions: Knowledge, Market, and Investments. The Knowledge division includes the Master School, Summer School, and Professional School (offering programs like Generative AI Essentials) for education and skills development. The Market division encompasses acceleration programs including Speed Master, Sports Master, SpeedTech, Venture Incubation Program, Mentor Me, Access to Finance, Champions competition, and the Open Innovation Factory matching platform. The Investments division focuses on venture building and funding support. Additional programs include SPIN (Explore and Rise) for researcher commercialization, and Scale Smart for US market entry. Self-Paced Online Courses are delivered through Coursera in partnership with 20+ European universities. The organization supports early-stage ventures from idea validation through Series A/B funding, with specific programs for sports tech, deep tech, and corporate training segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master School Joint tech Master's programmes involving nearly 20 universities, offering degrees in areas such as FinTech for Business, training digital innovators and entrepreneurs of the future.
• Summer School Summer programme for students and early-career participants to learn how to develop tech business ideas and build entrepreneurial skills.
• Professional School Professional training programmes including Generative AI Essentials, designed to equip professionals with skills to drive digital transformation in companies.
• Speed Master
• Sports Master
• SPIN: Explore
• SPIN: Rise
• SpeedTech
• Venture Incubation Program
• Mentor Me
• Access to Finance
• Champions
• Open Innovation Factory
• Scale Smart
• Self-Paced Online Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported scaleups raised over €50 million in Series A funding in single year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CARDIO-HUBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026One of three first joint interregional digital health projects under UNITE programme coordinated by 28DIGITAL. Focused on cross-border health data sharing. Total UNITE budget €3,788,000 for three projects entering implementation spring 2026.
• NEODATA+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Selected as one of three first UNITE digital health projects coordinated by 28DIGITAL under Horizon Europe. Addresses digital health solutions scaling across European regions.
• RAD-TRACK EUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026One of three inaugural UNITE programme projects coordinated by 28DIGITAL. Focused on personalized remote care and cross-border health data sharing.
• EntopyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Entopy won the TIM Smart Infrastructure Challenge recognized by 28DIGITAL partnership. Entopy's Decision Intelligence platform uses Digital Twin technology and AI for operational data interpretation.
• STMicroelectronicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in 28DIGITAL's 350+ partner ecosystem. Partner in Strategic Domains for deep tech innovation and startup support.
• RaiffeisencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in 28DIGITAL's ecosystem supporting financial sector innovation and startup scaling.
• EurobankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner contributing to 28DIGITAL's innovation ecosystem in Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Women4CyberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry group partner supporting cybersecurity talent development and diversity initiatives within the ecosystem.
• European Green Digital CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry initiative partner collaborating on sustainable and green digital transformation across Europe.
• European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of Sports Master executive programme. EPSI brings sports industry expertise, networks, and executive speakers to the programme.
• EBAN SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Business Angels Network Sports community co-develops Sports Master curriculum and provides investor network access for sports tech startups.
• Applejack LabcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead programme partner for SPIN: Rise REWIRE Health Tech & Wellbeing Commercialisation Lab, providing venture-building and fundraising strategy expertise.
• Instituto Pedro NunescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPortuguese technology transfer organization providing IP training, innovation management, and industry engagement for REWIRE programme.
• B4i - Bocconi for InnovationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBocconi University's entrepreneurial hub hosts SPIN: Rise Smart Manufacturing programme, providing bootcamp venue in Milan and mentorship network.
• SIBBcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBerlin-Brandenburg digital association leads Cybersecurity Launchpad with 200+ tech industry partner network access for market readiness.
• Verhaert Strategic InnovationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEuropean innovation organization leads Evolve DualTech programme, providing CASSINI Business Accelerator expertise for dual-use technology commercialisation.
• Fondazione LINKS & FEAT VenturescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerItalian foundation hosts VECTAR aerospace and robotics programme at FEAT House in Turin, providing ecosystem connections and industry mentoring.
• EurasantécoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealth innovation campus in Lille hosts Health Pioneers programme, one of Europe's largest hospital-university health ecosystems providing clinical validation opportunities.
• IE UniversitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosts Climate Innovation Bridge programme with access to IE Climate Tech Lab, Venture Lab, and Knowledge & Technology Transfer Office for commercialisation support.
• EIT DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner28DIGITAL was formerly EIT Digital KIC before rebranding. Maintains collaboration under Memorandum of Cooperation with EIT.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's corporate innovation and startup accelerator operating across Europe and Latin America. Directly comparable as a corporate-backed open innovation platform running accelerators, corporate-startup matching, and equity investments.
• Station F: World's largest startup campus based in Paris, hosting 1,000+ startups and running multiple accelerator programs. Directly comparable to 28DIGITAL as a European open innovation platform combining workspace, acceleration, and corporate-startup matching.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform operating 50+ industry-specific accelerator programs and corporate-startup matching services. Closely comparable to 28DIGITAL's Open Innovation Factory model of connecting corporates, startups, and investors across verticals.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator active across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, taking equity stakes in incubated founders. Directly comparable to 28DIGITAL's venture incubation model, though operating on commercial VC economics.
• Beta-i: Portuguese-based open innovation organization running corporate-startup programs (Beta-i, Lisbon Challenge, Web Summit) across Europe. Comparable to 28DIGITAL as a European open innovation intermediary connecting corporates, startups, and governments.
• UnternehmerTUM: Germany's leading university-linked entrepreneurship and innovation center affiliated with TU Munich. Comparable to 28DIGITAL's Master School and SPIN programmes for research commercialization and deep-tech venture building.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the world's largest global accelerator networks running 50+ programs across sectors and geographies. Comparable as a globally scaled accelerator/incubator platform, but with a for-profit VC model versus 28DIGITAL's non-profit structure.
• Y Combinator: The world's most prominent startup accelerator. Comparable as a benchmark accelerator operator with equity-based economics, but operates globally with a single US-centric program versus 28DIGITAL's pan-European multi-program structure.

Others

• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU's flagship innovation funding instrument providing grants and equity to European startups and scaleups. Adjacent rather than competing — EIC is a primary funding source for many startups that 28DIGITAL supports through its accelerator pipeline.

Regional players

• EIT Health: Sister EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on health innovation across Europe. Comparable as a parallel EIT KIC operating accelerator programmes, master schools, and EU-funded project coordination in a different vertical.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28dgtl
• Xx.com/28DGTL
• Facebookfacebook.com/28dgtl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments39 records

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

Frequently asked questions about 28DIGITAL