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Behind Every Start-up Success Story
How Ecosystems Shape Growth, Scale and Impact

📅 16 September 2026
📍 Tech Park, Vilnius, Lithuania
🎉 Official Side Event of Startup Fair 2026

Join us for an event with and about the people, organisations, and policies that make start-up success possible.

Organised by INNOVATE-EU, WE-RISE and EPIC-X, this side event brings together policymakers, investors, innovation agencies, accelerators, incubators, clusters, universities, and start-up founders to explore a fundamental question: What does it take to create more start-up success stories in Europe?

Europe is rich in talent, ideas, and innovation. Yet many promising start-ups struggle to access the support, networks, funding, and market opportunities needed to grow and scale. While individual success stories often take centre stage, the ecosystems behind them receive far less attention.

Drawing on the experience of European initiatives supporting hundreds of start-ups across different sectors and regions, this event will explore what works, what barriers remain, and how ecosystem actors can work together to create stronger pathways for start-up growth.

Together, we will discuss:

🔷 How ecosystems can better support start-up growth and scaling
🔷What start-ups really need from investors, policymakers, and support organisations
🔷Which interventions deliver the greatest impact
🔷How Europe can strengthen its innovation competitiveness through collaboration
🔷What lessons can be drawn from successful start-up support initiatives across Europe

This event is a dialogue between the people who shape the conditions for start-up success.

👥 Who should attend?

🔷Policymakers and public authorities
🔷Investors and venture capital representatives
🔷Innovation agencies and business support organisations
🔷Accelerators and incubators
🔷Clusters and ecosystem builders
🔷Universities and research organisations
🔷Start-up founders and entrepreneurs

If you would like to be part of this interactive event, please register https://lnkd.in/d4kMgDFs.
Under the registration link you can find the most recent information about the event. The agenda will also be published there.

Continue the conversation at Startup Fair.

🗓️ On 17 September, participants are invited to attend Startup Fair and discover innovative startups supported by WE-RISE, EPIC-X, and other European initiatives during dedicated startup pitching sessions.

INNOVATE-EU Matchmaking Day on 11 June 2026!

On March 4, 2026, the Rubik Garage – Future of HealthTech Demo Day 2026 marked the grand finale of an intense acceleration journey under the Rubik Garage & Imago Mol HealthTech edition. Hosted in Milan, the event brought together some of Europe’s most promising startups, investors, and innovation leaders.

Over the course of the program, startups supported by INNOVATE-EU transformed ideas into validated solutions – benefiting from months of mentoring, workshops, and hands-on guidance designed to accelerate real-world impact.

This video captures powerful statements from the founders themselves – sharing their journey, challenges, and vision for the future of healthcare innovation.

From early validation to market readiness, these startups are shaping the next generation of HealthTech solutions across Europe. 🚀

A big thank you to all partners, mentors, and contributors who made this journey possible, and congratulations to the teams who took the stage at Demo Day!

🎬 Voices of innovation from Milan 🇮🇹

🚀 On March 4, 2026, the Rubik Garage – Future of HealthTech Demo Day 2026 marked the grand finale of an intense acceleration journey under the Rubik Garage & Imago Mol HealthTech edition. Hosted in Milan, the event brought together some of Europe’s most promising startups, investors, and innovation leaders.
Over the course of the program, startups supported by INNOVATE-EU transformed ideas into validated solutions – benefiting from months of mentoring, workshops, and hands-on guidance designed to accelerate real-world impact.

This video captures powerful statements from the founders themselves – sharing their journey, challenges, and vision for the future of healthcare innovation.

From early validation to market readiness, these startups are shaping the next generation of HealthTech solutions across Europe. 🚀

A big thank you to all partners, mentors, and contributors who made this journey possible, and congratulations to the teams who took the stage at Demo Day!

Save the Date | Start-up Support in the EU – How to Access It, How to Shape It

🗓 24 February 2026
 🕘 09:30–11:30 CET
 💻 Online event

How can start-ups in Europe better access funding, partnerships, and public support?

This interactive session brings together start-ups, investors, corporations, and public authorities to exchange experiences and discuss:
🔹 Access to venture capital in Europe
 🔹 Cooperation between start-ups and corporations
 🔹 Regional and EU-level support mechanisms
 🔹 Best practices in start-up support

💬 Have a success story or experience to share? Join the conversation and take the spotlight.
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dgPbmj_x

Join us online to help shape the future of start-up support in Europe!

🚀 Calling All Deep Tech Startups! This is your chance to step onto a European stage and showcase your innovation!

🌍 Deep Tech Atelier 2026 – Riga (May 14-15) is inviting selected startups to pitch in front of top investors, corporations, and innovation leaders.

✨ What’s in it for you?
– Pitch in a dedicated session
– Connect with investors & industry leaders
– Travel support of up to €500
– Gain visibility at one of Europe’s leading deep tech events

💢 You’ll also have the opportunity to:
– Compete in the Startup Pitch Competition
– Showcase your product in the Demo Zone
– Advance from semifinals to the main stage final

👥 Who should apply?
– Early-stage deep tech startups across sectors like AI, medtech, defence, biotech, materials science, energy, and more.

📅 Don’t miss out! Apply by April 15 and take your startup to the next level.
🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/deakaXaX

Woman Who INNOVATE

Real Stories · Real Startups · Real Impact

📅 11 February 2026 
🕐 10:00–12:00 CET 
🌍 Online (Zoom)

An inspiring online event for women founders, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs across sectors.

✨ What to expect:
Fireside chat with Selena Stan – Adviser, Investor & Angel Investor. What investors really look for, funding myths vs. reality, and lessons learned.
Women Founders’ Panel (HealthTech, AgriFood & GreenTech)
Real startup journeys, challenges, growth drivers & practical lessons
Live Q&A and key takeaways
💡 Why join?
✔ Practical, honest insights
✔ Clearer view of investor expectations
✔ Real stories with real impact
✔ Connection to the EU innovation ecosystem

📌 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dQTV_NFA

Organised within the INNOVATE-EU project by Cluster Imago•Mol, with Rubik Hub, Grünhof | smart green & AgriFood Lithuania.

INNOVATE-EU Interregional Workshop – Event Overview

On 11 November 2025, the INNOVATE-EU project organised an online Interregional Collaboration Workshop, gathering 27 participants from 8 regions in 5 countries.

Objective
To strengthen connections between European innovation ecosystems and identify new opportunities to support startups.

Main discussion topics

  • Investment and funding collaboration
  • Market access and internationalisation
  • Good practices in startup support
  • Talent and staff mobility
  • Navigating EU startup regulation

Outcome
The workshop closed with a discussion on how to build a sustainable INNOVATE-EU community, focusing on continued knowledge exchange and long-term impact across European regions.