EIT Digital Challenge: Previous winners share their experience

The EIT Digital Challenge is a fast-paced and exciting competition, in which high growth European tech startups can win a full-year of acceleration worth €50K, access to EIT Digital’s innovation network and international visibility (and, if you are the top selected startup, a further €100K).

Applications are still open, with the deadline to apply in 1 week, on 7 June 2020. EIT Digital is looking for startups that are tackling the world’s biggest challenges, particularly in Digital Tech, Digital Cities, Digital Industry, Digital Wellbeing and Digital Finance. 

Winners and participants of the competition can look forward to getting huge visibility, sales opportunities, connection with potential investors, and insights from business developers and fundraising experts operating from 17 cities across Europe and Silicon Valley.

With this in mind, we turned to last year’s winners to hear about their experience. Here’s what they said.

Visibility

The EIT Digital Challenge will put your startup in front of the media, get you international coverage, and in doing so, increase your global reputation and boost your message to the right people and organisations.

SideKickHealth – “Being one of last year’s winners has really increased our visibility and awareness. EIT Digital leverages powerful media and social channels, which have been utilised to give us an additional platform to amplify our message.”

Cerbair – “In less than 6 months, EIT Digital has already proved to provide us huge media coverage, some welcome financial support as well as numerous sales opportunities in Europe for which we are very grateful”.

Zelros – “EIT Digital’s communication initiatives helped us gain more visibility in our target markets in Europe, and we look forward to the outcome of our joint business development efforts”.

International expansion support

Many startups used their EIT Digital experience as a launchpad to expand abroad, making use of the insights given to them by experts, as well as networks they gained access to.

Enerbrain – “The EIT Digital Challenge is ideal for companies that already have significant traction in their home market and are ready to expand internationally.”

Cerbair – “Winning the EIT Digital Challenge helped us seize a couple of major deals for which we were waiting for the clients’ final decisions.”

Oculavis – “The EIT Digital Challenge enables us to win customers across Europe. Eleven people from EIT Digital support our European sales activities. This is great support!”

Access to EIT Digital’s innovation network

By joining, startups open up their network to a whole world of new contacts including potential investors, partners and collaborators.

LORIOT – “The EIT Digital team has been extremely supportive by opening up to its network of companies and investors and giving us the opportunity to participate in international tech events. We are confident that we will soon be able to tell some great success stories. The best is yet to come!”.

Of course, these are just snap shots of what the experience will bring your startup, and the whole process will involve many more positive aspects. For more information, check out  the EIT Digital Challenge website. Don’t miss the deadline and make sure to get your application in before the deadline next week, on 7 June, 2020.

Editor’s Note: This post has been created in collaboration and with financial support from EIT Digital. If you’re also interested in partnering with us, just reach out.