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Does your idea have a big Social Impact?

Together with CVC Capital Partners, we’re looking for startups that make people’s lives better.

Social Impact

Our Business Partners:

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Win €25,000 from CVC Capital Partners for a startup with the biggest social impact

Whether you’re looking to streamline healthcare processes, find ways to fight global warming, or want to improve society as a whole – you may stand a chance to win the CVC Capital Partners Reward

 

Every round, our partner looks at all the accepted startups and selects one working on an idea with the highest social impact. 

 

The reward – €25,000 – can be used towards the further development of your idea.

Apply now

Why develop your impactful idea with StartSmart CEE?

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Increase Your Chance of Success

Working with an experienced startup accelerator with over 300 success stories gives you the framework you need to successfully develop your innovation and turn it into a scalable business.

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Meet Potential Investors

Every acceleration program is a chance to go beyond pure know-how and meet the people who can invest in your startup and help you take it to the next level.

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Get Mentored

Meet business leaders and industry experts. Exchange experiences and get the insights and know-how you need to improve your innovation and get it ready to hit the market.

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Access Regulatory Advice

If you’re working in a tightly-regulated industry, our corporate partners may be able to assist you with regulatory requirements that apply to your innovation.

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Meet New Customers

Every accelerator is a huge opportunity to secure your first customers – especially if you end up working with one of our corporate partners.

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Get Feedback That Helps You Grow

Test your assumptions in real-life scenarios. Get the feedback you need to improve your innovation and adjust it to the business needs of your potential customers.

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Join Our Exclusive Alumni Club

All startups are invited to join our Alumni Club – an exclusive startup ecosystem in which you can get direct access to fellow tech founders, meet potential investors and enjoy alumni-only discounts and events.

Our Corporate Partner

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CVC Capital Partners

A world-renowned private equity and investment advisory firm with a global impact. The company was founded in 1981 as a London-based venture capital and a subsidiary of Citigroup. Today, they own and manage billions of dollars in assets in a variety of different industries including Poland’s PKP Energetyka and Żabka Group. 

The challenge is simple - make the world a better place. During each round of our startup accelerator program, CVC Capital Partners look at startups in health tech, agritech, sustainability, circular economy and all the other key industries and pick one with the highest social impact.

Who can get the award?

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Have an Idea with a Big Social Impact

Your idea should have a significant, positive impact on the world around us – whether it’s through improving our lives or protecting the environment.

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Enter One of Our Accelerator Programs

Only startups admitted to and participating in one of the current rounds of our programs can receive the award.

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Meet Our Formal Criteria

On top of having an impactful idea, you or one of your key members needs to be below 30 years of age.

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Get Selected for the Reward!

Lastly, you need to beat your competitors – other startups that are working hard to develop their innovative ideas and change the world!

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Recruitment is closed!

Recruitment for the Spring 2024 edition is closed, subscribe to our newsletter to get notified about the start of the next Acceleration and other opportunities.

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    Grow your startup and change the world

    At StartSmart CEE (formerly MIT Enterprise Forum CEE), we connect innovative startups with established corporate partners looking for solutions to important business problems. 

     

    If you believe your startup can solve one of our partner’s problems and have a positive impact on our society and our lives – apply today and get a chance to win an extra €25,000. 

     

    Of course, the reward comes on top of all the perks of developing your idea with an MIT-affiliated startup accelerator!

    Apply now

    Application Guide

    Find out how to apply to our Startup Accelerator Programs. Learn key dates, required documents, and the timeline of the application process. 

     

    Begin the application process, start growing your idea, fight for rewards for the best startups, and scale your business!

    Download the Application Guide Download

    Rules & Regulations

    Get to know the rules and regulations of the StartSmart CEE (formerly MIT Enterprise Forum CEE) Accelerator Programs. Find out if you meet the formal criteria and are eligible to apply.

    Check the Regulations Document Check out

    Check out our success stories

    The Successful Partnership Between CUX & PZU
    The Successful Partnership Between CUX & PZU The Startup: CUX CUX is among the first tools to automate Digital Experience Analytics, transforming emotions into data and numbers to help businesses understand and improve… Read more
    Vetasi and Digital Engineering Solutions
    Vetasi and Digital Engineering Solutions The Startup: DES A startup on a mission to help solve the growing global issue of aging infrastructure.  They’re a pioneer in connecting AI with image… Read more
    Cream Finance Poland and Ender Turing
    Cream Finance Poland and Ender Turing The Startup: Ender Turing Story of the Ender Turing starts with research on the topics they later used to build their product. Co-founders were researching everything… Read more
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    Become the next startup to win the CVC Young Innovator Award

    Apply today and let our experts, mentors, and corporate partners help you develop your idea.

    Apply now