Budget
4 start-up grants available: 2 of €25K and 2 of €15K
Key dates and deadline
Gate 1 Open Call Launch: 20 May Info session: 29 May Application Submission Deadline: 6 June Announcement of Selected Teams: 11 June Programme Kick-off: 18 June Announcement of Gate 2: 21 June Online Training Programme: 8 weeks Gate 2 Gate 2 Opens: 21 July Interviews for Selected Proposals: Until 14 September Selection of 10 High-Potential Teams for Gate 2: 17 September Notification to Applicants: 19 September Gate 2 Kick-off: 22 September Mentorship Period: 8 weeks Programme Demo Day in Valencia: 8 October Gate 3 Prize Awards Communicated: 9 October Appeal Window: Until 7 November Grant Execution Period: 10 November – 12 December Grant Reporting Deadline: Through 2026
Details
ClimaTech Connect Selected teams participate in a programme that is designed to empower digital start-up teams/ventures about creating, developing, and managing a new digital business venture in climate sector, providing a safe space to explore and learn essential entrepreneurial skills and a wider view of the stakeholders in the Climate innovation ecosystem. This FREE online training and mentorship programme is your gateway to Europe’s climate-digital ecosystem. Scale your venture, connect with mentors and investors, and build a business with impact at its core. What’s in It for You 8 weeks of training in climate entrepreneurship 1:1 mentoring with leading European experts Demo Day in Valencia (8 Oct 2025) with investors & ecosystem leaders 4 start-up grants available: 2 of €25K and 2 of €15K Travel & accommodation fully covered for Demo Day (up to 3 per team)
Eligibility
✔️ Early-stage startups (TRL 2–4) in climate or digital tech ✔️ Registered in the EU or Horizon Europe countries ✔️ At least 1 EIT-labelled programme graduate on your core team ✔️ Legally incorporated for at least 1 year ✔️ Women-led teams and those located in EIT RIS countries strongly encouraged
Additional information
• Gate 1: An 8-week online training programme covering entrepreneurial and climate-specific skills for all the start-ups selected from the open call participants. • Gate 2: A 2-month mentorship period, offering in-depth support and guidance. Each team will receive one bi-weekly mentoring session, within two months, for a total of four mentoring sessions per each selected team, covering the following topics: o Four sessions about Team dynamics and management; Product market fit (shared by both call organisers); Fundraising and investability provided by EIT Digital experts. o Four sessions focused on specific climate topics: Impact measurement and hypothesis; Including circularity in the business model (shared by both call organisers); Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) notions into the value chain provided by Climate KIC experts. • Gate 3: A Demo Day for the 10 selected teams in Gate 2, that seek funds to develop their innovative climate solutions. The best four teams will receive grants (two of € 25,000 and two of € 15,000) after undergoing a due diligence process. The funds of this grant must be spent by end of 2025 exclusively for product development and solution refinement.
How to apply?
https://www.climate-kic.org/open-call/climatech-connect-2025/