In a world the place breakthrough improvements usually falter as a result of a scarcity of funding or market readiness, the EU-funded INVEST challenge is stepping as much as rewrite the narrative. By addressing the vital hole between researchers and buyers, INVEST is paving the best way for Europe’s most promising research-driven improvements to scale up and make a worldwide impression.
Closing the hole between innovators and buyers
The core problem lies in a mutual lack of expertise: researchers usually lack the data and networks to pitch their concepts successfully, whereas buyers battle to search out and assess cutting-edge improvements popping out of analysis labs. With Innovation Radar already figuring out high-potential improvements, INVEST takes it a step additional by combining its information with exterior insights and deploying due diligence practices. This enriched strategy ensures that each events—buyers and innovators—have the instruments they should join successfully.
INVEST’s strategy isn’t nearly matchmaking; it’s about making ready researchers to be investor-ready. By way of venture-building programmes, tech due diligence actions, and curated pitching occasions, the challenge has already helped convey many inventions to market.
The INVEST challenge’s success is mirrored in its exceptional impression on Europe’s innovation panorama. So far, 312 corporations have acquired devoted help, enabling them to refine their enterprise fashions, join with buyers, and scale successfully. By way of the Uncover.dealflow.eu platform, the challenge has facilitated 241 strategic introductions, bridging the hole between research-driven startups and potential buyers. These efforts have culminated in a staggering €930 million raised since 2020, with a formidable €2.98 million common funding per transaction. These figures underscore INVEST’s pivotal position in turning high-potential analysis into market-ready improvements.
Success tales: the place innovation meets funding
- Brite Photo voltaic: revolutionising glass for the way forward for building
Greek startup Brite Photo voltaic is main the cost in nanomaterials, delivering a brand new class of glass supplies for constructing building. The corporate has pioneered Photo voltaic Glass know-how, with improvements like Dynamic Glass, a low-cost, thermally insulating electrochromic glass.Help from INVEST: Enterprise-building help by Dealflow.eu.
Funding milestones: €8.6M raised in January 2024, constructing on prior EU funding of €700k.
Immediately, Brite Photo voltaic’s developments are remodeling how we take into consideration energy-efficient building, making them a real instance of EU-funded innovation scaling globally. - NVISION Think about: quantum MRI for early medical interventions
Medical diagnostics are being revolutionised by NVISION Think about, a startup leveraging quantum know-how to create superior MRI brokers and polarisation units. These improvements allow the detection of early metabolic responses to remedy, providing hope for higher affected person outcomes.Help from INVEST: Winner of the Innovation Radar Prize 2022, together with materials refinement and investor introductions.
Funding milestones: €30M Collection A spherical in June 2023, following €6.6M in EU funding.
NVISION Think about is setting the stage for a healthcare revolution, with its improvements now attracting important world curiosity and funding. - NextSense: accelerating renewable power adoption
Dutch startup NextSense is making waves in renewable power innovation. After collaborating in Dealflow.eu’s Renewable Vitality E-Pitching Occasion, NextSense secured a pivotal introduction to ETF Companions, who, together with Pensioenfonds ABP, co-led their €11.5M Collection A funding spherical.Help from INVEST: Introductions facilitated throughout curated pitching occasions. Funding milestones: €11.5M Collection A spherical in 2024.
NextSense exemplifies how strategic matchmaking and professional steerage can translate cutting-edge concepts into market-ready options.
Thijs Povel, CEO & Founder at Dealflow.eu, highlights the transformative position of the challenge, “INVEST has been instrumental in bridging the hole between groundbreaking analysis and real-world funding alternatives. By leveraging instruments just like the Innovation Radar to establish high-potential improvements and complementing this with venture-building help and rigorous due diligence, we’ve been in a position to speed up the journey of research-driven startups towards market success. This holistic strategy ensures that European innovators not solely safe funding however are additionally outfitted to scale globally and drive significant impression.”
A vibrant future for EU-funded innovation
The success of the INVEST challenge highlights the vital position of public funding in empowering European analysis to resolve real-world issues. By connecting researchers with the monetary assets and experience they want, initiatives like INVEST not solely foster progress but in addition contribute to Europe’s management in innovation on the worldwide stage.
Be part of us on the EU Startups Summit 2025
Don’t miss the prospect to fulfill the challenge leaders and unimaginable EU innovators remodeling industries on the EU Startups Summit 2025. It’s the proper alternative to community, uncover groundbreaking research-driven improvements, and discover the way forward for European innovation. Mark your calendar and be a part of the following wave of change!