This call is open to early-stage founders (individuals or multidisciplinary teams) who:

• do not yet have a registered company for the business concept you are applying with
• are registered in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country (Pillar III) – this includes the UK
• developing a tech-centric solution in fashion or architecture (material innovation, hardware or digital)
• are already testing, building or validating your concept – not just ideating
• have at least one founder with one year of relevant domain experience who can commit 10–15 hours per week to the programme
• are committed to registering a new company by Month 3 of the programme, if selected

Applicants must present an early-stage pre-incorporation business concept within the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), specifically in advanced and circular materials and built  environment (fashion & architecture).

The proposed idea must demonstrate:

• A clear problem–solution hypothesis, supported by initial validation activities such as research, user engagement, or early testing;
• A defined solution concept, evidenced through a prototype, demonstrator, or equivalent earlystage development;
• Commercial potential, including a clear pathway to becoming a scalable, for-profit venture;
• A compelling value proposition, with demonstrated awareness of existing alternatives, competitors, or market context (e.g. Benchmark);
• Early innovation or meaningful differentiation within the relevant sector(s);
• Commitment to company creation, including a clear intention to establish a legal entity by the end of the third month;
• At least one form of tangible evidence supporting the maturity of the idea, such as: a product demo (max. 3 minutes); screenshots of a prototype or MVP, POC; link to a working demo; pilot or testing documentation; technical mock-ups or UX flows.

Applications lacking tangible evidence of progress beyond concept stage will not be considered competitive.

Venture Creation Funding: beneficiaries may receive financial support of up to EUR 30,000 to validate their business idea, market-test their product, establish a new legal entity and participate in the dedicated venture creation pathway (Startup Sprint + Spark Incubation Programme) aligned with the eligible cost categories outlined in Annex V. Activities covered through this financial support may include the development and testing of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or Proof of Concept, customer validation and market testing, as well as the refinement of the value proposition and business model. The grant may also contribute to costs related to company formation and early operational needs.

Startup Sprint: short, high-intensity, 2–3-day bootcamp designed to help early-stage cultural and creative tech entrepreneurs validate the problem they aim to solve. Up to 35 selected applicants participate in hands-on workshops, expert feedback sessions, rapid prototyping activities, inspirational talks, and field research to test the relevance, feasibility, and potential of their business ideas. Throughout the Startup Sprint, participants work closely with mentors and industry experts to strengthen their problem understanding, sharpen their value proposition, and assess early opportunities for market fit.

Spark Incubation Programme: 9-month (primarily) online journey that supports selected participants actively towards company formation through structured sprints, workshops, hands-on venture formalisation support, mentorship, coaching, virtual kick-off, and access to a strong European innovation ecosystem. The programme combines expert mentorship with a series of hands-on sprints, each focused on a core topic and its deliverables.

The activities under this call (Sprints, Spark Incubation Programme and financial support) are designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs in validating their business ideas and building new ventures through a hands-on incubation journey. As such, the three activities are complementary and mandatory. It is not possible to benefit from the financial support without participating in the Startup Sprint and Incubation Programme.

EIT Culture & Creativity may also offer a fast-track opportunity for up to five top-performing graduates of the Spark Incubation Programme to access the Shape Accelerator Programme for additional support for scaling, on the condition that they conclude the Spark programme fully and meet the admission requirements of the Shape Acceleration Programme as stated in the Open call for Financial Support to Startups and Scaleups (Business Plan 2026-2028). The fast-track decision, if applied, will be based on the project’s final review (and/or other clearly defined performance evidence) and may require an additional assessment.

Interested applicants are invited to attend online information sessions related to this call on:

• 20 October 2026 10:00 CET (Berlin time) (9am UK time)
• 10 November 2026 10:00 CET (Berlin time) (9am UK time)

Click here to register for either online information session.

This information sessions will focus on the call content, topics, and requirements, and on general procedures, such as the submission and evaluation process. The information sessions will be recorded and made available on the EIT Culture & Creativity website. Applicants are encouraged to check the call webpage regularly for updates.