Energy and Public Realm Accelerator Programme

Deadline: 21-Apr-23

Applicants are now being invited to submit applications for the Energy and Public Realm Accelerator Programme to take early-stage mobility start-ups (from EU and Horizon Europe associated countries) to the next level.

The Energy and Public Realm Accelerator is one of the thematic accelerator programmes funded by EITUM. The Energy and Public Realm Accelerator is therefore an EU-funded project: a consortium of parnters is implementing the project with the financial support of EITUM.

In particular the programme is designed to offer to selected early-stage start-ups:

• Individualized business coaching and training, up to 10 hours;
• Mentoring by industry experts and experienced founders;
• Product and technology validation with potential access to a network of living labs;
• Finding your product-market fit;
• Scaling your business, driving growth and internationalisation;
• Investor pitch coaching and potential contacts with investors and VC funds;
• Promotion of your start-up and through EIT Urban Mobility communication channels;
• Access to EIT Urban Mobility investment initiatives and funding instruments;
• 2.500€ lump-sum contribution
• Tickets to Tomorrow.Mobility 2023, organised by Fira de Barcelona and co-organised by EIT Urban Mobility. One of the most influential start-up events in Europe with a specific focus on the future of mobility within cities;
• Impact assessment;
• Opportunity to get your start-up recommended for investment to EIT Urban Mobility – Impact Ventures division;
• Face-to-face networking events and workshops with a specific focus on the business development of startups

The Energy and Public Realm Accelerator will be a precursor and will support 10 start-ups during 2023 with a focus on creating a better public space and improving the wellbeing of residents by addressing energy- and mobility-related aspects so that they develop and implement innovative solutions in the field of urban mobility.

The EIT Urban Mobility Public Realm Accelerator provides support for innovative mobility solutions, focusing on creating a better public space and improving the wellbeing of residents by addressing energy- and mobility-related aspects. These two topics are interlinked, and many early-stage startups contributing to Public Realm come also from the areas of Energy and Mobility. In addition, changing the Public Realm requires a lot of effort, and Energy and Mobility impacts this transition and contributes to a better space for living.

Topics

Start-ups can participate in 6 interactive learning sessions about the following topics:

• Finding product-market fit
• Measuring KPIs
• Social media marketing, with a specific focus on LinkedIn marketing
• Behavioral marketing, trust-building with customers and investors
• Investments
• Presentation skills

Scope

• Fit with the scope of Public Realm:
  • Support the better design, use and management of public spaces through socially innovative, inclusive, environmentally sustainable and accessible solutions.
  • Contribute to the liveability and sustainability in European cities and have a long-term positive societal impact on the development and use of public spaces.
  • Having a positive impact on local communities by enabling innovative solutions related to:
    • Improving the quality of the existing public infrastructure for safe and healthy mobility (walking and cycling networks)
    • Encouraging sustainable travel habits and a reduction of car dependency for short trips by improving local accessibility including to public transport
    • Supporting connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists
    • spaces friendlier and enjoyable places
    • Rethinking parking spaces
    • Helping to decrease congestion caused by delivery and logistics inside the cities
    • Supporting health aspects of public realm and decreasing pollution in cities
• Fit with the scope of Energy:
  • Supporting an energy transition as:
    • Supporting the shift towards electricity and hydrogen energy
    • Accelerating the change in the types of vehicles and storage
    • Rethinking electric micromobility solutions
    • Including e-mobility in public transportation and logistics
    • Rethinking the charging infrastructure

Benefit

• After the evaluation and selection process, the Energy and Public Realm Accelerator will grant each selected start-up with a fixed lump sum of 2,500 €.

Duration

• Energy and Public Realm Accelerator participation formalization: 31 May 2023
• Start date of Energy and Public Realm Accelerator: 7 June 2023

Eligible Countries

Start-ups incorporated in EU27 or EU associated countries are eligible. This includes the following eligible countries:

• European Union member states (EU27): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
• Horizon Europe associated countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Morocco, United Kingdom.

Eligibility Criteria

• Since the learning sessions are organised online, start-ups are free to invite as many colleagues to the sessions as they wish. Generally, they recommend having 1-3 participants per team.
• Applicants will have to comply with the following eligibility criteria (yes/no):
  • The submitted application is in English language;
  • A team with at least 2 FTE. NOT a single founder. Not necessarily connected to monetary compensation;
  • START-UP incorporated in EU or EU associated countries according to the countries by the European Union and third countries associated to Horizon Europe. The registration certificate will be required to participate in the program
  • START-UP incorporation date posterior to 31/12/2012.

For more information, visit EIT Urban Mobility.