EIT Food Venture Studio Founders EoI, at most three reach the EUR 30,000 grant stage
EIT Food expects at most three people to get as far as applying for the €30,000 grant in its Venture Studio Founders pathway, and at least the first four months pay nothing. Applications are open and close on 7 December 2026 at 13:00 CET, 23 days after 14 November (our arithmetic).
What it is, per the call guidelines (version 1.0, 23 October 2026): an Expression of Interest for experienced founders who want to build a new agrifood venture studio in southern, central or eastern Europe. Only individuals can apply, not companies, and the studio has to be set up in one of the listed countries, from Albania to Türkiye. Hosts are seven existing venture builders: Zinc, Kost Studio, Ivoro, Fresh Ventures, Food Founders, Enviu and Carbon13.
- The funnel: up to 20 people are asked for a video, up to 10 go to an in-person Selection Day in Rotterdam in late January or early February 2027. EIT Food pays the hotel, applicants pay their own travel. The host studios then choose whom to invite.
- The unpaid part: a 3 to 5 day induction at the host, then a three-month Development phase at 25 to 35 hours a week, roughly February to April 2027. The guidelines say there is no money for at least the first four months.
- The grant: €30,000 as a lump sum, in two instalments of €15,000, applied for only after Development. The second instalment depends on setting up a company.
- The studio money: up to €300,000 over two years, at most €150,000 a year, through a separate call in late spring 2027. It requires match funding, and the amount is not yet defined.
- Equity: the host builder is expected to take a small stake in the new studio, and EIT Food may take one if the €300,000 is awarded. No percentage is published.
Who pays: the guidelines say EIT Food created and funded the programme. EIT Food says on its website that it is supported by the EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union. The guidelines do not say which part of the money comes from the EIT. Eligible spending of the €30,000 follows the Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement.
Track record: none for this pathway, which is new. For the accelerator it replaced, which ran from 2019 to 2025, EIT Food says it helped more than 300 startups that raised nearly €40M. The guidelines expect another round in late 2027.
The guidelines say both that up to 10 people will be welcomed into the programme and that up to 10 go to Selection Day, after which hosts choose. How many start Development is not stated.
Not published: the equity percentages, and the co-funding share for the €300,000.