EBRD Star Venture Programme 2026 intake for high-potential startups from Ukraine and Moldova

About

High-potential technology start-ups from Ukraine and Moldova can apply by 30 October 2026 for a 24-month programme offering up to €50,000 in tailored advisory support, business diagnostics, mentoring and investor connections.

Benefits

• 🧾Advisory Support
  Up to €50,000 in tailored expert and advisory support per selected start-up over 24 months
• 🧭Business Diagnostics
  Selected start-ups complete an in-depth business diagnostic with the University of Cambridge; the programme overview also mentions strategic compass workshops led by Cambridge IfM Engage
• 🤝Mentoring and Investor Access
  Access to investors, mentors and an international network of experts
• 🌍Market Development
  Opportunities to enter new markets and build strategic partnerships
• ☁️ Technology Partner Perks
  Access to tech partner offers, including $5,000 AWS credits and up to $150,000 Microsoft Azure credits through Founders Hub, free cloud services and discounts on digital tools

Eligibility Criteria

• Target Companies
• Mandatory criteria of high-potential technology start-ups/SMEs from Ukraine and Moldova
• Ownership
• Majority-owned by Ukrainian or Moldovan citizens, and a Moldova-focused source also allows Moldovan citizens or permanent residents
• Live Product
• An innovative, tech-enabled product that is live and in use
• Founding Team
• A committed, full-time founding team
• Market Demand
• Evidence of real market demand through revenue, repeat usage or customer retention
• Scalability
• Ability to scale faster than cost base
• Competitive Advantage
• Clear competitive advantage and strong potential for global scale
• EBRD Presence
• Active in an EBRD country of operations, or most development and engineering team and substantial product-development operations located in EBRD regions
• Sector Focus
• Sector-agnostic, but military products or services, gambling and tobacco are excluded
• Moldova Presence
• A Moldova-focused source adds substantial presence in Moldova through registration, team, core operations or revenue, and compliance with the EU definition of an MSME
• Selection Guidance
• Additional selection guidance from an aggregator source: pre-Series A stage and technical founders with strong core teams

Participation Commitments

• Program Duration
• Selected start-ups participate over a 24-month period
• Business Diagnostic
• Selected start-ups complete an in-depth business diagnostic with the University of Cambridge
• Advisory Projects
• Selected start-ups work with consultants on tailored advisory projects

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

Ukraine and Moldova. Start-ups must be majority-owned by Ukrainian or Moldovan citizens; a Moldova-focused source also allows permanent residents. Eligible start-ups must be active in an EBRD country of operations or have most of their development/engineering team and substantial product-development operations located in EBRD regions.