EIC Breakfast Session for DeepTech Founders
EIC Breakfast Session: DeepTech Founders & EIC Accelerator 2026
On March 25 (08:30 – 10:00) we are hosting a curated breakfast session for selected deeptech founders at the ETH AI Center in Zurich.
This session will provide first-hand insights into the EIC Work Programme 2026, with a dedicated focus on the EIC Accelerator.
The discussion will be led by Cynthia Jurytko, EIC and Innosuisse Jury Member and senior advisor to deeptech scale-ups, who will share perspectives from the evaluation process, including what distinguishes successful applications and common pitfalls founders should avoid.
Joining the session is Dr. Klaus Fuchs, founder of Rockstar Recruiting, who works closely with venture-backed deeptech companies across Europe on building high-performance teams during critical scaling phases. He will share perspectives on how founders should think about hiring as they move from funding to scale.
Over breakfast, founders will also have the opportunity to exchange experiences with a small group of peers building deeptech companies across Europe.
Please note: This is a curated session with limited seats. Registrations will be reviewed and confirmed individually.
Purpose of the Session
The European Innovation Council Accelerator is Europe’s flagship funding instrument for deeptech startups, offering up to €2.5M in non-dilutive grants and €10M in equity or quasi-equity investment.
In addition, the STEP Scale-Up scheme can provide follow-on investments of up to €30M for strategic technologies ready to scale.
With Switzerland now re-associated to Horizon Europe, Swiss startups are again eligible to apply.
This session aims to help founders better understand:
• how the EIC evaluates teams and technologies
• what differentiates successful applications
• how funding connects to scaling and team building
Who Should Attend
This session is designed for deeptech founders and C-level leaders who are:
• developing disruptive technologies at TRL 5 or higher
• preparing for commercialisation or scale-up within the next 12–24 months
• considering applying for the 2026 EIC Accelerator cut-offs
• thinking about team expansion after funding
Agenda
08:30 – 08:45
Arrival & breakfast
08:45 – 09:15
EIC Work Programme 2026 – Insights from the Jury
• How the EIC evaluates teams and technologies
• Funding structure and evaluation logic
• Common pitfalls in applications
09:15 – 09:30
From Funding to Scale – Hiring Strategies
• When to hire (and when not)
• Key early scaling roles
• Team signals the EIC Jury looks for
09:30 – 10:00
Open discussion and peer exchange
How to Prepare
To get the most out of the session, we recommend:
• reviewing the EIC Accelerator programme
• reflecting on your team gaps for the next 12–18 months
• preparing specific questions for the discussion
Note: This is a confidential, non-recorded session.