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Scale in Europe. Access Real Markets. Join the Top AI Network.

Are you building Europe’s next AI breakthrough business?

AI Launchpad is designed for AI founders grounded in cutting-edge research and ready to scale. We unite the continent’s top AI hubs through one coordinated platform — powered by Rise Europe and backed by ELIAS — giving you unparalleled access to local markets, networks, and support across Europe’s strongest startup ecosystems.

How Does It Work?

AI Launchpad in 3 Steps

Landscape

1

Nomination

Startups are referred by local facilitators. No open calls, just quality.

2

Onboarding

Join 2–3 online workshops to align goals, prepare assets, and connect early.

3

Immersion

Spend 2 weeks in a new European hub, engage in curated meetings, events, and VC introductions.

Why Us?

Participate in either the Spring or Fall season, visiting a European AI hub for a curated 1–2 week program designed to match your market goals and maturity.

01

Seasonal Startup Mobility

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AI Launchpad is supported by ELIAS and coordinated by Rise Europe — bringing together Europe’s most dynamic AI startup ecosystems under one trusted framework.

02

Trusted by Europe’s Best

Rather than a single accelerator, this is a decentralized mobility network. You apply via a local facilitator and move across hubs with shared purpose and aligned timing.

03

Not a Batch Program — A Network

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Get matched with investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders. Join targeted sessions before and after your visit to maximize impact.

04

Curated Coaching & Connections

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About

AI Launchpad is a pioneering pan-European platform designed to transform the landscape of AI innovation by nurturing AI Startups emerging from European Universities.

Our AI Experts and Entrepreneurs

Dr. Luisine Abrahamyan

Co-founder and CTO BeVi AI Startup

Morteza Amini

CEO and Co-Founder SciPub+

Dr. Matthias Bethge

Director Tübingen AI Center

Dr. Isabell Claus

Co-Founder thinkers.ai

Prof. Dr. Menna El-Assady

Assistant Professor ETH Zurich

Melanie Gabriel

Co-Founder Yokoy

Manuel Grenacher

CEO and Co-Founder Unique

Simeon Harrison

AI Supercomputing Trainer

Dr. Christopher Hartland

European Patent Attorney at Potter Clarkson

Stephan Hofmann

CEO Minimist

Adam Jafer

Founder Voi Technology

Hedvig Kjellström

Professor, KTH

Jan Willem Kleinrouweler

Head of ML Engineering at appliedAI Institute for Europe

Sven J. Koerner

Founder thingsTHINKING

Prof. Dr. Andreas Krause

Professor at ETH Zurich

Prof. Dr. Georg Langs

Professor at Medical University of Vienna

Anna Kazakova Lindegren

AI Technical Specialist at IBM

Dr. Mikkel Marfelt

Advisor & Mentor DTU

Hannes Eder Öhrström

Business Development Coach KTH

Prof. Dr. Giorgia Ramponi

Assistant Professor UZH

Ted Schönbeck

Nordic CTO of Google Cloud

Taylor Peer

Founder Beat Shaper

Dr. Stefan Tuchschmid

CEO and Co-Founder Scanvio

Dr. Thomas Vain

Digital Lab Manager DTU

Clemens Wasner

CEO and Founder EnliteAI

Our Program

Visiting Hub Program. Rolling Admissions. Seasonal Mobility.

 

Unlike traditional accelerator cohorts, AI Launchpad works on a season-based model tied to local hub calendars. Each season connects trusted startups with new markets at the right moment  —  no rigid batch timelines.

Each Spring and Fall, selected startups visit one of ten top-tier European AI hubs for an approx. 2-week program. These visits are designed to connect you with the people, knowledge, and resources that accelerate your next strategic step — whether it's market entry, fundraising, or building a local partner base.

Current Season

Fall 2025

Visiting Hub Engagements: 

Nominations Due: 

Pre-visit Workshops:

October–December 2025

August 30, 2025

September 2025

Are you eligible?

Completing/ed higher education at a European University.​

Teams of 2-4 entrepreneurial students/researchers.

Developed AI, now ready to go to market to test and sell.

Goal: Scale a VC-fundable start-up with European/global impact.

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