About
Welcome to the AI Launchpad, the first pan-European AI platform born from the collaborative spirit of Rise Europe, a network of leading European start-up ecosystem builders, and supported by the ELIAS project, the European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability. We are a pan-European platform supporting AI startups as they grow from validated research to scalable, market-ready ventures. Instead of a traditional accelerator, we offer a seasonal “visiting hub” model, where selected startups engage with a new ecosystem each Spring and Fall. We bridge the gap between science and entrepreneurship by connecting AI teams with world-class resources and expert guidance, helping them to thrive in the competitive AI landscape.
Our Story
Born from the vision of Rise Europe, a network of leading innovation builders, and the ELIAS project which aims to solidify European leadership in AI-driven innovation and scientific advancement, the AI Launchpad embodies the power of a unified European start-up ecosystem. Recognizing the fragmented nature of local accelerators, we enable an interconnected network that leverages the strengths of ten leading European hubs: Campus Founders, DTU Skylab, ETH AI Center, INiTS, KTH, UnternehmerTUM, HPI, YesDelft, CVC and Cyber Valley.
By integrating these hubs into a centralized system, we ensure that all start-ups benefit from shared knowledge and resources of the Rise Europe ecosystem, while the ELIAS project strengthens our mission by driving sustainable AI innovation. Our commitment is to foster innovation and support the growth of AI-driven solutions that address real-world challenges. The AI Launchpad connects the best minds in AI research and entrepreneurship, providing start-ups with the tools they need to succeed.
Our Vision
To empower AI startups across Europe by connecting them with local expertise, world-class networks, and new markets, facilitating faster, more sustainable growth.
Provide AI startups with tailored support, expert mentorship, and access to cutting-edge resources to help them succeed.
01
Empower Start-ups
Build a centralized platform and community that connects AI startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs across Europe, promoting collaboration and shared learning.
02
Foster Collaboration
Encourage the development of innovative AI solutions that address critical challenges and improve the quality of life.
03
Drive Innovation
Guide startups through the initial phases of building their AI solutions, offering immersive local accelerator programs and market entry camps to ensure their success.
04
Support Growth
Explore our Hubs
UnternehmerTUM, founded in 2002, is a leading center for innovation and business creation in Europe. Each year, it supports over 50 high-growth technology start-ups through comprehensive entrepreneurship training, access to prototyping infrastructure, and venture capital funding. With more than 400 employees and numerous partnerships, UnternehmerTUM connects industry and start-ups to foster innovation and corporate culture. The organisation also operates MakerSpace, a high-tech workshop for prototyping, and Munich Urban Colab, focusing on Smart City solutions.
DTU Skylab is the innovation hub of the Technical University of Denmark, providing a dynamic environment for students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate on technological and scientific advancements. As a cross-disciplinary learning environment, it supports various institutes at DTU and offers soft funding, business acceleration, prototyping, and growth space for deep tech start-ups and pre start-up projects. DTU Skylab also hosts numerous extra-curricular events and programs initiated by its staff and the broader community, fostering creativity and entrepreneurship.
INiTS, established in 2002, is a leading high-tech incubator with the aim of promoting the exploitation of R&D results in the academic environment through spin-offs and startups. INiTS has been repeatedly recognised by UBI Global as one of the world's best university incubators since 2013. Founded as the Vienna incubator of the AplusB Scale-up program, INiTS has comprehensively expanded its range of services through the technology marketplace START:IP and the financing instrument STARTKapital and complemented it with the Acceleration program Health Hub Vienna.
Campus Founders is the startup and co-innovation hub in Heilbronn. Through their programs they enable early-stage startups to achieve rapid progress and fuel their international growth. As a platform, they connect students, founders, investors, and companies, fostering collaboration and co-innovation with a strong focus on AI. Annually, they host the startup festival Heilbronn Slush’D, attracting international partners and advancing the startup and innovation ecosystem in Heilbronn-Franken.
KTH Innovation supports students, researchers and employees in developing their ideas into impactful innovations. With a focus on advanced, research-based technology, KTH Innovation provides a structured innovation support process recognized internationally. The organisation fosters entrepreneurship by offering resources like coaching, funding, and team-building support, while promoting sustainability and equality in the innovation system.
The ETH AI Center strongly promotes entrepreneurship to bridge the gap between research and innovation in society and bring science-based innovation into real world application. It is a beacon and breeding ground for high-performing entrepreneurs and AI startups across Europe, attracting a global network of collaborators. With its close partner Talent Kick, its Entrepreneur in Residence Program the Dandelion Award and offers for affiliated startups, the ETH AI Center supports entrepreneurship across various domains.
The Team
Florian Becke
UnternehmerTUM
Cecilia Bisgaard
KTH
Bastian Burger
UnternehmerTUM
Patrick Burkert
Campus Founders
Lisa Ericsson
KTH
Irene Fialka
INiTS
Kristine Garde
DTU Skylab
Ann-Lauriene Schumacher
ETH AI Center
Michael Hähnle
INiTS
Oliver Hanisch
Campus Founders
Alexander Ilic
ETH AI Center
Thomas Mayerhofer
INiTS
Samer Nabha
Campus Founders
Camilla Norgaard Jensen
DTU Skylab
Johannes Schnabel
Campus Founders
Helmut Schönenberger
UnternehmerTUM
Isabelle Siegrist
ETH AI Center
Peter Tschuchnig
INiTS
Mikkel Sørensen
DTU Skylab
Join Our Platform. Your Local Strength. Europe’s Collective Power.
Join an elite network of European startup ecosystems accelerating AI innovation through cross-border collaboration. As a facilitator hub, you’ll:
Nominate 2–4 top startups per season
01
Host visiting startups with tailored landing experiences
02
Share your infrastructure, calendar, and insights
03
Gain access to new VC, corporate, and policy networks
04
Co-orchestrate Europe’s trusted AI scale-up platform
05
Our Network
Our network of the AI Launchpad brings together outstanding entrepreneurial ecosystems from Rise Europe and great technological talent from ELLIS Units and the ELIAS network. Rise Europe unites leading start-up ecosystem builders from 13 European countries who want to empower European start-ups to make a positive global impact. ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) is a pan-European AI network of excellence which focuses on fundamental science, technical innovation and societal impact. The European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability (ELIAS) is an EU-funded project initiated through ELLIS. ELIAS aims to advance the use of AI for sustainability while supporting researchers in transforming their scientific work into impactful, market-ready solutions. By connecting scientific excellence with entrepreneurial momentum, ELIAS plays a key role in shaping Europe’s sustainable innovation landscape.