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Visiting Hub Program

AI Launchpad 2.0 offers invite-only, curated access to Europe's most dynamic AI hubs.

 

Forget the one-size-fits-all accelerator. Join a seasonal, curated, cross-border journey where your AI startup gets what it truly needs: markets, expertise, credibility, and impact.

Enter new markets with confidence through:

What makes AI Launchpad different?

  • Pan-European network of 10+ hubs

  • Tailored visiting model per season

  • Invite-only: high trust, high signal

  • Scientific roots + entrepreneurial lift

  • Access to EU research, talent, and grants

  • Supports market entry across Europe

  • Backed by EU's responsible AI agenda

AI Launchpad

  • One location, one ecosystem

  • Fixed 3-month batch model

  • Open applications, high competition

  • Mostly business-only founders

  • US VC-centric, less academic focus

  • Mostly US/Global-focused

  • VC-first, growth-at-all-costs model

Traditional Accelerators (e.g., YC)

Trusted referrals by top European hubs

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Tailored pre-entry coaching

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High-impact matchmaking with corporates, VCs, and peers

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Short, focused immersion programs (1–2 weeks) in host ecosystems

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A connected community of innovators scaling AI for impact

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What will you get as a startup?

Access to Europe’s Top AI Innovation Hubs

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Visit a new ecosystem for each season. Join pre-visit coaching and post-visit matchmaking with local investors, corporates, and peers.

Tailored Market Entry Support

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Work alongside other founder teams nominated by top European facilitators. You’re in excellent company.

High-Trust Startup Community

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AI scientists, technical experts, and entrepreneurs coach and support you throughout the process —not just business mentors.

Support from Both Sides of the Table

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Pitch at a pan-European demo day. Tap into EU-wide opportunities, public-private partnerships, and VC networks.

Visibility on a European Stage

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We don’t just fund growth — we support responsible, sustainable AI that’s aligned with Europe’s future.

Rooted in Purpose

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Our hubs

AI Launchpad partners with ten top-tier innovation hubs across Europe. Each offers a unique local experience for visiting startups.

See which hub fits you best:

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  • Founded in 2002, INiTS is the high-tech incubator of the City of Vienna and has supported more than 500 startups and spinoffs on their way to world market leaders and hidden champions. INiTS bridges the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial reality by providing experienced teams, extensive networks, proven methods, and access to funding opportunities. As part of AI Factory Austria AI:AT, INiTS contributes its incubation expertise to accelerate AI-driven ventures and provides founders and businesses access to cutting-edge AI support and expertise.

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  • At DTU Skylab, we believe innovation is a team sport. You succeed by inviting the outside world in and tapping the right resources at the right time. Our support for DTU-based startups covers everything needed for turning your idea into a business. Through hands-on learning, one-on-one coaching and personal development, you’ll build leadership, innovation and business skills at your own pace. Whether you’re just curious about entrepreneurship or ready to commercialise your research, there’s a place for you.

  • As an entrepreneurship and co-innovation hub, Campus Founders supports energetic and passionate innovators while guiding them through their entrepreneurial journey. To do this, the Campus Founders Community offers a central platform for founders, innovators, investors, students, and corporations to collaborate, co-innovate, and exchange. Located in Heilbronn, in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, one of Europe’s strongest economic regions. This is a region where corporate innovation is thriving, and Campus Founders is deeply connected to the decision-makers driving it. Participants also benefit from our active startup community, a strong cohort spirit, and direct access to the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), making Heilbronn a rising hub for AI innovation in Europe.

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    KTH Innovation is the center of entrepreneurship at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden’s leading technical university. Located centrally on the historic and dynamic main KTH campus, KTH Innovation is situated in one of Stockholm’s most vibrant innovation hubs - where groundbreaking research, student-driven ideas, and deep tech startups converge. KTH Innovation supports more than 400 new ideas annually and currently has around 500 active alumni companies. With over 20 years of experience, KTH Innovation offers a "one-stop-shop" for early-stage innovations, delivering free and confidential support to people at KTH.

  • The XPLORE Venture Creator program focuses on validating problem-solution fit, optimizing team dynamics, and gaining a deeper understanding of customers to establish a beachhead market and enhance the initial business model. This equity-free part-time format spans ten weeks and takes place online, combined with interactive sessions. Participants receive a structured curriculum, expert coaching, and access to a unique network of start-ups and industry specialists within the UnternehmerTUM network.

  • At the ETH AI Center, the central hub for artificial intelligence, you'll gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience, connect with diverse and motivated students from various disciplines, and receive extensive support and preparation for your entrepreneurial career. With access to world-class researchers, AI startups and experts you have everyhting for your startup journey.

  • HPI provides startup founders with specially designed incubation and acceleration programs. Alongside this, they offer events, financial support, and cutting-edge infrastructure such as the HPI Maker Universe and Co-Working Spaces. Their vast founder community, consisting of startup founders, alumni, investors, mentors, and industry partners, along with easy access to venture capital, especially their ecosystem HPI Ventures, completes the ecosystem.

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  • Yes Delft.jpg

    YES!Delft believes in the impact tech companies can have. Through innovation, the companies provide a crucial contribution to our society and economy. YES!Delft’s services transform promising ideas and teams into solid tech startups, helping them grow into successful companies. By connecting their unique startup programs & services with their regional ecosystem of experts, mentors, partners, and investors, they help build tomorrow’s leading tech firms.

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    CVC's mission is to conduct cutting-edge research with the greatest possible international impact in the field of Computer Vision. Through Xarxa, CVC aims to strengthen the Catalan AI ecosystem and establish it as a hub for research and innovation in Southern Europe. This includes fostering the interaction between scientific actors and creating links with the business sector, generating socio-economic impact.

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    The AI Launchpad Hub Tübingen is a joint initiative from Cyber Valley, the Tübingen AI Center, and the ELIAS Node Tübingen! 


    The hub brings together top-notch research, start-up support, and technology transfer from Baden-Württemberg to foster AI start-ups. By combining Cyber Valley’s innovation ecosystem with the ELIAS Node Tübingen’s expertise in AI research and collaboration, the hub creates a vibrant environment for innovation and entrepreneurship that’s locally rooted yet connected across Europe.

What’s included in a visit?

Curated matchmaking with investors, corporates, and peers

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Local events and ecosystem immersion

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Access to labs, resources, and coaching

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Follow-up support after your visit

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