Overview

The EBRD’s Star Venture programme targets promising start-ups, accelerators and consultants to unleash their full potential. Working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for over 25 years has given the EBRD unique expertise in bolstering the start-up ecosystem across its regions.

To maximise impact, we work with:

• Start-ups
• Accelerators
• Mentors
• Investors

Star Venture leverages a dedicated network of mentors and advisers to channel a whole range of bespoke advisory services and industry best practices to start-ups. Through strategic compass workshops led by Cambridge IfM Engage, world-class advisory, mentoring and access to finance and market development, the programme helps start-ups improve the efficiency of their results and scale rapidly.

At the same time, Star Venture helps young companies remove some of the systemic barriers to accessing finance by connecting them to a network of investors with a strategic interest in the early-stage space.

Star Venture mobilises mentors to help build accelerators’ own capacity to train start-ups and support their growth journey. The programme lends accelerators the tools to enhance the business performance of their cohort of young companies, while benefitting the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition to this, the programme offers ecosystem support, such as training for local investors to develop their capacity, crowdfunding opportunities, and policy advisory for governments dedicated to supporting start-ups. 

We also offer guidance to local advisers on how to work with start-ups so they can mentor them in the future.

Star Venture has supported over 550 high-potential early-stage companies in 23 countries, spanning the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region (SEMED), the Western Balkans, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Türkiye.

 While the programme is only available for the time being in the aforementioned regions, we are committed to extending access to finance and know-how to entrepreneurs across all our countries of operations.  

Call for applications from Azerbaijan

We're currently receiving applications from high-potential start-ups in Azerbaijan. Please refer to the guidelines and the application form below. The deadline to apply is 29th of September.

Application form

Guidelines

Call for applications from Georgia 

We're currently receiving applications from high-potential start-ups in Georgia. Please refer to the guidelines and the application form below. The deadline to apply is 29th of September.

Application form

Guidelines

Call for applications from Morocco

We're currently receiving applications from high-potential start-ups in Morocco. Please refer to the guidelines and the application form below. The deadline to apply is 24th of September.

Application form

Guidelines

Call for applications from the Western Balkans

We're currently receiving applications from high-potential start-ups in the Western Balkans. Please refer to the guidelines and the application form below. The deadline to apply is 20th of September.

Guidelines

Application form

Call for applications from the West Bank and Gaza

We're currently receiving applications from high-potential start-ups in the West Bank and Gaza. Please refer to the guidelines and the application form below. The deadline to apply is 19 August 2023.

Guidelines

Application form

Find out more if you are a start-up#TEXT#

Learn more if you are an accelerator

Interested in mentoring start-ups?#TEXT#

The EBRD’s Star Venture programme is currently funded by the European Union, Luxembourg and Korea through the EBRD Small Business Impact Fund (Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden, TaiwanBusiness - EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund and the USA).