RIF invites Cyprus start-ups to apply to European programme

The Research and Innovation Foundation of Cyprus has drawn attention to the new Attract2Invest programme which supports early-stage start-ups, including those from Cyprus.

The EIT Health’s Attract2Invest programme prepares companies to raise successful investment rounds.

EIT Health was established in 2015, as a ‘knowledge and innovation community’ (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The EIT is made up of various KICs which each focus on a different sector, or area of innovation – in the featured case, that is health and ageing. The idea behind the EIT KICs is that innovation flourishes best when the right people are brought together to share expertise. The so-called ‘knowledge triangle’, is the principle that when experts from business, research and education work together as one, an optimal environment for innovation is created.

During the programme, teams will receive support to find Seed or series A funding, learn practical techniques to prepare their start-up company for a successful investment round and expand their professional network.

The top 15 start-ups from all around Europe will receive €20,000 each, which should be used for consulting services, travel expenses and for the projects of the start-up.

In the second fortnight of October, the selected start-ups will participate in the Fundraising Bootcamp, where they will gain practical experience in creating an investment strategy and completing their business plan. Furthermore, during the Bootcamp, they will define their Unique Selling Proposition (USP), optimise their pitch deck, develop and manage investor relations and optimise their investment conditions.

Also, the selected start-ups will receive board meeting simulation training with experienced investors and advisors and participate in peer-to-peer learning activities as well as receive individual guidance.

Very small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and spinoff start-ups can apply when they meet all of the following criteria:

• They have an original business idea or a minimum viable product (MVP) in at least one European market
• They already have a profitable product or service in the market
• They will be available for at least 10 days in September 2022
• They are registered as legal entities in one of the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, Turkey. 
  
  The application deadline is September 9, 2022. Applications can be made through the following link. 
  
  For more information contact the National RIF Contact Points of Cyprus for the EIC and the EIT Dr Charalambos Papatryfonos (Tel: 22 205016, [email protected] and Marino Fotiades (Tel: 22 205048, [email protected])