Rocket Up 2026 is designed for tech startups led by women founders and CEOs who are ready to enter a second European market. The program focuses on turning proven home‑market traction into cross‑border growth through structured support, expert mentoring and access to high-level networks to support international growth.
The fully funded program runs from April to November 2026 and is open to a maximum of 16 selected startups, allowing for highly personalized support. Participants are expected to commit around 4-5 hours per week to a mix of online sessions, mentoring and practical assignments throughout the program.
The organizer of Rocket Up 2026 is EIT Community Supernovas, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) supporting women-led innovation across Europe.
Who can apply for Rocket Up 2026?
Applications are open to women-led startups based in the European Union or Horizon Europe–associated countries. Eligible companies must be commercially active, with a scalable product and recurring customers in at least one market. Startups should be preparing to enter a second European market and looking to build a strong, evidence-based go-to-market strategy.
To qualify, startups must be founded, co-founded or led by a woman founder or CEO, employ between 5 and 30 full-time equivalent team members, have been incorporated after 31 December 2016, be registered and operating in an EU country, and generate at least 100,000 euros in revenue in 2025 or demonstrate strong revenue-based traction.
The program focuses on startups aligned with one of the EIT’s priority sectors: Urban Mobility, Food, Manufacturing, Climate, Digital, Culture and Creativity, or Energy.
European expansion
The program is built around a two-phase structure that mirrors the real-world challenges of scaling in Europe.
Phase 1: Choose Your Market (April–July)
During the first phase, startups analyze what has made them successful in their home market and explore how those factors translate to other European countries. Participants define and execute a market validation strategy that considers customer needs, pricing, cultural differences, regulation and competition. Learning is delivered through online sessions, expert speakers and peer-to-peer exchange, alongside one-to-one support from an assigned business mentor.
Phase 2: Develop Your Strategy (September–November)
The second phase focuses on execution. Founders develop a concrete market entry strategy and implementation roadmap for their chosen target market. Each startup works closely with a regional mentor who provides local market insights and helps validate expansion plans. The program concludes with an in-person closing session in Helsinki, alongside a visit to Slush, one of the world’s leading startup events.
What participants gain
Rocket Up offers far more than training alone. Selected startups receive personalized market selection support, tailored go-to-market expertise, and continuous mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs and regional experts. Participants also gain access to EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community networks, potential partners, market contacts and a pan-European community of women founders.
Each startup receives one free ticket to Slush in Helsinki, providing valuable exposure to investors, corporates and fellow founders. While travel and accommodation are not covered, the visibility and networking opportunities are a major highlight of the program.
Startups that are actively fundraising can also access dedicated fundraising support. This includes personalized coaching, help refining investment strategies, curated visibility to investors, and ongoing support during the program and for up to two years afterwards.
Proven impact
Rocket Up builds on the strong track record of the Supernovas initiative. Alumni of Rocket Up and related fundraising programs have collectively raised 88 million euros in capital, with startups supported from 25 countries. Participants estimate average savings of 160,000 euros per startup on market expansion costs, and the program consistently receives high satisfaction scores from founders.
Applications for Rocket Up 2026 are now open, with a deadline of 30 January 2026 at 18.00 CET. Selected startups will submit an application, pitch their venture and motivation in an online interview, and, if successful, join the program through a structured onboarding process.
