Startup investment
Capital for your mobility startup
EIT Urban Mobility invests in European mobility ventures to help them scale sustainable. As impact investor, EIT Urban Mobility is looking for startups offering innovative urban mobility solutions to create a more social and healthier environment in cities.
Applications go via Netsuite - see How to apply below
The session takes place on the Mobility Innovators platform
What to expect as a startup of the EIT Urban Mobility’s investment portfolio?
Up to €2.5 M financial support
Fast-track introductions to the largest pan-European mobility network including cities, corporates and other European organisations
Mentoring and hands-on support to scale your company with increased visibility. Access to top-tier events
Access to exclusive funding opportunities to scale sustainable via city pilots, funding through innovation projects and follow-on investment opportunities
Startup financial support
The objective of the Financial Support to Startups Open Call is to hands-on support selected investees in driving their growth, gaining visibility, and strengthen national and international market position. For ventures coming from Horizon Europe Associated Countries and willing to stretch their outreach, it opens doors to European markets and mobility ecosystem.
EIT Urban Mobility invests in solutions that contribute positively to at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to sustainable cities and communities, clean energy, and climate action. Furthermore, EIT Urban Mobility encourages inclusive and gender-balanced teams to apply for this funding on green mobility.
To stimulate the talent and entrepreneurial mindset in all of Europe, EIT Urban Mobility pays special attention to startups incorporated in the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS), where conservative and risk-avoiding policy-making can slow down change and innovation. After their application, startups from these countries will be invited to a specific investment committee to ensure the channelling of the additional financial support available to RIS startups.
Does your startup qualify for mobility financial support?
Startups and scaleups applying for funding must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Incorporated in EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country
- You are a startup currently engaged in an active fundraising round (pre-seed/seed or series A round).
- You are not currently part of EIT Urban Mobility investment portfolio.
- Your company pre-money valuation does not exceed €50,000,000.
- Your startup has individual founders or executive team members who jointly hold more than 40% share of the company’s equity before the current fund raising.
- You have a prototype, pilot, or Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
- Your proposed innovations target the urban mobility market.
Innovative product/service contributing to at least one of the EIT Urban Mobility core topics
Call manual
Tips for applicants
Financial support thesis
Application form
How can you apply?
- Register in the EU Funding & Tender Portal and obtain a valid PIC number. If an organisation has already a PIC number, there is no need to register again.
- Register in the EIT Urban Mobility NetSuite Platform, by submitting the Partner Information Form (PIF).
- Once you have your credentials, you can enter the EIT Urban Mobility NetSuite platform after setting a new password.
- Find the call for the currently open cut-off date under menu –> Call for Proposals – -> Open Calls.
- Submit your application form within the given deadline.
- Check eligibility and admissibility of those proposals and, if successful,
- Evaluate the content of the proposals with the support of independent expert evaluators.
Investment thesis
The characteristics of EIT Urban Mobility funding are:
- Geographic focus: Europe and Horizon Europe associated countries
- Target number of investments: 8 – 10 per year
- Target equity: 5% – 10%
- Target of the initial investment: up to €2.5M
- Target stage: Pre-seed to Series A
- Cut-offs 4 times per year
Sectors of interest:
- Urban logistics
- Mobility data management & AI
- Public and shared transportation
- Electrification of transport and alternative fuels
- Health & mobility
Application timeline
The Financial Support to Startups Call is open until 10 January 2025.
EIT Urban Mobility invests in European mobility ventures to help them scale sustainable.
Testimonials
FAQ´s
How does EIT Urban Mobility invest in companies?
EIT Urban Mobility invests in companies that are fundraising and have a lead investor secured. Companies get selected through an open and competitive call (Startup Investment Open Call).
The investment consists of a cash element and in-kind support, both to be capitalised either through a capital increase event or SAFE instrument.
I’m an investor/ mobility stakeholder; can I make a referral?
Absolutely, please send an email to [email protected] including a pitch deck, key traction data and summary on why you believe this opportunity is a sound investment.
Does EIT Urban Mobility lead rounds?
EIT Urban Mobility operates as a co-investor alongside other accredited investors on a pari-passu basis. Nevertheless, it has the flexibility to act as the initial non-local investor, particularly in Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) ecosystems, focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage startups.
Who evaluates the proposals, and do companies receive the evaluation results?
Applications are evaluated by independent external experts with relevant technical, market, and investment expertise (e.g. mobility industry professionals, investors, and senior executives).
Evaluators may request additional information from applicants and, where relevant, consult external sources to support their assessment. All evaluators are bound by confidentiality, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest rules.
All the applicants receive Summary Evaluation Reports (SERs), detailed to the stages the company was qualified. The Summary Evaluation Reports are shared once the whole process is concluded.
What does EIT Urban Mobility provide beyond financial support?
While access to capital is important, the ability to effectively turn funding into sustainable growth is equally critical. EIT Urban Mobility’s approach goes beyond financial investment by providing hands-on support focused on people, leadership, and inclusive growth. Portfolio companies benefit from dedicated mentoring and guidance from EIT Urban Mobility’s Investment and Portfolio Managers (IPMs), as well as access to knowledge, tools, and processes designed to support scaling and long-term impact.
Portfolio startups benefit from EIT Urban Mobility’s extensive stakeholder network, enabling warm introductions, ecosystem collaboration, and access to relevant partners across Europe. In addition, portfolio startups gain access to Mobility Innovators, EIT Urban Mobility’s dedicated platform offering a curated group of mobility stakeholders and hand-picked opportunities tailored to portfolio companies.
What is EIT Urban Mobility’ stance on gender diversity and inclusion?
Since 2020, EIT Urban Mobility has been actively working on gender equality within its core activities. EIT Urban Mobility aligns its investing activities with the challenge to mobilise equitable capital towards women-led startups. To date, EIT Urban Mobility has supported 120 women-led companies, has invested in 54 women co-founded startups and is additionally working on gender equality when it comes to the investment team, mentors, investment committee members, and training delivery experts. As an organisation, EIT Urban Mobility has a gender ratio of 56% female and 42% male.
What is EIT Urban Mobility's focus on social and environmental impact?
EIT Urban Mobility’s investment focus is exclusively on technologies that can generate positive and measurable, social and environmental net impact. Companies showing the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions in a quantifiable and scalable manner while also responding to the major societal challenges by improving quality of life in cities, are one of the main priorities when taking investment decisions.
The Impact Ventures division provides access to funding and support channels to deliver financial, environmental and social net impact on the urban landscape.
All EIT Urban Mobility’s activities serve the purpose of contributing to create impact in three areas, responding to the major societal challenges and following its impact vision:
- Improving quality of life in cities.
- Mitigating and adapting to climate change.
- Creating jobs and strengthening the European urban mobility sector.
Is your question not addressed? Take a look at our complete FAQ document.
Preliminary considerations regarding the investment instruments used by EIT Urban Mobility:
- EIT Urban Mobility provides financial support through a distinct instrument that may differ from those commonly used by other investors. This support typically takes the form of a grant awarded under the Horizon Europe framework, which is often combined with a service package component.
- For startups funded under the Financial Support to Startups Open Call, a key requirement is contributing to EIT Urban Mobility’s financial sustainability by allocating shares, with the subscription price of these shares set at their nominal value. It is important to note that both the grant and the subscription of shares at nominal value may have tax implications, which can vary depending on the country of incorporation. We strongly recommend consulting with a local tax advisor to fully understand any potential tax liabilities or obligations related to these aspects of the funding.
