[
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-2022-october-results-funding-rates-and-circu-li-ion-iris-ai-success-cases",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Results: Funding Rates and Circu Li-ion & Iris.AI Success Cases",
    "description": "The article discusses the results of the October 2022 EIC Accelerator funding round, a program designed for startups and SMEs offering up to €2.5 million in grant and €15 million in equity financing. Out of 1,092 Step 2 applicants, 78 companies were selected for funding, yielding a 7.1% success rate from Step 2 and an approximate total success rate of 4.8% for the entire application process, with blended finance being the most common funding type. The article also highlights Circu Li-ion and Iris.AI, two companies supported by Segler Consulting, that received EIC Accelerator funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-june-2021-eic-accelerator-results-and-the-stabl-energy-gmbh-success-story",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Results and the Stabl Energy GmbH Success Story",
    "description": "The first iteration of the EIC Accelerator blended financing in 2021 saw approximately 1,196 applicants in Step 1, with a final success rate of about 5.4%, resulting in 65 projects being funded. Although the original budget was over €500M, only €360M+ was allocated due to a perceived lack of excellent cases, with France, Germany, and the Netherlands leading in successful beneficiaries and a 20% ratio of female entrepreneurs. STABL Energy GmbH, a German project developing innovative power electronics for Battery Energy Storage Systems, was among the successful applicants, securing blended financing due to its alignment with the Green Deal Strategic Challenge and its strong team and vision.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/investing-in-well-funded-projects-how-the-eic-is-breaking-its-own-rules",
    "title": "Investing in Well-Funded Projects: How the EIC is Breaking its Own Rules (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides up to €2.5 million in grant and €15 million in equity financing to startups and SMEs, focusing on high-risk, deep tech innovations that struggle to attract private investment. However, in 2022, a software company that had already raised over €24 million and had significant revenues received grant-only support, despite the EIC's mission to bridge funding gaps for companies lacking investor interest. This decision raises questions about whether the EIC is prioritizing the most investable companies over those that truly fit its mission of supporting high-risk, capital-intensive deep tech projects, especially when many other deserving companies are rejected.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/who-should-not-apply-to-the-eic-accelerator-and-why",
    "title": "Who Should Not Apply To The EIC Accelerator And Why",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides grants and equity financing to SMEs and startups for developing and scaling up innovations, but the program is not suitable for all companies. Companies with simple technologies, saturated markets, small teams, recent founding dates, limited funding or traction, or lacking corporate identity may find it difficult to succeed in the EIC Accelerator program. While the EIC Accelerator can be a useful funding vehicle, companies with straightforward technologies and strong market interest may find it easier to raise private financing.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/ai-applications-will-flood-the-eic-accelerator-evaluation-process-part-1",
    "title": "AI Applications Will Flood The EIC Accelerator Evaluation Process (Part 1)",
    "description": "The article discusses the increasing use of AI in creating EIC Accelerator grant proposals and the challenges this poses for the current manual evaluation process. It suggests that the EIC will need to adopt AI-driven evaluations to handle the expected surge in AI-generated submissions. The author proposes removing generic sections like mission/vision, gender/diversity, need for EIC, and TRL from proposals, as they are easily manipulated and don't accurately reflect the company or technology's potential.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-conditions-for-eic-equity-investments-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-3",
    "title": "The Conditions for EIC Equity Investments (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 3)",
    "description": "The article discusses potential changes to the EIC Accelerator program based on a draft of the 2023 Work Programme, focusing on equity financing, co-investor involvement, and the introduction of loans. It highlights the possibility of the EIC Fund investing without requiring immediate co-investors and the EIC's efforts to build a network of strategic investors to support funded projects. The article also notes the potential for grant requests to be converted into loans, which could impact the types of projects funded and the risk profiles of recipient companies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/explaining-the-resubmission-process-for-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "Explaining the Resubmission Process for the EIC Accelerator (2024 Update)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator funding program has evolved, with changes to its resubmission policies for rejected applications. Initially, unlimited resubmissions were allowed, but from 2021-2023, a \"two strikes, you're out\" rule was implemented, leading to a 12-month freeze after two rejections in Step 1 or 2. As of 2024, the program now operates under a \"three strikes, you're out\" rule, but a third rejection results in ineligibility until the end of Horizon Europe in 2027.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eics-one-stop-shop-funding-framework-pathfinder-transition-accelerator",
    "title": "The EIC’s One-Stop Shop Funding Framework (Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator)",
    "description": "The European Innovation Council (EIC) offers three main funding programs: EIC Pathfinder for early-stage ideas (TRL1-4) with grants up to €3 million, EIC Transition for developing MVPs (TRL4-6) with grants up to €2.5 million, and EIC Accelerator for companies at TRL5-6 and beyond, offering grants up to €2.5 million and equity injections up to €15 million. The EIC Accelerator provides options for non-dilutive grants (grant-only, grant-first) and dilutive equity injections (equity-only, blended financing) to support companies in scaling up and attracting further investment. In 2023, the EIC Accelerator has the largest budget of the three programs, accounting for 71% of the total funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/deciding-between-eic-pathfinder-transition-and-accelerator",
    "title": "Deciding Between EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator",
    "description": "The article provides a guide for selecting the right European Innovation Council (EIC) funding program, focusing on EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator. Key selection criteria include the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the innovation, the specific topic or industry addressed, whether the applicant is a single entity or part of a consortium, and the project's financing needs and availability of co-financing. Applying to \"Challenges\" within the programs, if eligible, is recommended due to potentially lower competition, and applicants should be aware of budget allocations, thematic topics, and the need for follow-up funding to ensure project success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/a-winning-candidate-for-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "A Winning Candidate for the EIC Accelerator",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides funding to European SMEs and startups, offering up to €17.5 million per project through a combination of grants and equity. To stand out in the evaluation process, projects should focus on \"sexy\" topics aligned with current political and technological trends, showcase impressive and unique technology, and be easily understandable to evaluators. A clear commercial strategy with demonstrated traction, along with a strong team and corporate identity, are also crucial for success in securing EIC Accelerator funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-blocking-divestments-and-funding-decisions-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Blocking Divestments and Funding Decisions (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "This article suggests improvements to the EIC Accelerator evaluation process, specifically addressing block divestments by implementing rules where the grant converts to a loan if a recipient is acquired by a non-EU entity within 10 years or creates a US/Chinese subsidiary within 2 years of project completion. It also proposes a method for quantifying flaws identified by the EIC Jury during interviews to create a fairer ranking system for funding decisions, and recommends differentiating the Seal of Excellence with an EIC Board recommendation. Finally, the article suggests tailoring resubmission advice based on the severity of flaws, and offering a follow-up interview for narrowly rejected applicants with urgent timing issues.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/chatgpt-for-the-eic-accelerator-will-the-real-ai-please-stand-up",
    "title": "ChatGPT for the EIC Accelerator: Will the Real AI Please Stand Up",
    "description": "This article explores the potential of using ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, to assist in writing proposals for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding program. While ChatGPT shows promise in structuring applications and brainstorming ideas, particularly for inexperienced writers, it requires detailed and customized input, often leading to repetitive outputs and editorial decisions that may not align with the proposal's objectives. The article concludes that ChatGPT is not yet a significant time-saver for EIC Accelerator applications and raises concerns about potential plagiarism, but it can still be a useful tool if used appropriately for tasks like generating templates and brainstorming.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/writing-the-abstract-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Writing the Abstract for the EIC Accelerator Grant (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator project abstract, published on the CORDIS website if successful, should be a concise 2,000-character summary devoid of confidential information, with carefully researched facts and figures. The abstract's first two-thirds should outline the problem, current insufficiencies, and the proposed innovation's key features and operating principle. The remaining third should highlight the team's competence, pilot customers, expected market impact, and traction, addressing industry changes, job creation, and social issues where applicable, with a European focus recommended.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/choosing-an-acronym-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Choosing an Acronym for the EIC Accelerator Grant (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The acronym for the EIC Accelerator grant proposal should be a memorable, condensed version of the project, summarizing the title within a 20-character limit. While not necessarily an abbreviation, the acronym should highlight the project's most innovative feature or central technology, directly referring to its long-term vision or innovation. Examples of effective acronyms focus on unique aspects of the technology, such as \"AI WOOD RECYCLING\" or \"SMART WOOD,\" rather than generic industry terms.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/directly-applying-for-phase-2",
    "title": "Directly Applying for Phase 2",
    "description": "Startups often inquire about directly applying for Phase 2 of the EU's SME Instrument. While technically possible, most startups lack sufficient data like market analysis and financial projections to create a competitive application. The chances of securing Phase 2 funding are significantly higher after completing Phase 1. It is recommended to pursue Phase 1 first to gather data and prepare a stronger Phase 2 application.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/ai-for-eic-accelerator-grant-proposals-the-difficulty-of-extracting-data-part-2",
    "title": "AI For EIC Accelerator Grant Proposals: The Difficulty Of Extracting Data (Part 2)",
    "description": "This article discusses the use of AI in writing grant proposals for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, which offers up to €2.5 million in grant and €10 million in equity financing. It explores how AI tools can assist with research, structuring, and writing proposals, but highlights the challenges of extracting detailed information from applicant companies and tailoring the content to meet the EIC's specific, often unwritten, expectations. The article suggests that a compromise is needed, where applicants either invest time in providing detailed data for the AI or accept a potentially lower quality proposal, and it presents different use cases for AI writing tools like ChatEIC, estimating the time saved in each scenario.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-proposal-design-helpful-resources-and-graphics-sme-instrument",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Proposal Design: Helpful Resources and Graphics (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "This article provides resources for enhancing the visual appeal and professionalism of EIC Accelerator applications, covering pictograms from The Noun Project, vector graphics from FreePik and Vecteezy, and royalty-free images from PixaBay and Unsplash. It also suggests using CloudConvert for image conversion, Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts for font selection, and the Adobe Color Wheel for color palette creation. Finally, it recommends SlideBean for pitch deck design, offering templates and examples from successful companies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interviews-pitch-deck-vs-proposal-documents-sme-instrument",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interviews: Pitch Deck vs. Proposal Documents (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator grant program uses a two-step evaluation process: a written application and an in-person interview. The written application should be comprehensive and address all evaluation criteria, following a \"more is more\" approach to provide a complete project representation. The pitch deck, used during the interview, should focus on the business model and investment opportunity, using a \"less is more\" approach to highlight key aspects and allow for detailed questions during the Q&A session.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/my-proposal-has-a-high-score-but-was-rejected-what-now",
    "title": "My Proposal Has a High Score But Was Rejected, What Now?",
    "description": "Proposals scoring above 13 in SME Topics receive a Seal of Excellence, but funding is competitive due to budget limitations. Evaluation reports provide scores for \"Impact,\" \"Excellence,\" and \"Quality,\" with a maximum possible score of 15. Unsuccessful proposals can be resubmitted, and the Seal of Excellence may qualify for national funding in countries like Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Norway and Slovenia.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/can-my-company-receive-funding-from-the-eu",
    "title": "Can My Company Receive Funding from the EU?",
    "description": "To be eligible for project funding, a company must be registered in an EU-28 country (like Austria or Italy) or associated country (like Iceland or Norway), and it must meet the definition of an SME, having fewer than 250 employees, a turnover under €50 million, and a balance sheet under €43 million. Additionally, the company needs three task leaders covering the technical, commercial, and financial aspects of the project, and the technology must be at Technology Readiness Level 6, meaning it has been tested and proven effective in the relevant environment. Further information on eligible industries and tips to improve funding chances can be found via provided links.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-is-the-h2020-sme-instrument-phase-1-funding",
    "title": "What Is the H2020 SME Instrument Phase 1 Funding?",
    "description": "The SME Instrument is a €3 billion funding scheme under the EU's Horizon 2020 program, aiming to fund 7500 SMEs by the end of 2020. It is structured in three phases: Phase 1 provides €50,000 for a feasibility study to assess project viability, Phase 2 offers €0.5 to 2.5 million for innovation development and demonstration, and Phase 3 supports market entry through the Enterprise Europe Network. While Phase 1 is officially optional, it significantly increases the chances of success in Phase 2, which focuses on bringing technology from prototype to commercial readiness.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/professional-grant-proposal-writing",
    "title": "Professional Grant Proposal Writing",
    "description": "Hiring a professional grant proposal writer ensures the proposal contains the specific content evaluators seek, tailored to the project's unique business model, technology, and market. The proposal, company profile, and abstract are all included in the writing services, as is submission through the EC portal and resubmissions if needed. A free 20-minute consultation is offered to assess project suitability for funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/sme-instrument-2018-changes",
    "title": "SME Instrument 2018 Changes",
    "description": "Prior to February 2018, the SME Instrument funding was limited to 13 pre-defined industries. Now, the funding is open to projects from all industries without any topic restrictions. This change aims to address budget and competitiveness imbalances among the previous specific topics, potentially creating a more level playing field for applicants.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/when-is-the-grant-paid-in-phase-1",
    "title": "When Is the Grant Paid in Phase 1?",
    "description": "The project application process takes 4-6 weeks for approval, followed by 4 weeks for the grant agreement and fund release. Phase 1 of the project is funded with €50,000, with an initial payment of €20,000, representing 40% of the total. The remaining balance is paid after the project's completion, which typically spans 3 to 5 months.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-projects-does-the-eu-like-most",
    "title": "What Projects Does the EU Like Most?",
    "description": "The EU considers social, environmental, and economic benefits alongside business propositions when making investment decisions. Applicants should highlight how their projects address EU priorities like climate change, unemployment reduction, innovation, gender equality, and sustainability. Addressing these issues in the application strengthens the case for EU investment.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/technology-readiness-levels-and-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Technology Readiness Levels and the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are a classification system used by organizations like NASA and the European Commission to assess the maturity of a technology, ranging from basic principles observed (TRL 1) to actual system proven in operational environment (TRL 9). While the official TRL definitions from NASA and the EC can be vague, they generally follow a progression from idea to tested components to a complete and proven end-result, applicable to diverse innovations like software, hardware, or business models. A simplified version of TRLs includes stages like idea, first designs, principle tested, components validated in simplified/simulated environments, system validated in simulated/real environments, system complete, and system complete and proven, offering a broader view for applicants justifying their technology's stage in proposals like the EIC Accelerator.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-identify-a-high-quality-sme-instrument-project-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "How To Identify a High Quality SME Instrument Project (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "EU start-up grants are more likely to be awarded to hardware manufacturing projects due to high production costs and ease of patenting. Projects in high-value industries like healthcare, cleantech, energy, analytics, and transportation are also more likely to receive funding. B2B revenue models are preferred over B2C models, as it's easier to demonstrate customer interest in pre-commercial B2B technologies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-types-of-companies-have-received-funding",
    "title": "What Types of Companies Have Received Funding?",
    "description": "The European Commission's 2018 report reveals that the vast majority of funded companies applied as single entities, with 84% in Phase 2 and 95% in Phase 1. The report also indicates that most funded companies need coaching in market understanding and business strategy, and completing Phase 1 doubles the likelihood of receiving Phase 2 funding. Finally, most funded companies have fewer than three employees and operate with a B2B revenue model, accounting for 76% of the total.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-european-green-deal-a-dedicated-cut-off-for-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "The European Green Deal - A Dedicated Cut-Off for the EIC Accelerator",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator has dedicated one of its 2020 deadlines to the Green Deal, offering up to €17.5m in funding for startups with innovations that positively impact targets outlined in the Green Deal, with a doubled budget of €300m for the May 19th deadline. To qualify, companies must address at least one of eight targets, including climate change mitigation, clean energy, and biodiversity preservation, and quantify the expected impact in their application. For the May deadline, at least 25% of selected startups must be women-led, and due to COVID-19, interviews may be conducted via video conference or delayed.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/update-proposal-template-for-the-eic-accelerator-green-deal-deadline-sme-instrument-may-2020",
    "title": "Update: Proposal Template for the EIC Accelerator Green Deal Deadline (SME Instrument May 2020)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) template has been updated to allow applicants who receive a Seal of Excellence (score of 13/15) to consent to having their contact details shared with potential investors by the European Commission. A separate call page has been created for the May EIC Accelerator submission (Green Deal), and using the regular EIC Accelerator page will register the proposal for the October deadline instead. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, interviews for the March 2020 deadline will be held remotely via video calls and have been postponed by a week, potentially impacting the Green Deal deadline.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/choosing-a-good-project-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Choosing a Good Project for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The EU's EIC Accelerator seeks innovative businesses with high-risk, high-reward products or services that can disrupt markets and establish new value chains. While not mandatory, applicants should aim to create new markets, solve problems in novel ways, and possess unique selling points that directly address customer pain points. A successful application should demonstrate a product's defensibility through patents or other means, making it difficult for competitors to replicate quickly.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/ai-for-eic-accelerator-grant-proposals-quality-proposals-consulting-decline-and-the-eics-good-intentions-part-3",
    "title": "AI For EIC Accelerator Grant Proposals: Quality Proposals, Consulting Decline And The EIC's Good Intentions (Part 3)",
    "description": "This article discusses the impact of AI on EIC Accelerator grant proposals, focusing on how AI can handle quality criteria like project detail, alignment with EIC goals, writing quality, and consistency. It argues that while AI can assist in grant writing, especially in areas like alignment and writing quality, human consultants will still be needed, particularly for scouting suitable companies and navigating the EIC's preference for consultants. The article also criticizes the EIC's decision to remove travel reimbursements for Step 3 interviews, suggesting it favors consultants over applicants and highlighting the need for the EIC to prioritize applicant needs and provide choices regarding coaching and travel support.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-ai-grant-write-do-you-need-an-assistant-a-writer-or-an-editor-chateic",
    "title": "How to AI Grant Write: Do You Need an Assistant, a Writer, or an Editor? (ChatEIC)",
    "description": "The article discusses the use of AI in grant writing, specifically for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding, and explores different AI interaction formats like chatbots and agents. It highlights the challenges and opportunities for European AI innovation in this field, emphasizing the need for pragmatic and robust AI tools that can adapt to the EIC's frequent process changes. The author suggests that a simple AI interface with a single button to generate proposals, like ChatEIC, is currently the most effective approach, while agentic AI represents the future of grant writing.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-financing-timeline-for-eic-accelerator-applicants-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "The Financing Timeline For EIC Accelerator Applicants (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides grants and equity financing to startups and SMEs but requires applicants to be beyond the idea stage, having already secured seed funding and developed a prototype. A key criterion is \"non-bankability,\" meaning the project cannot be funded through conventional means due to high risk or lack of technological maturity, despite the company's overall financial health. Applicants should not have raised major financing rounds comparable to the EIC Accelerator grant, as this indicates less need for EU support and may raise scrutiny from evaluators.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eic-accelerator-budget-grant-vs-blended-finance-equity-sme-instrument",
    "title": "The EIC Accelerator Budget: Grant vs. Blended Finance (Equity, SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator funding consists of a grant from the EC and equity from the EIC, each with separate budgets; the grant covers a maximum of 70% of project costs detailed in a budget table, while equity is requested as a flat sum. Overall project costs include the grant, applicant co-financing (30%), and equity, with the proposal needing to justify the source of the applicant's co-financing through revenues, investors, or other means. The total financing requested is the sum of the grant and equity, with the applicant responsible for covering the remaining 30% of the grant-side project costs.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-would-ai-eic-accelerator-evaluation-criteria-look-like-part-3",
    "title": "What Would AI EIC Accelerator Evaluation Criteria Look Like? (Part 3)",
    "description": "This article, part 3 of a series, discusses how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used in the evaluation of EIC Accelerator grant proposals, highlighting inconsistencies between the EIC's stated criteria and actual funding decisions, such as funding a company that had just raised a large Series C round. It proposes a restructured evaluation framework for AI, focusing on technology, opportunity, team, EU relevance, and developments, aiming for more realistic and consistent assessments. The article suggests simplifying aspects like milestones and deliverables and consolidating risk assessments to improve the evaluation process.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/deviations-from-the-eic-accelerator-grant-proposal-template-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Deviations from the EIC Accelerator Grant Proposal Template (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "EIC Accelerator grant evaluators disregard content in the wrong section or information in Document 2 intended to bypass Document 1's page limit. While strict on page length and file sizes, the review process allows creative flexibility in writing and design, including margin objects and font sizes below 11 pt. Deviations from the template are acceptable and even useful to comprehensively address project-specific details, as long as the proposal remains logical and convincing.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/specific-buzzwords-to-be-used-in-eic-accelerator-applications-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Specific Buzzwords to be used in EIC Accelerator Applications (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article discusses important keywords or \"buzzwords\" that applicants for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator grant should consider incorporating into their proposals. These terms, such as \"game-changing,\" \"non-bankable,\" \"scalable,\" and \"disruptive,\" align with the EIC's focus on funding high-impact, innovative projects. The article also emphasizes the importance of addressing topics like gender equality, sustainability, and job creation to align with the EU's broader goals.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/assessing-an-eic-accelerator-applicant-for-innovation-traction-and-the-team-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "Assessing an EIC Accelerator Applicant for Innovation, Traction and the Team (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article discusses how to assess an EIC Accelerator applicant's traction, which is related to customer demand and industry interest in the innovation. It outlines three core sub-criteria for evaluating traction: surveys and customer contact, pilot tests and existing value chain integration, and the presence of paying customers or letters of intent. Demonstrating traction through these methods validates market need and potential, which is crucial for securing EIC Accelerator funding, while acknowledging the project's prototype stage and continued need for financial support.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-biggest-mistakes-when-applying-to-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "The Biggest Mistakes When Applying to the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article discusses common reasons for low scores in self-prepared EIC Accelerator grant applications, highlighting issues beyond product innovation or team experience. It emphasizes that applicants often treat the template as a questionnaire, address sections too shallowly, fail to present the proposal as a cohesive story, omit crucial information not explicitly requested, rush the writing process, misunderstand evaluation criteria, lack persistence in resubmitting, and neglect the importance of annexes. The author suggests dedicating ample time, understanding evaluation metrics, and customizing the proposal to showcase a well-thought-out project for improved success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/visual-representation-of-an-eic-accelerator-proposal-narrative-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-1",
    "title": "Visual Representation of an EIC Accelerator Proposal Narrative (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses the EIC Accelerator grant and equity financing, a program offered by the European Commission and the European Innovation Council for startups and SMEs developing disruptive innovations. It addresses the increasing popularity of the grant and the challenges faced by first-time applicants due to the simplified and sometimes cryptic official EIC Accelerator grant template. The article then provides a guide, presented as a visual representation, to help applicants craft a compelling proposal narrative by connecting key aspects of the innovation with the industry or policy context.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/assessing-an-eic-accelerator-applicant-for-innovation-traction-and-the-team-sme-instrument-part-3",
    "title": "Assessing an EIC Accelerator Applicant for Innovation, Traction and the Team (SME Instrument) - Part 3",
    "description": "The article discusses the importance of assessing the team behind an EIC Accelerator applicant, focusing on their background, relationships, and track record. A strong team should have a balance of technical and commercial expertise, a well-defined structure with committed members, and connections to relevant stakeholders. The team's past successes, both individually and as a company, are crucial indicators of their ability to execute the proposed innovation project.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/developing-a-commercial-strategy-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Developing a Commercial Strategy for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "A strong commercial strategy, crucial for EIC Accelerator applications, should extend beyond product development and market entry to focus on scalability and key assumptions. Building customer trust is vital, especially for startups, and can be achieved through social proof and a strong track record. Prioritizing partnerships with entities like OEMs or trusted service providers over retailers can significantly enhance market impact and accelerate growth by leveraging established trust networks.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/visual-representation-of-an-eic-accelerator-proposal-narrative-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-2",
    "title": "Visual Representation of an EIC Accelerator Proposal Narrative (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article provides a visual guide for preparing the narrative section of an EIC Accelerator proposal, formerly known as SME Instrument Phase 2, which includes grant and equity financing for startups and SMEs. The narrative should contextualize the technological innovation by connecting the proposal sections and highlighting the urgent need for EIC support, integrating a business plan with European and global impact. The narrative structure involves explaining the context of the innovation through a European dimension, connecting policies and targets to negative repercussions in the EU, highlighting the limitations of current problem-solving approaches, explaining the technological barriers, and identifying the \"missing link\" that the innovation addresses.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/designing-images-for-an-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-1",
    "title": "Designing Images for an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article emphasizes the importance of high-quality illustrations and graphics in EIC Accelerator grant proposals to improve their visual appeal and chances of success. It suggests recreating existing images to ensure consistent formatting, font sizes, color schemes, and resolution quality, and recommends creating dedicated illustrations to convey specific points related to the innovation project, such as timing, TRLs, financing history, and unique aspects of the project. The article argues that visually appealing proposals with well-designed illustrations can significantly improve the overall score and increase the likelihood of receiving the grant.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/designing-images-for-an-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-2",
    "title": "Designing Images for an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article discusses the importance of using images in EIC Accelerator applications to enhance the evaluation process, focusing on the Excellence section. It suggests using specific types of visuals like charts, schematics, and comparison tables in sections such as Introduction, Technology, Solution, Innovativeness, and Timing/TRL to effectively communicate key information. The article also recommends using vector graphic software or slide software for creating these images and emphasizes the importance of overall page design for a competitive application.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-2021-eic-accelerator-work-programme-and-newest-updates-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "The 2021 EIC Accelerator Work Programme and Newest Updates (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, is being re-invented as a full investment arm of the European Commission with a new Work Programme that includes a different application process, additional evaluation steps, and significant technical changes. The application process will consist of a short application (5-pager, 3-minute pitch video, pitch deck), a full application (20-30 page document), and a remote or in-person interview, with an AI tool to support the writing of the proposal. The EIC Accelerator will have open calls and strategic challenges focusing on the green deal, digital technologies, and health care, with ambitions to control outcomes through gender targets, sustainable development goals, and geographic diversity.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/why-its-important-to-have-a-diverse-grant-strategy-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "Why it's Important to Have a Diverse Grant Strategy (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "Startups and SMEs should view grant applications as part of a diverse financing strategy, especially given the competitiveness of programs like the EIC Accelerator. Grants can be used to test new ideas, pivot into new markets, and supplement private funding, but should not be relied upon exclusively due to their smaller size and potential policy-driven changes. The European Commission tracks funded projects, so applicants should identify past grant recipients in their field to avoid competing with already-funded innovations.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/investigating-eic-accelerator-success-rates-for-each-stage-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Investigating EIC Accelerator Success Rates for Each Stage (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing is changing in 2021 by adding a third step, a video pitch and mini-application, to the existing two-step process. The article analyzes how the success rates of each step in the new three-step process will impact the time investment for startups and SMEs applying for the grant, visualizing different scenarios based on varying selection thresholds and effort levels required for each step. The author suggests the EIC should prioritize a low-effort initial step to reduce entry barriers for startups, but predicts the 2021 process will likely follow a scenario where the most selective step requires significant effort, potentially wasting applicants' time.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-ai-eic-accelerator-grant-proposal-assessments-could-look-like-part-4",
    "title": "How AI EIC Accelerator Grant Proposal Assessments Could Look Like (Part 4)",
    "description": "This article, part 4 of a series, explores how the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator grant proposal evaluations could use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the process, specifically focusing on restructuring the evaluation criteria and improving the Step 3 interview success rate. It proposes a system using multiple AIs, including \"good cop,\" \"bad cop,\" and \"judge\" AIs, to extract data, identify pros and cons, and provide a final score based on weighted criteria, allowing the EIC to integrate its own expectations and agendas. The article also emphasizes the importance of using European or open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) for confidentiality and suggests that such a system could act as a spam filter, rejecting unfitting projects early and saving time and money for both the EIC and applicants.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/where-can-eic-accelerator-results-be-found-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Where can EIC Accelerator Results be found? (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The European Commission publishes EIC Accelerator funding results through several channels including email notifications via the Funding and Tenders Portal, updates in the portal's notification area, and lists of beneficiaries on the EIC Accelerator call page. Successful projects that have signed grant agreements are also listed in the CORDIS database, which includes project details like timing, budget, and participating entities. Social media and official reports from the EC also provide information on EIC-funded companies and the program's performance.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/key-takeaways-from-the-eic-accelerator-deep-tech-report-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Key Takeaways from the EIC Accelerator Deep Tech Report (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The European Innovation Council (EIC) published a report summarizing key performance indicators and statistics from the EIC Accelerator, revealing that funded projects attracted €2.9-€3.3 in private investment for every €1 invested by the EIC and that 5% of companies in the EIC's portfolio are valued above €100m. The report also highlights trends in applicant demographics, showing a preference for young SMEs (under 5 years old) and a concentration in the Health, Energy, and IT software industries, with a majority (77%) following a Business-to-Business model. Furthermore, EIC Accelerator-awarded companies have collectively secured €5.3bn in follow-up funding, primarily through equity investments, and have experienced successful exits through IPOs and acquisitions, with valuations of the top 10 companies ranging from €200m to €700m.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/freelancers-the-other-side-of-the-consulting-industry-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Freelancers: The Other Side of the Consulting Industry (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator grant writing industry relies heavily on freelance writers who are contracted by consultancies to write proposals, edit re-submissions, and prepare pitches due to their lower cost and the consultancies' need for a diverse pool of expertise. Freelancers value the freedom, work focus, and flexibility of on-demand work, while consultancies benefit from increased capacity and a broad range of skills. The industry could evolve by increasing the visibility of freelance writers, enabling them to build direct client relationships and focus on improving proposal evaluations.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/developing-the-unique-selling-points-usp-for-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "Developing the Unique Selling Points (USP) for the EIC Accelerator",
    "description": "The article discusses how startups applying for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator funding can develop Unique Selling Points (USPs) for their proposals, focusing on the intersection of technological innovation, business model, and market offerings. It provides a structured approach with key questions to evaluate the innovativeness, defensibility, and quantifiable benefits of a technology's unique features, emphasizing the importance of quantifying customer benefits. The article concludes that this process helps identify true USPs and strengthen the EIC Accelerator application by highlighting the unique value proposition of the startup's product or service.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-2022-results-and-the-vanevo-gmbh-success-case",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator and the Vanevo GmbH Success Case",
    "description": "The European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced the results of its latest EIC Accelerator funding cut-off, awarding €396.7 million to 75 startups and SMEs from 21 countries. The funding is split between grant-first, grant-only, and blended financing options, with blended financing being the most common, and companies can receive up to €2.5 million in grant and €15 million in equity financing. Geographically, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have the highest number of winning companies, and Vanevo, supported by Segler Consulting, was among the successful grant applicants.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-eic-can-incentivise-shorter-and-clearer-applications-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-2",
    "title": "How the EIC Can Incentivise Shorter and Clearer Applications for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article proposes a revised evaluation process for the EIC Accelerator, suggesting a tiered approach where the least work-intensive tasks like executive summaries and pitch videos are evaluated first, followed by short applications or interviews, and culminating in the full 30-page application only for the most promising candidates. The author argues that this structure would reduce the reliance on grant writing skills and encourage the use of visual aids, making the process more accessible to startups and less dependent on consultants. The article also suggests simplifying proposal templates by separating subsections, enforcing word counts, and encouraging the use of graphics to improve clarity and ease evaluation.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-create-pitch-videos-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "How to Create Pitch Videos for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The European Commission and the European Innovation Council are introducing video pitches to the EIC Accelerator blended financing application process, which may pose a challenge for DeepTech startups and SMEs focused on R&D. The article provides a guide to different types of videos that can be prepared, including explainer videos, interview-type videos, hardware footage, pitch voice-overs, and third-party footage, outlining the tools needed for in-house production and options for outsourcing. A mix of video types, such as interviews, hardware footage, and animations, is recommended to create a professional and informative introduction to the innovation and company.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-success-rates-and-feasibility-studies-sme-instrument",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Success Rates and Feasibility Studies (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses the benefits of the now-obsolete SME Instrument Phase 1 in the EIC Accelerator program, highlighting its positive impact on Phase 2 application success rates. Phase 1 feasibility studies improved Phase 2 applications by providing comprehensive pilot study descriptions, validating financial and commercial feasibility, and informing budget allocation for work packages. Although Phase 1 is no longer available, applicants can emulate its advantages by independently conducting feasibility studies and prioritizing detailed technical, commercial, and financial information in their EIC Accelerator applications.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/an-inside-look-into-the-eic-accelerator-fund-and-its-equity-financing-sme-instrument",
    "title": "An Inside Look into the EIC Accelerator Fund and its Equity Financing (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing program, which combines grants and equity, has faced criticism due to delays in equity payments and a lack of clarity in its processes. Equity financing is contingent on companies securing funding rounds with other investors and undergoing due diligence, which can take up to a year, unlike the faster grant process. Despite the challenges, the EIC Fund acknowledges the issues and aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the upcoming Horizon Europe program.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-eic-can-incentivise-shorter-and-clearer-applications-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-4",
    "title": "How the EIC Can Incentivise Shorter and Clearer Applications for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 4",
    "description": "The article proposes a three-round evaluation process for the EIC Accelerator, starting with a broad initial screening, followed by a commercial and financial assessment by investors and entrepreneurs, and culminating in a pitch interview. This process aims to streamline the evaluation of a high volume of applications by using elimination rounds and specialized evaluator pools, while also providing applicants with cumulative feedback to improve their projects. The proposed system intends to reduce wasted effort on applications unlikely to succeed and ensure that commercial aspects are assessed by relevant experts, ultimately leading to a higher quality selection of projects for funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-prepare-for-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-interview-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-1",
    "title": "How to Prepare for an EIC Accelerator Pitch Interview (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses how to prepare for the EIC Accelerator pitch interviews, which are crucial for securing blended financing from the European Commission. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the interview's restrictions, such as limited time and the jury's commercial focus, and suggests learning from past pitches by contacting previous beneficiaries or consulting with specialized writers. The article also stresses the need for thorough practice through simulated real-life scenarios and open pitch sessions with diverse audiences to prepare for potential questions and improve the speaker's performance.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/digging-deep-the-new-deeptech-focus-of-the-eic-accelerator-and-its-funding-bottlenecks",
    "title": "Digging Deep: The New DeepTech Focus of the EIC Accelerator and its Funding Bottlenecks",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, which provides grants and equity financing to SMEs and startups, is experiencing fluctuating budgets, leading to a shift in evaluation focus towards Step 3 interviews and a greater emphasis on the quality of applicants. The program has previously funded companies that stretched the definition of DeepTech, even providing grants to well-funded software companies, but is now refocusing on \"DeepDeepTech\" due to reduced budgets. This new direction prioritizes companies with substantial patents and scientific discoveries, potentially excluding software startups, while also raising concerns about the EIC's success metrics and the impact of fundraising during the application process.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-would-eic-accelerator-grant-proposal-evaluations-be-integrated-part-2",
    "title": "How Would EIC Accelerator Grant Proposal Evaluations Be Integrated? (Part 2)",
    "description": "This article argues that the European Innovation Council (EIC) should rapidly integrate AI into its EIC Accelerator grant proposal evaluation process to improve speed, scalability, and alignment with EIC objectives. The current human-based evaluation system suffers from inconsistencies, subjective interpretations, and declining interview success rates, indicating a failure to effectively filter applicants. By hardcoding instructions into AI, the EIC can ensure precise and consistent evaluations, make real-time adjustments, and significantly reduce evaluation time, potentially leading to a best-in-class proposal evaluation system.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/which-companies-should-not-apply-to-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "Which Companies Should Not Apply to the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "The article discusses reasons why EIC Accelerator applications may be dismissed, focusing on non-innovative projects, those with small profit potential, and those primarily seeking funding for material expenses rather than technology development. It also addresses concerns related to foreign ownership and control of applicant companies, emphasizing the EU's preference for funding projects that benefit its territory and align with its values. The article suggests that applicants should assess their innovation's uniqueness, potential for significant financial growth, and the nature of their funding needs to determine their suitability for the EIC Accelerator program.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-to-expect-in-an-eic-accelerator-interview-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "What to Expect in an EIC Accelerator Interview (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article discusses the EIC Accelerator blended financing program and how SMEs can prepare for the final in-person interview stage of the application process. It outlines the key areas of questioning during the pitch, including commercialization strategy, team, technological feasibility, projected results, and market-creating potential. The article also highlights the criteria used by the European Commission to evaluate candidates and the common reasons why companies fail, such as insufficient attention to commercial strategy, market-creating potential, and team capability.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-deeptech-screener-and-trl-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: DeepTech, Screener and TRL (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "This article suggests improvements to the EIC Accelerator evaluation process, specifically focusing on the definition of DeepTech, implementing a short screener before the Step 1 application, and clarifying Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). The proposed DeepTech definition includes criteria related to market prevalence, domain expertise, large-scale impact, market urgency, competitive moats, and high capital requirements, while excluding common applications and business models that do not qualify. The article also suggests a questionnaire to filter companies based on ownership, fundraising efforts, company registration, and IP ownership, and proposes clearer TRL definitions with specific considerations for pharmaceutical companies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interview-update-and-eic-step-scale-up-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Interview Update and EIC STEP Scale-Up (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "The article suggests improvements to the EIC Accelerator evaluation process, specifically addressing the time gap between Step 2 submission and Step 3 interviews by proposing a short update questionnaire to capture current financial and structural information. It also suggests that the EIC jury should be able to fast-track strategically important companies that have raised significant funding to the STEP Scale-Up program for equity investment, even if they don't qualify for a grant. Finally, the article proposes a decision-making framework for the jury to assess whether a grant is still beneficial and if there's a strategic reason for the EIC Fund to invest, considering the company's funding status and potential for STEP Scale-Up fast-tracking.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-reimbursements-briefings-and-programme-managers-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Reimbursements, Briefings and Programme Managers (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "The article suggests improvements to the EIC Accelerator evaluation process, including reimbursing travel expenses for interviewees from distant countries by making business coaching optional, clarifying the role of Programme Managers during interviews to ensure neutrality and technical expertise, and using AI to enhance Jury briefings. It also recommends shifting the evaluator focus in Steps 1 and 2 from assessing projects to assessing the potential of the companies behind them, and trusting the lead investor's due diligence rather than scrutinizing equity expenditure on a cost-by-cost basis. These changes aim to create a fairer and more effective evaluation process that identifies and supports promising companies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-prepare-for-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-interview-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-2",
    "title": "How to Prepare for an EIC Accelerator Pitch Interview (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article provides guidance on how to prepare for the EIC Accelerator pitch interview, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, practicing difficult questions with rapid-fire answers, and knowing the application inside and out. It advises presenters to focus on the big picture and key messages on the day of the pitch, ensuring a balanced expertise among the presenting team. The article also suggests learning from past pitches and practicing with a stopwatch and external audience to refine the presentation.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-a-consultant-can-produce-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-video-remotely-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "How a Consultant can Produce an EIC Accelerator Pitch Video Remotely (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator's new pitch video requirement for SMEs adds complexity and cost to the application process, potentially increasing reliance on consultancies for video production expertise. Startups face challenges including limited funding, lack of video skills, and remote teams, making video creation a significant burden. A remote video production workflow, involving meticulous planning and guidance from consultants, is proposed to address these challenges, starting with a kick-off meeting to define core messages and customize the video script.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/helpful-resources-for-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-video-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Helpful Resources for an EIC Accelerator Pitch Video (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses resources for startups and SMEs to use when creating video pitches for the EIC Accelerator blended financing program, which now requires a video pitch. It provides a list of websites offering royalty-free or licensed stock music, including Pixabay, SoundCloud, and AudioJungle, emphasizing the importance of using non-copyrighted music for broader sharing. The article also lists resources for stock video and images such as PixaBay, Pexels, Unsplash, and premium services like ShutterStock and AdobeStock, highlighting the availability of both free and high-quality paid options.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-future-of-eic-accelerator-could-look-like-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "How the Future of the EIC Accelerator Could Look Like (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, is becoming a popular funding option for European scale-ups and SMEs. The article suggests the EIC Accelerator could evolve by separating grant and equity applications to streamline the process and by becoming a VC-hub to leverage external funding and increase investment opportunities for innovative companies. Implementing a VC-hub could involve creating an investor profile platform on the Funding and Tenders portal and hosting online pitch events to connect companies with investors.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/project-management-and-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Project Management and the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "Project management for EIC Accelerator blended financing involves managing the overall project, specific tasks, and key performance indicators while providing constant updates to the European Commission and European Innovation Council. Project management should follow cornerstones like initiation, planning, execution, controlling, monitoring, and closing, with a clear hierarchy of responsibilities and detailed descriptions, budgets, and timelines for each segment. Tasks should be split into work packages and follow the SMART acronym (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time-bound), while KPIs should be company-centric metrics that provide a commercial view and realism to the development tasks, with regular updates provided to the financing provider.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-script-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-video-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "How to Script an EIC Accelerator Pitch Video (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article details steps 3 and 4 in the creation of pitch videos for the EIC Accelerator blended financing, focusing on shooting footage/animations and editing/post-production. It emphasizes the importance of pre-planning and preparation, such as creating a detailed script and optimizing equipment settings, to minimize the workload during the editing phase. The article advises startups and SMEs to prioritize quality over quantity in footage and to ensure seamless integration of different video elements during the final rendering.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eic-accelerator-grant-consulting-industry-sme-instrument",
    "title": "The EIC Accelerator Grant Consulting Industry (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses the EIC Accelerator grant writing industry, where startups seek expert consultancies to navigate the complex application process. Consultancies operate under various business models, balancing profitability with the quality of applications, and applicants face opportunity costs regardless of the chosen model. The key to a good consultancy lies in selectiveness, transparency, and dedication, which applicants can assess by asking specific questions about the team, project vetting, and understanding of the innovation.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-select-an-eu-grant-financing-program-such-as-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "How to Select an EU Grant Financing Program such as the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses key criteria for startups and SMEs to consider when selecting an EU grant financing program like the EIC Accelerator, including budget availability, percentage of project costs covered, and the competitiveness of the call. The EIC Accelerator offers approximately €100M to €300M per call with up to €17.5M per project, financing 70% of total costs, but has a historically low success rate of 1% to 6% due to high application volume. Companies should assess these factors to determine if the EIC Accelerator is the right fit or if alternative funding opportunities are more suitable.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-select-an-eu-grant-financing-program-such-as-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-3",
    "title": "How to Select an EU Grant Financing Program such as the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) - Part 3",
    "description": "This article discusses considerations for startups and SMEs seeking EU grant financing, specifically the EIC Accelerator blended financing. Key aspects to consider include country restrictions, the submission process (online vs. federal, evaluation types, document requirements), and the availability of local support networks and specialized consultancies. The article summarizes eleven crucial factors for companies to evaluate when choosing an EU financing program, such as budget, covered costs, competitiveness, thematic focus, local alternatives, submission frequency, applicant type, country restrictions, submission process, support networks, and available consultancies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-script-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-video-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "How to Script an EIC Accelerator Pitch Video (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses the importance of scripting a pitch video for the 2021 EIC Accelerator blended financing, formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, emphasizing that it requires careful planning due to the limited 3-minute timeframe. It suggests structuring the video into acts, such as problem, innovation, traction, company, and opportunity, and then scripting each act with various techniques like interviews, animations, or hardware footage. The article highlights that a well-scripted video can compress more information and enhance the presentation's professionalism compared to a pitch deck, making it crucial for a successful evaluation.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interview-preparation-process-interviewee-considerations-part-4",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interview Preparation Process: Interviewee Considerations (Part 4)",
    "description": "This article, the fourth in a series, provides training tools for startups and SMEs to improve their answers during EIC Accelerator interviews, focusing on avoiding flaws, addressing concerns, and controlling the conversation. Key strategies include anticipating follow-up questions, focusing on the company's strengths, simplifying explanations for confused jury members, and preparing standard answers for likely questions. The article emphasizes the importance of enthusiasm and concise answers to effectively manage the Q&A session and positively influence the jury's funding decision.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-prepare-a-good-eic-accelerator-application-general-project-advice",
    "title": "How to Prepare a Good EIC Accelerator Application: General Project Advice",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator program offers substantial funding to startups and SMEs, but success requires more than just a good idea. Applicants need to demonstrate commercial traction through LOIs and customer validation, showcase a clear potential for disruption in their industry, and possess a sophisticated and difficult-to-copy technology. Furthermore, a consistent and detailed proposal with well-quantified problems and solutions is crucial to convince evaluators of the project's merit.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-grant-first-projects-get-equity-investments-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-2",
    "title": "How Grant-First Projects get Equity Investments (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 2)",
    "description": "The article discusses the draft 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on the introduction of \"grant-first\" financing for high-risk projects needing to reach TRL8 before potential equity investment. Grant-first projects, unlike grant-only, require a milestone assessment before EIC equity investment consideration, but are limited to a maximum grant of €2.5M, potentially disadvantaging capital-intensive, high-risk ventures compared to blended finance options. While equity financing can be used for TRL5 to TRL9, grant-first applicants are limited to the grant component which technically limits the maximum budget that can be requested to reach TRL8 to €2.5M.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/burnrate-runway-and-cashflow-for-startups-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Burnrate, Runway and Cashflow for Startups (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses the importance of burn rate, runway, and cash flow management for startups, especially those seeking EIC Accelerator funding, emphasizing that even well-funded companies can fail due to poor timing and risk management. It highlights the need for startups to be able to \"get lean\" and reduce costs quickly in case of financing disruptions, suggesting strategies like prioritizing quality over quantity in hiring and maintaining a \"doomsday runway\" buffer. The article concludes that agile adjustments and proactive risk management are crucial for survival, as high payrolls and long-term leases can become liabilities, and startups should prepare for the worst to ensure the best outcomes.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interview-preparation-process-scripting-the-pitch-part-1",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interview Preparation Process: Scripting the Pitch (Part 1)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing requires startups and SMEs to present their innovation project to a jury, and while past pitching experience is helpful, specific preparation is crucial for success. The 10-minute pitch, using the submitted pitch deck, should tell an engaging story with clear language and visuals, even if the slides can't be updated, and the deck should incorporate a mix of complex and simple slides to maintain audience engagement. Effective slide construction includes impactful sentences, graphics, and simplified explanations of complex concepts, all while adhering to the strict 10-minute time limit.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interview-preparation-process-jury-considerations-part-3",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interview Preparation Process: Jury Considerations (Part 3)",
    "description": "This article provides guidance on how to prepare for the Q&A session of the EIC Accelerator interviews, emphasizing the importance of practice and preparation. It suggests using mock-jury simulations with rapid-fire questions, playing devil's advocate, and looking for flaws to create a stressful environment and identify weaknesses in the responses. The article also stresses the importance of knowing the application documents thoroughly and assigning specific topics to team members to ensure the most suitable expert answers each question.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-new-eic-ecosystem-fast-track-and-pilot-plug-in-schemes-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-8",
    "title": "The New EIC Ecosystem, Fast-Track and Pilot Plug-In Schemes (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 8)",
    "description": "The article discusses the upcoming 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on the development of an EIC ecosystem and the continuation of fast-track and plug-in schemes. The EIC aims to create an ecosystem for DeepTech companies, investors, and consultants, offering business acceleration services and a platform for co-investor matching. While the fast-track and plug-in schemes allow applicants from specific EU programs to skip the initial application step, their practical benefit is limited due to the need to complete substantial application content regardless.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/a-short-but-comprehensive-explanation-of-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "A Short but Comprehensive Explanation of the EIC Accelerator (2025 Update)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, a funding program by the European Commission and European Innovation Council, offers grant and equity financing up to €2.5 million and €10 million respectively to innovative DeepTech companies from EU-27 or associated countries with technologies at least at TRL5. The application process involves a 3-step process with varying pass rates, including a short application, a detailed business plan, and an interview with the EIC Jury, with funding options including grant-only, equity-only, or blended finance to support development up to TRL9. While success is not guaranteed, companies with excellent technology, a strong team, a scalable business model, and alignment with EU interests are encouraged to apply, keeping in mind the \"three strikes, you're out\" rule for resubmissions.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/cancelling-funding-and-changing-grant-requests-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-5",
    "title": "Cancelling Funding and Changing Grant Requests (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 5)",
    "description": "This article discusses potential changes in the EIC Accelerator program for 2023, based on a draft work program, focusing on the possibility of the EIC cancelling approved funding due to inconsistencies or fraud, and the potential for converting funding requests during the evaluation process. It highlights the risk to applicants if equity investment is delayed, potentially jeopardizing grant funding, and suggests the EIC should allow companies to decline investment while retaining the grant if they secure funding elsewhere. The article also points out that the EIC jury can alter the funding type or amount requested, potentially substituting grants with repayable loans, and advocates for greater transparency from the EIC regarding funding decisions and timelines.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-deep-is-your-tech-the-european-innovation-council-impact-report-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "How Deep Is Your Tech? The European Innovation Council Impact Report (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The article summarizes the European Innovation Council's (EIC) 2022 impact report, highlighting the EIC Fund's mission to invest in high-risk, high-potential startups, particularly in deep tech industries like health, energy, and computing. It critiques the EIC's processes, pointing out issues such as delays in funding, a potentially distorted selection process, and the possibility of \"stealing thunder\" by claiming credit for companies that were already successful before EIC involvement. The article also discusses diversity goals, age preferences in funding, and inefficiencies in the application and due diligence processes, suggesting that the EIC Accelerator may undergo substantial changes in the coming years.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/steering-the-eic-accelerator-lessons-learned-from-the-pilot-program",
    "title": "Steering the EIC Accelerator: Lessons Learned from the Pilot Program",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator program offers startups and SMEs up to €2.5 million in grants and €15 million in equity financing but has faced delays in disbursing funds and struggles with clear communication, leading to reliance on National Contact Points. An independent report analyzing the EIC Accelerator pilot phase up to 2020 reveals conflicting agendas between non-bankability criteria and co-investment requirements, as well as challenges in achieving gender balance without compromising scientific excellence. The evaluation process is perceived as random, with many projects requiring multiple submissions and a \"pay-to-play\" dynamic emerging due to the complexity of the application, raising questions about the program's effectiveness in supporting true DeepTech innovation and scaling.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/analyzing-a-leaked-eic-accelerator-interview-list-success-rates-industries-direct-submissions",
    "title": "Analyzing A Leaked EIC Accelerator Interview List (Success Rates, Industries, Direct Submissions)",
    "description": "The article analyzes the statistics of the EIC Accelerator Step 3 interviews from October 2021, revealing that 19% of Step 2 applicants were invited to interviews and 47% of those were successful, with health-related projects and companies from France, Germany, Israel, Spain, and the Netherlands having the highest success rates. Direct invitations to Step 3 interviews had a significantly higher success rate (82%) compared to standard invitations (45%), and some countries like Portugal, Hungary, and Slovenia had a 0% success rate in Step 3. The author suggests the EIC should publish more detailed anonymized data to help applicants better assess their chances of success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-deepdive-analyzing-the-industries-countries-and-funding-types-of-eic-accelerator-winners-2021-2024",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator DeepDive: Analyzing the Industries, Countries and Funding Types of EIC Accelerator Winners (2021-2024)",
    "description": "Between 2021 and 2024, the EIC Accelerator program funded 563 companies, with France, Germany, and the Netherlands receiving the most awards, while MedTech/Healthcare, Biopharma, and Energy were the top funded industries. Blended finance was the most popular funding type, and grant-only was primarily utilized by UK companies due to equity restrictions. The program aims to support DeepTech innovations, but a significant portion of funding is concentrated in a few countries and industries, raising questions about equitable distribution and the program's mission to crowd in external investors.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-challenge-with-eic-accelerator-open-calls-medtech-innovations-dominate",
    "title": "The Challenge with EIC Accelerator Open Calls: MedTech Innovations Dominate",
    "description": "This article analyzes data from 469 EIC Accelerator winners between 2021 and 2024 to identify industry and funding trends in Challenge and Open calls, noting that Challenge calls are less competitive but change annually. Challenge projects show a preference for blended finance and grant-first options, with Energy, MedTech, and Quantum technology being prominent industries, while Open calls favor blended finance and are dominated by MedTech and Biopharma companies. The analysis uses publicly available datasets, including EIC releases and CORDIS data, supplemented by AI-driven industry classification due to inaccuracies in the EISMEA Data Hub.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-writing-providing-the-missing-link-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Writing: Providing the Missing Link (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The introduction to an EIC Accelerator application is crucial for setting up the entire proposal by establishing the context of the innovation within the market, trends, policies, and financial pressures. A well-crafted introduction creates a narrative that highlights the impact of the innovation, presenting a problem and illustrating the missing link between the EU's goals and the current situation, emphasizing the negative repercussions of inaction. While the narrative isn't directly evaluated, it significantly influences the overall impression, plausibility, and impact, which is a primary criterion for EIC Accelerator project evaluation and ranking, ultimately determining funding success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/choosing-a-project-title-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Choosing a Project Title for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article provides guidance on crafting effective project titles, suggesting they act as a condensed version of the abstract and highlight the unique product and its expected impact. It recommends a template consisting of an introduction, adjectives describing unique selling points, a noun identifying the product, and the broader impact. The article also suggests reviewing successful examples in the CORDIS database and on the EIC Accelerator call page for inspiration.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-types-of-industries-receive-funding",
    "title": "What Types of Industries Receive Funding?",
    "description": "The Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funds a variety of industries through 13 specific topics, including disruptive ICT concepts, nanotechnology uptake, biotechnology, space research, healthcare, ICT for health and aging, sustainable agriculture, blue growth, low carbon energy, transport/smart cities, climate action, inclusive societies, and security research. These topics aim to support SMEs in developing innovative solutions, accelerating market introduction, and contributing to various EU strategies and goals. SMEs can find detailed descriptions of each topic to determine if their project aligns with the funding criteria.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-success-rate-for-receiving-government-funding",
    "title": "The Success Rate For Receiving Government Funding",
    "description": "The article analyzes the success rates of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument based on 2015 data, noting that success rates for funding range from 0-21% for all applications, but increase to 28-100% when considering only high-quality proposals. It identifies topics 09 (Low-Carbon and Efficient Energy), 07 (Agri-Culture, Food and Bio-Based Sectors) and 06 (Health, Well-Being and Ageing Well) as the top three topics for applications based on past success rates. Despite the varying success rates, the article emphasizes that any project fitting a topic has the potential to be funded.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-is-phase-1-for-and-what-comes-next",
    "title": "What is Phase 1 for and What Comes Next?",
    "description": "Horizon 2020's SME Instrument Scheme Phase 1 provides a flat rate of €50,000 for a feasibility study, lasting approximately 6 months, to develop a business plan and assess project viability. The European Commission offers optional coaching services through the Enterprise Europe Network to enhance innovation capacity and align the project with business development strategies. The study culminates in a feasibility report containing a technical report, a socio-economic questionnaire, and a financial report, which increases the chances of acceptance into Phase 2.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/do-you-need-additional-investors",
    "title": "Do You Need Additional Investors?",
    "description": "Phase 1 of the project receives a flat fee of €50,000 to conduct a feasibility study. Phase 2 offers flexible funding between €500,000 and €5,000,000, covering 70% of the total project costs. The remaining 30% of project costs must be secured by the company through private investors, product revenues, or private funds, demonstrating their ability to sustain the project.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-information-is-needed-to-write-a-proposal",
    "title": "What Information Is Needed to Write A Proposal?",
    "description": "Prior to the initial video call, both parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. The first video call, lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, will cover key project aspects like innovation, market, customers, EU challenges, financial projections, and the business model. In addition to the discussion, visual materials, company documents, CVs and photos of project leaders and founders, and Letters of Support are required.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/document-formatting-tips-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-pt-3-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Document Formatting Tips for the EIC Accelerator Grant pt.3 (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "For the EIC Accelerator grant proposal, choose a pleasant and consistent color scheme with one main color and an optional secondary color for headers, stylized text, bullets, and captions, avoiding distracting colors like bright pink or yellow. Watermarks should be subtle, low opacity graphics with transparent backgrounds, such as prototype images or logos, placed strategically to enhance professionalism without overwhelming the text. Images and tables should be high-quality, custom-made for the application, and placed on each or every other page to break up the text, ensuring they are well-placed, self-explanatory, and complement the section's content.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-funded",
    "title": "How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Funded",
    "description": "To increase the likelihood of funding, projects should demonstrate existing financial backing, recognition for innovation through awards or media features, and target a promising market segment with high growth and low competition. Letters of recommendation from key partners and letters of intent from suppliers or customers are beneficial, as is a highly experienced team and a project that offers social benefits to the EU. The project should also have potential for expansion beyond the initial phase.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eic-accelerator-to-disrupt-or-not-to-disrupt",
    "title": "The EIC Accelerator: To Disrupt or Not to Disrupt",
    "description": "The article discusses the reality of securing EIC Accelerator funding, which aims to support disruptive innovations but often favors projects with proven commercial strategies and lower risk profiles. While the EIC's mission is to fund high-risk, deep-tech innovations, the jury tends to prioritize projects with existing validation and market traction, making it difficult for truly disruptive and unproven technologies to receive funding. Companies applying for the EIC Accelerator should focus on demonstrating a clear, proven commercial strategy alongside their innovative technology to increase their chances of success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/sme-instrument-grant-writing-tips-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "SME Instrument Grant Writing Tips (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The article outlines key components for startups applying for EU's SME Instrument Funding, including selecting a project acronym and tagline, crafting a concise 2000-character abstract that highlights the problem, solution, and impact, and choosing relevant keywords to define the project. Applicants can also exclude evaluators with potential conflicts of interest from reviewing their proposal. While proposal writing is crucial, the article focuses on these specific elements alongside standard requirements like legal and financial data.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/lessons-from-the-eic-accelerators-pitch-video-shooting-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Lessons from the EIC Accelerators Pitch Video Shooting (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses key lessons for creating effective pitch videos for the EIC Accelerator blended financing, a new requirement in the evaluation process. It emphasizes the importance of a well-structured script to maintain a cohesive storyline within the 3-minute time limit, providing guidance to applicants on recording techniques to improve video quality, and using small editing techniques to create an engaging and professional-looking video. The article also highlights the need to adapt to each client's unique circumstances, considering their existing footage, technological complexities, and time or geographic constraints.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-does-prototype-stage-mean",
    "title": "What Does \"Prototype Stage\" Mean?",
    "description": "Having quantifiable feedback on a prototype, whether an app or physical product, is crucial. This includes active users providing feedback on the solution's effectiveness, such as lowered costs expressed in percentages or absolute values. For physical products, proof of functionality, commitments from retailers or companies, or pre-sales from end-users are important indicators.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-makes-a-good-project",
    "title": "What Makes a Good Project?",
    "description": "To assess a startup's potential, two key factors are considered: whether the project surpasses existing solutions with a unique element and if there is substantial market demand. A unique aspect is crucial for differentiation, and a tangible reason for users to adopt the product, such as lower cost, superior quality, or exclusive features, is essential for market viability. These two components help determine if the application has a higher chance of success.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/technical-writing-tips",
    "title": "Technical Writing Tips",
    "description": "When writing a proposal, ensure the technology is well-explained and demonstrates expertise, despite page limits. Detail all hardware/software features, explaining their importance, and highlight advantages over competing technologies. List all development milestones to showcase the project's progress and depth of work.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/what-is-the-timeline-for-the-application",
    "title": "What is the Timeline for the Application?",
    "description": "The EU's SME Instrument has four application deadlines per year in February, May, September, and November. Preparing the application takes about a month, with results available in 4-8 weeks and the grant agreement signed in 6-12 weeks. Phase 1 funding allows 3-5 months to prepare for Phase 2, which has a similar application process, but rejection of an application adds 3 months to the timeline due to the next deadline.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/glitches-on-the-eic-accelerators-ai-platform-and-changes-to-the-work-programme-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Glitches on the EIC Accelerator's AI Platform and Changes to the Work Programme (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The 2021 EIC Accelerator blended financing program launched with several glitches and changes, affecting applicants and proposal writers. Notable issues included the removal of geographic diversity requirements, changes to gender options for CEOs reverting to \"unspecified,\" and altered Technology Readiness Level descriptions after the call opening. The AI tool's diagnostics evaluation feedback also shifted significantly, and some applicants experienced technical errors like the Abstract section being replaced by the Solution section in their proposals.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-two-most-important-features-for-an-sme-instrument-project-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "The Two Most Important Features for an SME Instrument Project (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The EU startup grant prioritizes funding for high-risk, high-reward projects that demonstrate market-disrupting or market-creating innovation. Applicants should be able to clearly differentiate their product from competitors and prove that it would be difficult for large companies to replicate quickly. Demonstrating market interest through customer contact, pilot studies, or existing revenue is crucial for a successful application.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-eic-accelerator-funds-technology-readiness-levels-trl-sme-instrument",
    "title": "How the EIC Accelerator Funds Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator funds projects between Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5 to 8 via grants or blended finance, TRL 9 activities are financed through equity, and projects above TRL 8 are ineligible for funding. Understanding and detailing the TRLs in the application is crucial, as they must be referenced in the technology description, work packages, investment needs, and project roadmap. Neglecting TRL details can negatively impact the proposal evaluation, making the application appear less professional and casting doubt on other sections.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/delays-updates-on-the-eic-accelerators-step-1-results-step-3-interview-dates-and-more-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Delays: Updates on the EIC Accelerators Step 1 Results, Step 3 Interview Dates and More (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing released Step 1 results on May 12, 2021, providing detailed feedback and scoring from evaluators. While the EIC aimed for a rejection rate similar to the 2020 Seal of Excellence threshold, the actual rejection rate was lower, around 50%. The official template for Step 2 is available, with AI tool modules and coaching support becoming available throughout May 2021, and interviews planned for September 2021 and December 2021/January 2022.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-software-choices-for-the-annexes-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Software Choices for the Annexes (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "For EIC Accelerator applications, visually appealing graphics are essential and best created using vector graphic software like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw, even enhancing Excel-created graphs for better presentation. Financial documents should be prepared using spreadsheet software such as Excel or Google Docs, with separate sheets for work packages and financial projections. The pitch deck is best created using presentation software like PowerPoint or InDesign, taking advantage of vector graphics and ensuring the final PDF meets file size limitations.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-new-eic-accelerators-read-deck-sme-instrument",
    "title": "The New EIC Accelerators Read Deck (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing has introduced a new \"read-only deck\" for Step 1 of the evaluation process, a 10-page PDF document with no technical restrictions outside of the page limit, unlike the pitch deck used in Step 3. This read deck requires more comprehensive text and graphics than a traditional pitch deck, as it must stand alone without a verbal component or time constraints, and applicants should omit title and ending slides to maximize space for essential information. While this offers creative freedom, there's concern that applicants might exploit the lack of restrictions, potentially leading to stricter rules in the future.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/changes-in-the-eic-accelerator-during-2019",
    "title": "Changes in the EIC Accelerator during 2019",
    "description": "The EU's startup grant, the EIC Accelerator, underwent key changes in 2019, including the elimination of Phase 1 (€50,000 grant) and the introduction of blended financing (grant and equity) up to €17,500,000 for Phase 2. The Phase 2 application template was reworked to include more detailed financial information, KPIs, justification for EU support, and specific summaries in the introduction. A pitch deck is now required to be uploaded with the application and cannot be changed later.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-difference-between-innovation-and-features",
    "title": "The Difference Between Innovation and Features (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "To secure the EU's start-up grant (up to €2.5M grant + €15M equity), applications must emphasize the project's innovative nature, which requires a unique technology or approach, not just a collection of features or incremental improvements. The application should present a clear narrative that introduces a major problem, demonstrates how the product uniquely solves it, and explains the strategy for overcoming market barriers while meeting customer needs. The proposal should communicate that the company is the only one capable of addressing the problem and fulfilling customer needs with its distinct innovation.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eic-accelerator-grant-vs-blended-financing-equity",
    "title": "The EIC Accelerator: Grant vs. Blended Financing (Equity)",
    "description": "The article discusses key considerations for applying for equity financing through the EU's EIC Accelerator program, which offers blended finance options combining grants and equity. Applicants must offer a minority ownership stake between 10% and 25%, present a clear exit strategy with a 7-15 year ROI timeframe, and detail the company's valuation progression. Equity financing is specifically aimed at high-risk, non-bankable companies with limited revenue and focuses on Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL9) activities related to market deployment rather than technical development.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/document-formatting-tips-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-pt-1-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Document Formatting Tips for the EIC Accelerator Grant pt.1 (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article provides formatting tips for the EIC Accelerator Grant application, emphasizing a clean and easy-to-read structure with sub-sections, indents, special characters, and footnotes. It suggests using hierarchical headers, indents for readability, symbols and colors for emphasis, and consistent footnote formatting with a minimum font size of 11 pt (9 pt for footnotes). The article also refers to a second part with more formatting tips.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/document-formatting-tips-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-pt-2-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Document Formatting Tips for the EIC Accelerator Grant pt.2 (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "For EIC Accelerator grant proposals, using hyperlinks, cross-references, and bookmarks enhances navigation and avoids repetition, with distinct colors recommended for web versus in-document links. Figures and tables should always have captions, with figures described below and tables above, and should be introduced at the end of a sentence. While Document 1 has strict margins, subtle additions like logos or watermarks can improve presentation, and page numbers should always be included, testing the design by downloading the watermarked PDF from the Funding and Tender Portal.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/balancing-content-for-the-eic-accelerators-step-1-video-deck-and-proposal-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Balancing Content for the EIC Accelerators Step 1 Video, Deck and Proposal (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing has introduced a Step 1 to the application process, requiring a deck, pitch video, and written application. While content overlap is unavoidable, applicants should focus on presenting information in a way that best suits each medium, with the written proposal being quantified, the deck being visual, and the pitch video focusing on vision and team motivation. By diversifying content while maintaining a uniform storyline, applicants can maximize their chances of success in Step 1.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/insights-from-the-eu-science-innovation-youtube-leak-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Insights from the EU Science & Innovation YouTube Leak (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument) ",
    "description": "The article discusses insights into the 2021 EIC Accelerator blended financing program based on leaked videos from the EU Science & Innovation YouTube Channel, which served as training for National Contact Points. Key points include that the Step 1 pitch video will be uploaded to the platform, the challenge/topic will be chosen in Step 2, and the EIC envisions consultants becoming part of their platform. The EIC Fund's due diligence process and investment guidelines are also highlighted, with a focus on capital structure and MedTech as a primary investment area.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/15-Feb",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: New Proposal Template from March 20th (2020)",
    "description": "The article discusses changes to the EIC Accelerator proposal template for the Green Deal deadline on May 19th, including new form fields requiring the gender of the CEO and selection of Green Deal goals. A new impact criterion specifically asks companies to detail and quantify their project's impact on the EU's Green Deal, providing explanations and references. The equity table in the \"Financing Needs\" section is now mandatory for all applicants, regardless of whether they are requesting equity financing.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interviewees-from-march-deadline-unable-to-apply-for-may-cut-off",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interviewees from March Deadline Unable to Apply for May Cut-Off",
    "description": "Due to a record number of applications for the EIC Accelerator's March 2020 deadline, the interview week for step 2 of the evaluation process has been postponed to May 11-20th. This postponement creates an overlap with the subsequent Green Deal deadline on May 19th, preventing applicants invited to step 2 from receiving their evaluation results in time to reapply. The European Innovation Council (EIC) announced that step 2 rejections will have to wait until October to reapply, putting them at a disadvantage compared to step 1 rejections.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-budget-retrospectively-increased-by-e150m-due-to-covid-19",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Budget Retrospectively Increased By €150m due to COVID-19",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator budget for the March 20th cut-off has been increased by €150 million due to a record number of applications and the EU's focus on COVID-19 related innovations, bringing the total budget for 2020 to €969.04 million. 32% of the budget is now allocated to the March cut-off (€310.09m), 31% to the Green Deal cut-off in May (€300.40m), and the remaining €164.74m is for the October cut-off. Interviews for the March cut-off will be held remotely from May 11th to May 20th, and the EIC has decided not to postpone the May deadline, preventing rejected interviewees from reapplying for the Green Deal cut-off.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2-introduction-and-blended-finance",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Introduction and Blended Finance",
    "description": "Securing EIC Accelerator funding is highly competitive, with success rates between 2% and 5%, requiring dedication and high-quality writing to address all EU-relevant criteria. Applicants can request up to €17.5 million, with a maximum €2.5 million grant and €15 million in equity from the EIC Fund in exchange for company ownership, with the grant covering 70% of project costs. While the review process is similar for both grants and blended finance, equity financing involves more due diligence and targets high-risk projects with low turnover, potentially attracting private investors as an alternative to EIC funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/pre-requisites-for-an-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Pre-Requisites for an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "To be eligible for EIC Accelerator funding, the applicant must be a for-profit SME, registered in an eligible country (EU-27, selected Horizon 2020 associated countries, or other third countries), with fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover of €50m or less, and a balance sheet total of €43m or less. The company should aim to scale on an EU or global level with a distinct innovation component and strong IP protection, typically as a DeepTech company. Applicants must also declare up- and down-stream relationships to other entities, providing financial data for SME classification of associated businesses if ownership thresholds are met.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/finding-updates-and-news-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Finding Updates and News for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "Staying updated on the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) requires monitoring fragmented channels like the EIC Twitter account, the official call page, Google searches for updated documents, the EIC newsletter, and the EU's Newsroom. These channels provide information on proposal template updates, EIC strategies, application deadlines, and eligibility changes, such as the UK's limited access to blended finance due to Brexit. Regularly checking these sources is crucial for startups and SMEs to prepare successful grant applications and avoid immediate rejection due to outdated information.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/identifying-a-broad-vision-for-an-eic-accelerator-project-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Identifying a Broad Vision for an EIC Accelerator Project (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "A successful EIC Accelerator application requires a compelling vision that goes beyond profit and feasibility, showcasing a broad impact. This vision should align with EU directives, targets, and policies, while avoiding topics the EU might not support, and it should demonstrate future-proof technologies and business models that can withstand disruption. Finally, the application must present a realistic scaling strategy that addresses potential threats from established competitors, ensuring the proposal's credibility.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/technology-readiness-levels-trl-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "To apply for EIC Accelerator funding, your project needs to be at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), meaning you have a prototype and have demonstrated proof-of-concept for your key innovation, even if it's not fully implemented or part of a complete product. This innovation testing can be done through various methods like lab tests, pilot programs, or simulations, and should clearly show the benefits of the innovation, such as cost savings or improved usability. The innovation should be directly linked to market impact, competitor differentiation, and user needs to justify the necessity of the funding for achieving the desired goals.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/presenting-customer-interest-for-a-successful-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Presenting Customer Interest for a Successful EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "Demonstrating customer interest, or traction, is crucial for a successful EIC Accelerator application, as the evaluation checklist assesses customer willingness-to-pay. While not mandatory, lacking traction can hinder funding chances unless other criteria significantly excel. Traction can include material contributions, facility access, or support letters, not just revenue, and should highlight the innovation's superiority and high demand.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-applications-and-eu-policies-or-targets-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Applications and EU Policies or Targets (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "EIC Accelerator applications must align with EU policies and targets to be considered for funding. Projects that contradict EU goals, such as those supporting fossil fuels or exacerbating societal inequalities, are deemed ineligible. Highlighting a project's alignment with and support of the EU's agenda, including gender equality and ethical considerations, is crucial for a successful application.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/business-models-for-eic-accelerator-applications-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Business Models for EIC Accelerator Applications (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses the importance of scalability and profitability in business models, especially when seeking funding from the EU's EIC Accelerator. Scalability refers to the ability to increase profit margins and automate value creation as operations grow, while profitability considers the revenue generated per deployment or customer. The EU prioritizes business models that demonstrate both high scalability and profitability, aiming for a multi-fold return on investment and often favoring disruptive innovations with the potential to create new markets.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/writing-an-eic-accelerator-application-microsoft-word-vs-adobe-indesign-sme-instrument-writing",
    "title": "Writing an EIC Accelerator Application: Microsoft Word vs. Adobe InDesign (SME Instrument Writing)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator application includes documents like the main proposal (Document 1, limited to 30 pages), annexes (Document 2), financial documents (Document 3), and a pitch deck (Document 4), along with an abstract and submission forms. While Microsoft Word is commonly used for proposal writing due to its collaborative features, Adobe InDesign offers superior control over design, formatting, image quality, and PDF export, especially beneficial for documents with page and size limitations. InDesign's artboard-type layout and advanced features make it particularly suitable for individual writers focused on design and formatting, especially when dealing with large documents like Document 2 containing embedded PDF files.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/last-minute-restrictions-of-eic-accelerator-step-1-submissions",
    "title": "Last-Minute Restrictions of EIC Accelerator Step 1 Submissions",
    "description": "On May 5th, 2021, the EIC Accelerator blended financing program unexpectedly suspended Step 1 submissions until June 22nd to update the platform, despite the call being designed for continuous submissions. A preliminary proposal template for Step 2 has been released, with the official launch of Step 2 scheduled for May 17th and submissions opening on June 9th. This suspension impacts applicants who have not yet submitted their Step 1 applications, preventing them from meeting the June deadline, although they can still apply for the October deadline.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/assessing-an-eic-accelerator-applicant-for-innovation-traction-and-the-team-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "Assessing an EIC Accelerator Applicant for Innovation, Traction and the Team (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "This article discusses how consultants and writers can quickly assess the innovation aspect of a project applying for the EIC Accelerator grant, focusing on whether the product or service is unique and new. It highlights four key areas to examine: the origin of the innovation (technical or industry-driven), its relationship to customer pain points, the status of intellectual property rights, and the barriers preventing competitors from copying the innovation. The article emphasizes that a strong innovation assessment is crucial for increasing the chances of a successful EIC Accelerator application.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/why-its-great-to-be-a-female-entrepreneur-in-the-eu-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "Why It's Great to be a Female Entrepreneur in the EU (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The European Commission has implemented policies to increase gender equality within the EIC Accelerator, including considering gender equality in proposal evaluations and potentially favoring companies with more female team members when scores are tied. Since the Green Deal cut-off in May, the EU has prioritized increasing the number of female entrepreneurs receiving grant funding, aiming for 25% of selected companies to be women-led. This goal was exceeded in May with 34% of grants going to companies with female CEOs, achieved by lowering the threshold for interview invitations for female CEOs and offering runner-up interviews to reach the quota.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/gender-equality-targets-in-the-age-of-gender-identification-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "Gender Equality Targets in the Age of Gender Identification (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator program, heavily influenced by EU policies, has recently emphasized gender equity, significantly benefiting female entrepreneurs with increased funding rates. The newest Horizon Europe grant proposal now includes \"non-binary\" as a gender option, potentially altering the EIC's female CEO targets due to the subjective definition of gender identity. This inclusion might create opportunities for exploitation, as male CEOs could designate themselves as non-binary to gain an advantage, making it crucial for female entrepreneurs to apply now while high funding rates are still enforced.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/should-a-company-hire-a-professional-consultant-or-write-an-eic-accelerator-grant-application-internally-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Should a Company Hire a Professional Consultant or Write an EIC Accelerator Grant Application Internally? (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The article discusses whether companies should hire a consultant for the EIC Accelerator Grant application or write it themselves, advising companies to assess their project quality, internal writing skills, available time and focus, and financial considerations. Companies should get a free assessment of their project's innovativeness from multiple consultancies and evaluate if they possess the skills to write competitive grant proposals, considering their track record in obtaining research grants and crafting business plans. Startups should also weigh the cost of hiring a consultant against the opportunity cost of internal team members spending significant time on the application process, including potential resubmissions and revisions.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/visual-representation-of-an-eic-accelerator-proposal-narrative-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-3",
    "title": "Visual Representation of an EIC Accelerator Proposal Narrative (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 3",
    "description": "This article provides a visual guide for preparing the technology section of an EIC Accelerator blended financing proposal, emphasizing the importance of presenting a solution that directly addresses a clearly defined problem and highlighting the project's non-bankability to justify the need for EIC funding. It advises applicants to showcase the EIC Accelerator's role as a crucial springboard for commercialization, demonstrate traction through pilot customers and LOIs, and articulate a clear scaling strategy with potential for global impact and EU benefits. The guide deviates from the official template to focus on EU-specific narratives and arguing for the EIC's support, omitting key sections for clarity.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-interpret-the-evaluation-summary-report-esr-of-an-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "How to Interpret the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) of an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) provides feedback to EIC Accelerator blended financing applicants on their proposal's Impact, Excellence, and Implementation, but lacks specific comments explaining rejection causes. Interpreting the ESR is difficult because its structure doesn't match the proposal template and sub-criteria overlap, but the overall score and section scores offer insights. A low overall score indicates fundamental issues, while section scores highlight weaknesses in commercial aspects (Impact), innovation (Excellence), or development plans (Implementation).\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/why-its-important-to-have-a-diverse-grant-strategy-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "Why it's Important to Have a Diverse Grant Strategy (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "Public grants are a popular funding option for SMEs and startups due to their policy focus and less stringent financial scrutiny compared to private investors. However, companies should not rely solely on grant applications due to the competitive evaluation process and uncertain timelines, as even successful grants can face bureaucratic delays. Instead, grant applications should be part of a broader financing strategy, and the prepared materials can be repurposed for business plans, marketing, and other pitching opportunities.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/work-packages-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Work Packages for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "Work packages are crucial for EIC Accelerator applications, detailing specific tasks, budgets, timelines, and project managers to ensure accountability and track progress. They help evaluators assess the project's implementation and credibility, validating the development timeline and time-to-market. Companies should already have internal work packages, but they often need refinement to align with EIC Accelerator requirements, emphasizing specific, quantified development tasks over feasibility assessments.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-eic-can-incentivise-shorter-and-clearer-applications-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-1",
    "title": "How the EIC Can Incentivise Shorter and Clearer Applications for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses the challenges of the EIC Accelerator application process, noting its complexity and the burden it places on both applicants and evaluators. It proposes a shift from a linear, individual evaluation process to a convergent, comparative approach with knock-out elimination rounds to streamline the process. This proposed method aims to identify the \"more worthy\" projects efficiently, reducing unnecessary assessments and the workload for both applicants and the EIC.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-eic-can-incentivise-shorter-and-clearer-applications-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-phase-2-part-3",
    "title": "How the EIC Can Incentivise Shorter and Clearer Applications for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 3",
    "description": "The article proposes a revised evaluation process for the EIC Accelerator, emphasizing direct communication, transparency, and useful feedback for applicants. It suggests a two-round evaluation system, starting with a one-page executive summary and a pitch video, followed by topic-based knock-out rounds where evaluators compare three keyword-matched candidates. The process aims to quickly screen projects for EU-relevant impact and provide cumulative feedback to applicants as they progress, potentially including an optional internal round to further narrow down the selection.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/proposed-application-process-for-the-eic-accelerator-2021-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Proposed Application Process for the EIC Accelerator 2021 (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing, formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, is being reinstated in 2021 with a larger budget and a new structure that includes a short application with a pitch video, a long application, and a jury interview. The scoring system will likely shift to a simple YES or NO grading system, and freezing periods are expected to be introduced to limit resubmissions, while thematic topics with specific budgets will be reintroduced. Applicants, consultants, and writers are awaiting the official publication of the EIC Accelerator 2021 Work Programme for more details.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/which-companies-should-not-apply-to-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-1",
    "title": "Which Companies Should Not Apply to the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) - Part 1",
    "description": "The article discusses negative criteria that could lead to immediate dismissal from the EIC Accelerator program. Startups that are already well-financed with substantial VC rounds may find it difficult to argue non-bankability, and those whose innovations don't align with EU values or target industries may face rejection. The EIC Accelerator favors DeepTech companies in sectors like health tech and energy, while innovations like apps and social networks may have a harder time securing funding.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/why-it-is-so-difficult-to-assess-an-eic-accelerator-project-sme-instrument-phase-2",
    "title": "Why it is So Difficult to Assess an EIC Accelerator Project (SME Instrument Phase 2)",
    "description": "Assessing EIC Accelerator applications is challenging due to factors like new project aspects emerging during writing, overly optimistic founders, and the varying perspectives of evaluators. The absence of strong EU policies in certain areas, reduced management team involvement, and the diverse skill sets required for pitching and video production also contribute to the difficulty. These uncertainties make it hard to fully evaluate a project's potential for success before the application process begins.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-reliance-of-eu-startups-on-consultancies-for-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "The Reliance of EU Startups on Consultancies for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, an EU funding program offering up to €17.5M to startups and SMEs, aims to directly support excellent companies but suffers from insufficient documentation and transparency, pushing applicants to seek external help. While the EIC is trying to become more entrepreneur-friendly by adopting VC-like practices, the application process is becoming increasingly complex with added evaluation steps like video submissions and in-person pitches. This complexity, combined with budget limitations and a less transparent evaluation process, forces innovative companies to rely on consultants, contradicting the EIC's goal of simplifying the application process.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-a-consultant-can-produce-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-video-remotely-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "How a Consultant can Produce an EIC Accelerator Pitch Video Remotely (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article outlines a workflow for creating a pitch video for the EIC Accelerator program, emphasizing the importance of planning, resource assessment, and script development. It suggests a two-stage recording process, including an optional screen test, followed by professional editing to ensure high quality. The process aims to help startups and SMEs navigate the new video requirement for grant applications under Horizon Europe.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-uks-participation-in-the-eic-accelerator-under-horizon-europe-after-2021-sme-instrument",
    "title": "The UK's Participation in the EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe after 2021 (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "Following Brexit, UK companies can still apply for Horizon Europe grants up to 2.5 million euros, but they are excluded from equity financing, which can reach 15 million euros per project. This restriction stems from the UK's non-participation in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, as confirmed by both Science Business and a UK government declaration. To overcome this limitation, UK companies may consider establishing EU subsidiaries or parent companies to regain access to equity funding through the EIC Fund and the European Investment Bank.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-the-future-of-eic-accelerator-could-look-like-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "How the Future of the EIC Accelerator Could Look Like (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article, a continuation of a previous one, explores potential future evolutions of the EIC Accelerator, a funding arm of the European Innovation Council. It suggests adjusting evaluation criteria to focus on innovation and business models rather than societal challenges or gender, proposing separate calls for specific political targets like the Green Deal or female founders. The article also recommends simplifying bureaucracy by streamlining cost and implementation sections through automated algorithms and visualizations, allowing for quicker assessment and more efficient tracking of funded projects.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-select-an-eu-grant-financing-program-such-as-the-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "How to Select an EU Grant Financing Program such as the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article, a continuation of Part 1, outlines considerations for startups and SMEs seeking EU grant financing, particularly the EIC Accelerator. Key factors include the thematic focus of the grant, availability of local alternatives like the Cyprus Entrepreneurship Fund, restrictions on the number of application submissions, and whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. The EIC Accelerator focuses on for-profit businesses with innovative projects at a specific Technology Readiness Level and is currently a single-applicant funding scheme.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/structuring-an-eic-accelerator-pitch-deck-for-the-jury-interview-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Structuring an EIC Accelerator Pitch Deck for the Jury Interview (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The article discusses pitch deck templates for the EIC Accelerator program, comparing a semi-official EIC template with a SlideBean-inspired approach. The EIC template includes slides for company purpose, problem/solution, market opportunity, and financial projections, while the SlideBean template focuses on a leaner structure with slides for problem, solution, product, market size, and underlying technology. The article concludes that a storytelling approach, as suggested by SlideBean, is more effective than overloading the pitch deck with content, as the EIC template might lead to.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/tips-to-quickly-improve-grant-writing-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Tips to Quickly Improve Grant Writing (EIC Accelerator, SME Instrument)",
    "description": "To improve EIC Accelerator grant writing, companies should study successful applications and business plans, focusing on storytelling aligned with EU politics and social/environmental factors. Incorporating illustrations enhances communication, given evaluators' limited time. Active involvement of the entire management team is crucial for a strong, well-rounded proposal.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-apply-for-the-eic-accelerator-grant-proposal-timeline",
    "title": "How long does it take to apply for the EIC Accelerator? (Grant proposal timeline)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator funding process, designed for startups and SMEs, involves three steps: a short application, a business plan, and a jury interview, with potential grant funding of €2.5 million and €15 million in venture financing. Preparing the Step 1 application takes approximately one month, Step 2 requires at least two months, and Step 3 interview preparation needs at least two weeks, with evaluation times varying between steps. The overall timeline is unpredictable due to factors like resubmissions, freezing periods, and the randomness of the evaluation process, often taking longer than 6 months to complete, and outsourcing the application process is advisable due to its complexity and time commitment.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/why-it-could-be-beneficial-to-apply-early-to-the-2021-eic-accelerator-sme-instrument",
    "title": "Why It Could Be Beneficial to Apply Early to the 2021 EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator blended financing will be reinstated in 2021 under Horizon Europe with an updated evaluation process that may present both challenges and opportunities for startups and SMEs. The new process, featuring a continuously open Step 1 with YES/NO grading and limited spots for Step 2, could lead to a bottleneck and impact success chances based on application timing. Clear communication from EASME and EIC regarding thresholds and evaluation processes is crucial to mitigate uncertainty and allow applicants to make informed decisions about timing and topic selection.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-interview-preparation-process-the-importance-of-the-qa-part-2",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator Interview Preparation Process: The Importance of the Q&A (Part 2)",
    "description": "This article discusses how SMEs and startups can prepare for the EIC Accelerator blended financing pitch interview, highlighting that the jury members may lack specialized knowledge, are not investing their own money, and use ambiguous evaluation criteria like \"non-bankability\" and \"high-risk.\" The EIC aims to fund companies with high-risk, DeepTech projects that struggle to secure funding from other sources, acting as a catalyst for private investment in the European DeepTech ecosystem. Applicants should approach the interview with the mindset of eliminating any reason for rejection, given the limited time and the jury's need to make quick decisions based on the pitch.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-craft-an-eic-accelerator-rebuttal-explaining-grant-proposal-resubmissions",
    "title": "How to Craft an EIC Accelerator Rebuttal: Explaining Grant Proposal Resubmissions",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides substantial funding to startups and SMEs, but the evaluation process can be subjective and lead to unfair rejections, particularly in Step 2. Applicants can use the rebuttal section to address criticisms from previous evaluations, highlighting positive feedback and pointing out any factual errors or misunderstandings made by the evaluators. For close rejections, minor adjustments to the proposal based on the feedback may be sufficient, while applications with low scores may require more substantial changes.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eligible-applicants-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-1",
    "title": "The Eligible Applicants (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 1)",
    "description": "The article discusses the upcoming 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on changes and aspects relevant to DeepTech startups and SMEs. A key update allows entities from non-associated third countries to apply if they relocate their headquarters or establish an SME in a Horizon Europe-associated country, though they must create a legal entity before submitting a full application. The article cautions against relocating before gaining official approval due to low success rates and anticipates a potential surge in Step 1 applications due to increased global interest.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/technology-readiness-levels-timelines-and-interview-priorities-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-4",
    "title": "Technology Readiness Levels, Timelines and Interview Priorities (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 4)",
    "description": "This article discusses the draft of the 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on changes and aspects relevant to startups, SMEs, and consultants. It highlights simplified Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), notes the absence of specific deadlines but suggests the first cut-off will focus on EIC Accelerator Open, and outlines evaluation timelines. The article also details the priority order for interviews and budget allocation based on resubmission invitations, gender balance, and submission date.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-grant-proposal-evaluation-criteria-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-6",
    "title": "The Grant Proposal Evaluation Criteria (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 6)",
    "description": "This article discusses the draft 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on changes relevant to startups, SMEs, and consultants. It details the evaluation criteria for both the short application (Step 1) and the full application (Step 2), highlighting key aspects like breakthrough potential, scale-up potential, team capabilities, and risk mitigation. The article also addresses the possibility of complaints and rebuttals for rejected Step 1 applications and touches on the Step 3 interview process, including the potential for external analyst input.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-eics-2023-strategic-challenges-and-topics-2023-eic-accelerator-work-programme-part-7",
    "title": "The EIC’s 2023 Strategic Challenges and Topics (2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme Part 7)",
    "description": "The article discusses the draft 2023 Work Programme for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, which provides up to €2.5 million in grant funding and €15 million in equity financing for DeepTech startups and small mid-caps. It outlines seven new EIC Accelerator Challenges for 2023, including novel biomarker-based assays for personalized cancer treatment, aerosol and surface decontamination for pandemic management, and energy storage solutions. Other challenges focus on sustainable agriculture, quantum computing, the New European Bauhaus, and customer-driven space technologies, each with specific objectives and expected outcomes.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/2023-budget-allocations-for-eic-pathfinder-transition-and-accelerator",
    "title": "2023 Budget Allocations for EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator",
    "description": "This article provides an update on the 2023 EIC Accelerator Work Programme, focusing on changes to the Challenges and budget since the draft version. The EIC Accelerator remains the most well-funded program, with €611.75 million allocated to open calls and €523.49 million to specific Challenges. The Challenges remain largely the same, with the addition of semiconductor technologies to the quantum computing technologies Challenge, and budgets ranging from €65 million to €100 million per challenge.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/the-risk-of-presenting-all-risks-in-the-high-risk-eic-accelerator-program",
    "title": "The Risk of Presenting all Risks in the High-Risk EIC Accelerator Program",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator grant program aims to fund high-risk projects, requiring applicants to detail potential risks and mitigation strategies in their proposals. However, the evaluation process, involving numerous remote evaluators and a risk-averse Step 3 jury, can lead to rejection if risks are perceived as too high or too low. Applicants must carefully balance presenting sufficient risk to meet the program's criteria while avoiding excessive risk that could jeopardize their chances of approval, highlighting a potential flaw in the application process.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-prepare-an-eic-accelerator-resubmission",
    "title": "How to Prepare an EIC Accelerator Resubmission",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator provides detailed feedback to startups and SMEs at each evaluation stage, helping them understand the strengths and weaknesses of their proposals for grant and equity funding. The Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) offers insights into three key criteria: Excellence, Impact (or Scale-up potential), and Level of risk, implementation, and need for Union support, with specific feedback on areas like technology description, market need, competitor analysis, and team capabilities. Resubmissions benefit from addressing previous evaluations and highlighting changes, allowing applicants to influence new evaluators' perceptions and correct any unfair criticisms, focusing on critical sections like features, value chain, traction, market analysis, work packages, and risk mitigation strategies to improve their scores.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/smack-my-pitch-up-changing-the-evaluation-focus-of-the-eic-accelerator",
    "title": "Smack My Pitch Up: Changing The Evaluation Focus Of The EIC Accelerator",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator funding program has undergone changes, particularly in its evaluation process, since the transition to Horizon Europe.  The program's three-step evaluation, involving remote evaluators and a jury, has seen increasing Step 2 selection rates and decreasing Step 3 rates, indicating a greater reliance on the jury for final decisions. This shift, coupled with the removal of numerical scoring, may lead to increased randomness and a decline in the quality of the evaluation process, suggesting a need for the EIC to reintroduce applicant ranking and refine early-stage filtering.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/zombie-innovation-eic-accelerator-funding-for-the-living-dead",
    "title": "Zombie Innovation: EIC Accelerator Funding for the Living Dead",
    "description": "The article discusses how the EIC Accelerator program seeks dynamic, young companies with high growth potential and timely solutions, emphasizing that timing, influenced by regulatory trends, technological breakthroughs, and market demand, is crucial for securing funding. It contrasts these promising ventures with \"Zombie Innovators,\" companies lacking product-market fit, customer demand, and commercial expertise, often characterized by endless R&D and a history of stalled development. The piece advises consultants and freelancers to identify these \"Zombie Innovators\" by assessing their traction, customer relationships, and evidence of market need, as the EIC Jury, like investors, tends to avoid them.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/go-fund-yourself-are-eic-accelerator-equity-investments-necessary-presenting-grant",
    "title": "Go Fund Yourself: Are EIC Accelerator Equity Investments Necessary? (Presenting Grant+)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, a flagship DeepTech funding program, has increasingly focused on equity investments, allocating a larger budget to equity than grants despite grants benefiting more companies. This shift raises concerns as grants are a better incentive for outside investors compared to the EIC becoming a co-investor. The article proposes a \"Grant+\" model, replacing blended finance with top-up grants tied to funding rounds, which would incentivize private investment, streamline bureaucracy, and fund more companies.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-integrating-ai-tools-for-evaluations-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Integrating AI Tools For Evaluations (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator program is facing challenges with its evaluation process as declining interview success rates indicate a need for better filtering of grant and equity applications. To address this, the article advocates for the early development and integration of an AI evaluation system, which could improve filtering, increase efficiency, and allow the EIC to proactively scout for the best companies across Europe."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/eic-accelerator-risk-domain-expertise-and-equity-adjustments-recommendation-series",
    "title": "EIC Accelerator: Risk, Domain Expertise and Equity Adjustments (Recommendation Series)",
    "description": "The current \"high-risk\" evaluation criterion in EIC Accelerator applications is counterproductive, as it incentivizes applicants to hide genuine DeepTech risks, and should be replaced by more descriptive factors. The article also recommends that Step 2 evaluators provide domain-specific questions for the jury and that the jury be empowered to adjust equity funding amounts to better align with project needs and EIC objectives."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/a-quick-fto-guide-for-eic-accelerator-applicants-in-a-rush",
    "title": "A Quick FTO Guide for EIC Accelerator Applicants in a Rush",
    "description": "The article explains the importance of a Freedom To Operate (FTO) analysis for EIC Accelerator grant proposals and provides a simplified guide for startups to prepare one in-house when they cannot afford a patent law firm. It details the key components of an FTO analysis, including company identity, a statement and disclaimer, methodology, keywords, selection and discussion of third-party patents, and an appendix with relevant IP information. The guide emphasizes the need for a professional-looking document that thoroughly discusses relevant third-party patents and validates the applicant's IP strategy, while also acknowledging the limitations of an in-house analysis and recommending a professional analysis later in the project.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/ai-for-eic-accelerator-grant-proposals-are-the-disruptors-about-to-be-disrupted-part-1",
    "title": "AI For EIC Accelerator Grant Proposals: Are The Disruptors About To Be Disrupted? (Part 1)",
    "description": "The article discusses the increasing use of AI in writing grant applications for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, which provides funding to startups and SMEs. It explores whether AI-generated content constitutes plagiarism, highlights the EIC's past failed attempt at an AI platform, and suggests the EIC may already be using AI in evaluating grant proposals. The article also touches on the ethical considerations of using AI in grant writing and the EU's challenges in leading AI development due to regulations and investment limitations.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/ai-for-eic-accelerator-grant-proposals-what-is-the-point-if-everyone-uses-ai-part-4",
    "title": "AI For EIC Accelerator Grant Proposals: What Is The Point If Everyone Uses AI? (Part 4)",
    "description": "This article discusses the dilemma of using AI in the EIC Accelerator grant proposal process, questioning the value of lengthy narratives if evaluators use AI to distill them back into raw data. It critiques the current evaluation process as bureaucratic, resembling the grading of a school essay rather than scouting for innovative companies, and suggests removing generic sections from proposals. The author predicts the EIC will continue to rely on consultants and integrate AI, potentially complicating the process further, while AI tools will increase submission numbers, forcing the EIC to improve AI integration in evaluations or risk evaluators using AI unofficially.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/give-randomness-a-chance-the-eic-accelerator-evaluation-process",
    "title": "Give Randomness A Chance: The EIC Accelerator Evaluation Process",
    "description": "The EIC Accelerator, offering up to €12.5 million in funding, has a complex and somewhat random evaluation process where applicants can be rejected for failing in a single, subjective criterion. Evaluators' biases and the lack of a consistent context window, especially after the removal of the rebuttal system, contribute to unpredictable outcomes and varying criticisms across resubmissions. Despite the flaws and randomness, the article encourages applicants to persevere, highlighting the significant impact of the funding and the necessity of taking a chance to secure it.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/all-eligible-eic-accelerator-countries-including-the-united-kingdom-switzerland-and-ukraine",
    "title": "All Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries (including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Ukraine)",
    "description": "The article provides an updated list of countries eligible for the EIC Accelerator funding program as of December 2024, which includes EU member states, associated countries with legal effect and transitional arrangements like the UK (for grant-only applications), and overseas territories linked to member states. While low- to middle-income countries are generally not eligible for the EIC Accelerator, they may participate in consortium projects under specific conditions, excluding entities from Belarus and non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine due to the war. Switzerland is associated with Horizon Europe including the EIC Accelerator since 2025.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/using-the-evaluation-summary-report-esr-to-improve-grant-proposal-writing",
    "title": "Using the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) to Improve Grant Proposal Writing (EIC Accelerator)",
    "description": "Grant applications are evaluated based on pre-defined micro-criteria by reviewers, whose individual gradings are averaged to produce a final score. The evaluation is based on the proposal document itself, not the underlying project, and a week of extra writing can significantly impact the score. Proposal writers should consult the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) criteria in addition to the official template to ensure all necessary information is addressed.\n"
  },
  {
    "url": "https://seglerconsulting.com/how-to-interpret-the-evaluation-summary-report-esr-of-an-eic-accelerator-application-sme-instrument-part-2",
    "title": "How to Interpret the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) of an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument) - Part 2",
    "description": "This article discusses how to interpret the sub-criteria scores in the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) for the EIC Accelerator blended financing application, emphasizing the importance of balancing the scores rather than maximizing each one individually. It provides advice for improving proposals based on their overall score, ranging from completely re-working low-scoring applications with professional help to making small, detailed improvements to already excellent proposals. The article concludes with a summary of key areas to focus on when analyzing the ESR, including overall score, section scores, sub-criteria scores, and common improvements.\n"
  }
]