Bridge to Scale 2026

About

The Bridge to Scale program offers Ukrainian-founded pre-seed startups in the CEE region a 12-week equity-free acceleration experience, featuring mentorship, access to VCs, and in-person events in Warsaw to prepare for international scaling and funding.

Benefits

• 🚀Equity-free funding — No equity taken from startups
• 🤝Access to 15+ VCs — Involvement from various venture capitalists from CEE, Europe, and the UK
• 🧑‍🏫 Dedicated mentorship — Personalized guidance from industry experts
• 🌍Bootcamp & Demo Day — In-person events in Warsaw for pitching and networking
• 🔗Follow-on support — Continued access to the 1991 Community for future growth

Eligibility Criteria

• Majority Ukrainian ownership preferred but not required
• At least one owner must be Ukrainian with temporary protection status in an EU country
• Startup must be registered in one of the 11 target EBRD CEE countries
• Startups should be at pre-seed stage

Participation Commitments

• 🗓️ 12-week program — Commitment to attend both Warsaw events: Bootcamp in January and Demo Day in February 2027
• 📅 Weekly sessions — Up to 3 hours with industry experts
• 📜 Confirmation of no other EBRD program participation required

Target Region

Central and Eastern Europe, specifically targeting Ukrainian-founded startups

Target Sector

AI/ML, IoT, Smart Tech, Fintech (excluding crypto), Cybersecurity, Sustainability/CleanTech, Robotics