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Venture building and EU funding, from the inside.
Practical articles written from the experience of building ventures for European corporations and evaluating innovation projects for the European Commission.
EU Funding
EIC Accelerator Interview (Step 3): How the Jury Scores You
The jury interview is where most EIC Accelerator outcomes are decided. A certified EU evaluator on how the panel is composed, what they probe, the question patterns that come up in almost every interview, and how to prepare your team for the 45-minute session.
EU FundingEIC Accelerator 2026 Challenges: How They Work and Which One Fits
Five thematic challenges (advanced materials, fusion, biotech, critical raw materials, climate adaptation) sit alongside the open call with 220M ring-fenced. How each challenge works, what gets funded, and a decision framework for choosing between the challenge and open call routes.
EU FundingEIC Accelerator 2026: what changed, and what it means for you
Six cut-offs a year instead of two, a full proposal cut from 50 pages to 20, and five thematic challenges steering part of a 634M budget. A certified EU evaluator on what changed for 2026 and how to adapt your application.
AI & InnovationCustomer discovery for AI products in HR: what the framework looks like in practice
The buyer, the daily user and the person actually in pain are three different people in HR. A field guide for builders entering this space: which workflows have real adoption signal, how to run the discovery conversation, and what the EU AI Act changes about how you build.
AI & EU RegulationEU AI Act for startups: what founders actually need to know
Most AI Act guides are written for legal teams at large corporations. This is the practical version for founders building AI products in Europe: risk tiers, what applies today, and what EU evaluators already check.
Venture BuildingDo startup accelerators actually work? An honest evaluation
Most accelerator outcome data is selection bias, not programme impact. An honest look at what accelerators actually deliver, when the equity cost is justified, and when EU funding is the better path.
Innovation ConsultingInnovation consulting: what it costs, what you get, and whether you need it
What innovation consulting actually costs in Europe, what a serious engagement delivers, and the honest cases for and against hiring one. Day rates, engagement types, red flags, and when EU funding can cover part of the bill.
Venture BuildingCustomer discovery for B2B AI products: getting early adopters to actually help you
Most B2B AI products fail not because the technology is wrong but because the discovery process is. A practical framework for mapping workflows, recruiting the right early adopters, and running feedback loops that produce real signal.
EU FundingEU funding for startups and SMEs in 2026: the complete guide
EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe, Eurostars and national programmes: every European funding option for innovative companies, with amounts, requirements and insider advice from an EU Expert Evaluator.
EU FundingNon-dilutive capital in Europe: a map for tech startups
Grants, soft loans, R&D tax credits, and EIB instruments: the complete landscape of funding that does not cost you equity, how each instrument works, and how to stack them intelligently across stages.
Corporate InnovationAI and corporate strategy: the organisational gap nobody is talking about
Large companies have access to the same AI tools as startups. So why are they not moving faster? The bottleneck is not the technology. It is the organisation, and no AI tool can close that gap for you.
Venture BuildingVenture Builder vs Startup Studio vs Corporate Accelerator: what's the real difference?
Three models that all claim to "build startups" but work in completely different ways. An honest comparison of mechanics, economics and use cases, with a decision framework for corporates.
Venture BuildingAI and the MVP: why the lean startup model no longer applies
AI has collapsed the cost of building. When building is nearly free, the entire logic of the lean startup inverts. The new risk is not building the wrong thing. It is speed without learning.
EU FundingEIC Accelerator vs Horizon Europe: which one is right for your startup?
Two major EU funding instruments, two completely different logics. A direct comparison of mechanics, amounts and eligibility, with a decision framework for startups and SMEs in Europe.
AI & InnovationAI for operations vs AI for growth: where to focus first
Operations AI and growth AI require different approaches, timelines, and success metrics. Conflating them is one of the main reasons AI projects deliver nothing measurable. Here is how to sequence them correctly.
Venture BuildingHow to structure a corporate-startup co-development agreement (without killing the startup)
Most corporate-startup co-development agreements fail not from bad intentions, but bad structure. The four decisions to make before calling a lawyer, and what the contract actually needs to cover.
AI & InnovationIs your company ready for AI? A practical readiness assessment
The question is not whether to use AI. The real question is whether your company has the conditions for it to work. A four-dimension framework for an honest assessment before you select any tool or commit any budget.
AI & Automation ToolsMake vs n8n vs Zapier for startups: an honest comparison (2026)
Not a feature list. An honest look at all three tools from the perspective of startups and SMEs who have to live with the choice: what each is actually good at, where each breaks down, and which one fits your situation right now.
AI & InnovationWhy AI projects fail: the most common implementation mistakes
Between 50 and 85 percent of AI projects fail to deliver expected value. This article dissects the specific mistakes that repeat across companies of every size, with real examples and what to do instead.
AI & InnovationHow to measure the ROI of an AI automation project: metrics that actually matter
Most teams measure automations built and tasks processed, not time recovered and errors eliminated. A practical framework with a 90-day measurement timeline, realistic benchmarks, and clear signals for when to stop versus optimise.
Innovation ConsultingWhat does an innovation consultant actually do? (And when you don't need one)
An honest breakdown of what the work actually looks like, what a good engagement produces, and the four specific situations where you are better off without one. Written from the inside of the industry.
AI & InnovationAI strategy for your business: build it in-house or bring in an expert?
The question founders get wrong is not agency vs. consultant vs. in-house. It is starting implementation before the strategy is clear. An honest decision framework with observable signals and a comparison of what each option actually gets you.
AI & InnovationAI automation for startups and SMEs: where to start and what not to touch
Most founders automate the wrong things first. A practical framework with real tools and real priorities for using AI automation to do more with less, without breaking what already works.
EU FundingWhy most EU funding applications fail (and how to fix yours)
After evaluating hundreds of proposals for the European Commission, I can tell you that most rejections share the same five mistakes. Technology is rarely the problem. Here is what is.
EU FundingEIC Accelerator: the complete guide (written by an evaluator)
I have evaluated hundreds of EIC Accelerator proposals for the European Commission. Here is what we see from the other side, what gets applications rejected, and how strategy changes when you know how it really works.
EU FundingHorizon Europe for SMEs: how to participate without being a university
Horizon Europe is not just for universities. SMEs can join consortia, find partners through the EU Partner Search portal, and access grants up to 100% of costs. A practical guide from an EU Expert Evaluator.
Corporate InnovationCorporate venture building: how large companies build internal startups
Corporate venture building and intrapreneurship: the two models that actually produce results, and why most corporate innovation programmes fail before they start.
Venture BuildingWhat is a venture builder (and why it is not an accelerator)
I have built ventures for large European corporations for over 15 years. The question I hear at the start of almost every conversation is always the same: but what exactly do you do?
Venture BuildingCorporate-startup collaboration: a practical framework for making it work
Most corporate-startup collaborations fail not because the technology is wrong, but because the process is wrong. A practical framework tested across dozens of programmes, including at CERN IdeaSquare.
PRESS & MEDIA
EU–Africa Innovation & Digital Transformation, Startup Africa Roadtrip
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Ipernovation · Innovation Stories