Warsaw, Poland · Angel InvestorA network of private investors associated with NOT (Federation of Engineering Associations), supporting early-stage high-growth companies. AINOT runs a structured support program from idea scouting and pre-incubation to equity investment (up to €200k) and follow-ons. Notable focus: deep innovation and engineering-heavy startups, leveraging NOT’s technical expertise to vet and mentor projects.
Angel InvestorPre-Seed to SeedEngineeringHardwareDeep Tech
Warsaw, Poland · AcceleratorEstablished 2009 by the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT). Two-stage program for engineering and hardware startups: incubation with mentoring and business modeling, then seed funding up to EUR 200K. Support: expert consulting, seed capital, office space. Scope: National.
AcceleratorEngineeringHardwareIndustrial
Cork, Ireland · AcceleratorFounded 2002. Manager of the Bank of Ireland Seed and Growth Funds, backing regional Irish startups and university spin-outs.
AcceleratorSeed to Early GrowthICTEngineeringUniversity Spin-outs
Dublin, Ireland · IncubatorNovaUCD is the innovation and startup incubator of University College Dublin (UCD), one of Ireland’s premier research universities. Established in 2003 on UCD’s Belfield campus, NovaUCD provides a supportive environment for knowledge-intensive startups, particularly those arising from university research in life sciences, engineering, and ICT. The center offers modern incubation facilities, including lab space, prototype workshops, and offices set in a historic Georgian building refurbished for innovation. NovaUCD runs a 9-month VentureLaunch accelerator program to help researchers and students validate business ideas, build teams, and refine commercialization strategy. Startups benefit from UCD’s resources – access to faculty experts, graduate talent, and sometimes use of specialized equipment (for biotech, etc.). Over nearly two decades, NovaUCD has supported 450+ companies. Alumni include Evolution (Bio) – a UCD bioinformatics spin-out acquired by Evotec, Logentries (cloud logging, acquired by Rapid7 for $68M), and Equinome (equine genomics, acquired by Plusvital). These successes underscore NovaUCD’s strength in turning academic excellence into enterprise. A hallmark is its focus on knowledge transfer: NovaUCD works closely with UCD’s tech transfer office, so startups often license university patents or software as a basis. The incubator also facilitates seed funding through networks like Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) and University Bridge Fund (a college-focused VC). The Irish government and Enterprise Ireland are key backers, aligning NovaUCD with national goals to foster high-tech industry. The incubator has expanded physically too – in 2022, it opened “AgTech UCD” on UCD’s Lyons farm for agri-tech startups, reflecting an effort to specialize. NovaUCD contributes hugely to Dublin’s startup scene, connecting academic founders with industry mentors and investors. Each year it hosts the UCD VentureLaunch Competition awarding cash prizes to the most promising spin-outs. Notably, NovaUCD companies have raised over €760M in capital and created thousands of jobs in Ireland. By offering an “on-campus home” for entrepreneurs, NovaUCD helps ensure that Ireland’s top research doesn’t just stay on paper, but translates into impactful businesses – from lifesaving medical devices to groundbreaking software – driving innovation and economic growth.
IncubatorLife SciencesEngineeringSoftware
Lisbon, Portugal · IncubatorState-backed VC founded 2012, funding early-stage Portuguese startups across multiple industries.
IncubatorPre-Seed to Series ADigitalEngineeringTourismLife Sciences
Lyngby, Denmark · Venture CapitalPreSeed Ventures is Denmark's most active pre seed fund, originally rooted in the DTU science park. It provides the first institutional capital for university spin outs and technical founders, typically investing at idea or prototype stage. The firm has backed early Danish successes including Unity and Trustpilot and continues to nurture deep tech and software startups across the Nordics. PreSeed is a crucial bridge from research to venture.
Venture CapitalPre-Seed to SeedDeep TechSoftwareEngineering