Project Europe has selected six startups for its accelerator program, offering €200,000 (US$234,000) in funding and mentorship from industry leaders.

Project Europe is an accelerator launched in March, backed by 20VC, Berlin’s Point Nine, and New York’s Adjacent.

The accelerator will take a 6.66% equity stake in each participating company.

The cohort is diverse, featuring two robotics firms: Philon from Greece and Cerebrionics from Norway. It also includes two cybersecurity AI startups, Hacktron and Switzerland-based Haicker.

Rounding out the group are defense tech company Zero, which builds autonomous drones, and Zellify from Stockholm, which helps developers navigate app store fees.

Startups will participate in bi-monthly co-working sessions across Europe and receive ongoing guidance as they raise seed funding.

Applications for the next cohort are open, with the upcoming meet-up scheduled in Stockholm from October 8 to 10.

🔗 Source: Sifted.eu

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ European startup funding landscape is becoming increasingly competitive and well-funded

Project Europe’s launch adds to an already crowded European accelerator scene that’s seeing unprecedented funding levels.

The EIC Accelerator alone provided €230 million to just 40 startups in March 2025, demonstrating the significant capital available for European startups1. Meanwhile, EU-funded startups have collectively generated €520 billion in enterprise value from €12 billion in public support, benefiting over 13,600 startups and attracting an additional €70 billion in private venture capital2.

This funding abundance means Project Europe’s €200k investments face competition from well-funded government programs and an ecosystem that now includes at least 30 prominent accelerators across Europe3.

The 6.66% equity stake Project Europe takes reflects this competitive environment, where startups have multiple funding options and accelerators must offer attractive terms to secure the best companies.

2️⃣ Deep tech focus aligns with European innovation priorities

The startup sectors represented in Project Europe’s first cohort—robotics, brain-computer interfaces, cybersecurity AI, and defense tech—mirror broader European investment trends in breakthrough technologies.