Call is: OPEN
Deadline: 28.02.2025. i 31.05.2025.
Budget: N/A
Sector: business and innovation
Open for: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups

The Danube Digital Accelerator (DDA) is a unique accelerator programme designed to support ICT innovators from academia in their early development stages. The programme aims to help innovators from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine transform their projects into successful business ventures.

DDA is co-financed by the Interreg Danube Region Programme and supports 30 ICT innovators, focusing on sustainable national and international impact.

Why Apply?

• Gain key skills and knowledge
  Through workshops, webinars, and mentorship, you will learn how to refine your business model, develop market strategies, and overcome early-stage challenges.
• Access a transnational network
  Connect with mentors, industry experts, investors, and other startups to accelerate your growth.
• Showcase on a global stage
  Participate in a two-day international event in Prague, where you will pitch your startup to media, investors, and industry leaders.
• Boost your startup’s performance
  Startups in accelerator programmes achieve higher success rates—take your business to the next level with structured support from the DDA programme.

Who Can Apply?

• A team of at least two members
• At least one team member must be a student or researcher from a higher education institution or research organisation in one of the participating countries.
• A science-based project or startup with a technological focus in the ICT sector and a TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of 3 or higher.

What Will You Get?

• A four-month programme
  A combination of group activities (workshops, webinars) and personalised mentorship.
• Strategic partnerships
  Connections with corporate partners for pilot projects and customer discussions.
• Funding expertise
  Collaboration with early-stage investors and public funding experts.
• Access to resources
  From computing resources and laboratories to co-working spaces – everything needed for project development (depending on regional availability).

When to Apply?

The programme runs three times a year, offering multiple application opportunities:

Deadline for the first cohort: 11 November 2024
Deadline for the second cohort: 28 February 2025
Deadline for the third cohort: 31 May 2025

How to Apply?

Fill in the application form: [Click here]
Submit your pitch deck and business model description.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.

For detailed information about the programme and application process, visit [this link].