Equity-free acceleration programme preparing Ukrainian-founded pre-seed startups in the CEE to raise funding and scale internationally.

APPLY

Deadline: October 2

Built to get you funded and global

READY TO RAISE

You'll pitch until it stops being scary. Your data room gets built, torn apart and rebuilt until an investor can't find the gap. VCs are an integral part of the whole programme, not just Demo Day.

READY TO EXPAND

A dedicated mentor who knows the rules and the shortcuts where you're headed. Expert sessions on regulation, legal setup and go-to-market — people who've already done it. Plus a community of eleven other startups facing the same challenges right now.

THE 12-WEEK TRANSFORMATION

APPLY

One dedicated mentor

Matched at onboarding to your sector, stage and target market.

15+ VCs

Partner funds from CEE, Europe and the UK, involved from start: expert sessions, office hours, pitching events. Two facilitated investor sessions minimum, plus introductions to the funds that fit you.

Weekly group sessions

Up to 3 hours with industry experts from the EU, UK and Ukraine on go-to-market and investment readiness.

Personalised agenda

At Week 4, we review your progress and prioritise the rest of the programme around your needs.

Bootcamp & Demo Day in Warsaw

Online acceleration, plus two in-person events in Venture Cafe Warsaw — a 2-day Bootcamp in January and Demo Day in February.

Follow-on support

You join the 1991 Community: mentors, investors, partner perks and visibility. Potential investments from 1991 Ventures.

Timeline

Applications open

Application deadline

Screening & Selection

Cohort Announced

Onboarding

Accelerate — 12 weeks

Warsaw Bootcamp

Demo Day in Warsaw

Perfect startup fit

Ownership

Majority Ukrainian ownership preferred but not required; at least one of the owners must be Ukrainian.

Owner status

At least one owner must be Ukrainian and hold temporary protection status (or held it but naturalized) in a EU country/target EBRD CEE country of operation.

Country of business registration

The startup has already established a business in one of the 11 target EBRD CEE countries Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, and can verify it through official documentation.

Stage

Selected startups should be primarily at pre-Seed stage of their development. Some flexibility is retained on an exceptional basis.

Sector

Priority sectors: AI/ML, IoT and Smart Tech, Fintech (excluding crypto), Cybersecurity, Sustainability/CleanTech, Robotics (no Dual Use).

Commitment

Lead founder or a co-founder commits to attend both Warsaw events: Bootcamp in January and Demo Day in February 2027

Intersection with other EBRD-affiliated projects

Applicants have to confirm that they are not currently participating in, selected for, or in active discussions with another EBRD-funded programme (including Star Venture).

Organizers

The programme is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and carried out with funding by the European Union. The EBRD works across three continents to support the transition to successful market economies. Their focus is on delivering prosperity by enabling a well-run and sustainable private sector.
1991 is a venture fund and an accelerator that supports early-stage startup founders from Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Since 2016, 1991 Accelerator has helped more than 315 Ukrainian-founded startups launch, grow, and scale globally. 1991 Ventures complements this work by investing at the pre-seed and seed stages.

1991 track record

315+
startups supported through 1991 Accelerator since 2016
$60M+
raised by our alumni
7
startups in 1991 Ventures investments portfolio
$10M
allocated to 98 startups as fund operator of Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund

The Ones Who Help You Get There

VC funds from CEE, Europe and UK

Angel One Fund

Lighthouse Ventures

Digital Ocean Ventures Starter

Purple Ventures

VN Capital

N1 Ventures

Elevator Ventures

STRT Invest

STRT Invest is the investment arm of the publicly listed STRT Holding group, which invests in early-stage technology companies in the Central and Eastern European region. The group supports the region's most promising early-stage companies in their global growth and provides practical, modern knowledge to company managers for successful operation. STRT's goal is to create sustainable value for its investors, partners, and the wider community by combining capital and up-to-date knowledge. With close to 100 active startups in the portfolio, STRT is the most active early-stage investor in Hungary and among the most active ones in the region.

ZAS Ventures

At ZAS Ventures, we actively invest small checks ($100–300k) in Ukrainian Founders globally at the Pre-Seed/Seed stage who target US/EU markets (AI/SaaS-focused).

Hard2beat

Hard2beat is a Poland-based venture capital firm founded by serial entrepreneurs and technology investors that seeks to invest in early-stage deep tech startups with a clear technological edge, solving hard problems through software-driven or hardware-enabled solutions. Hard2beat's mission is to support ambitious founders who are determined to achieve long-term business goals and sustainable company growth against all odds. 

Blue Lake VC

We find and back extraordinary immigrant founders in the UK who are building in the B2B software space. Being immigrants ourselves, we speak your language — our mission is to help you achieve your full potential in the UK and globally. We support UK-based or UK-focused founders with SEIS/EIS funding at the Pre-Seed and Seed stages. Our focus is on B2B software, but we are sector agnostic and open to international founders. We believe in the power of immigrant founders — a self-selecting group that achieves outsized success yet is often overlooked by investors at early stages. It’s time for that to change.

1991 Ventures

1991 Ventures is a London-based £15M Venture Capital Fund that invests in mission-driven founders from CEE and Ukraine, providing pre-seed and seed funding of up to $500,000.

SMOK Ventures

Bridging Silicon Valley to CEE.

We are a US venture capital fund investing 100k–1M USD in early stage startups in Central & Eastern Europe and diaspora. We invest in software startups with the primary focus on software development tools, gamedev and AI. We love to work with serial entrepreneurs with a global vision who aim to build leaders in their industries.

Neulogy Ventures

Neulogy Ventures is a Bratislava-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology startups in Central and Eastern Europe. The fund supports innovative founders building globally scalable products, with a strong emphasis on software, deep tech, and life sciences. Beyond capital, Neulogy Ventures provides hands-on support in strategy, fundraising, and international expansion to help startups reach their full potential.

Website

Tilia Impact Ventures

At Tilia Impact Ventures, we support visionary founders tackling the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.

Our €30M seed-stage impact VC fund empowers bold entrepreneurs across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). But we’re more than investors—we’re long-term partners, providing hands-on support at every stage. With half of our fund reserved for follow-on investments, we’re in it for the journey.

Website

J&T Ventures

J&T Ventures is a venture capital firm managing over €90 million across three funds, with its third fund launched in December 2024. The firm invests up to €3 million in early and growth-stage technology companies across Central and Southeastern Europe and the Baltics, with a focus on innovative sectors. With more than 30 investments across seven countries and five successful exits, J&T Ventures continues to support high-potential startups on their growth journey.

Website

our mentors

Giedrius Muckus

CBDO & Co-Founder, Spedlite

Giedrius is a technology entrepreneur, startup advisor and former venture capital professional with experience in B2B SaaS, logistics technology and innovation. He co-founded Spedlite and has mentored 40+ startups through Baltic Sandbox and Climate-KIC. His experience covers product and market validation, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, partnerships and scaling technology businesses across European and US markets.

CBDO & Co-Founder, Spedlite

Giedrius Muckus

Tamas Muller

Founder, WSC Network Kft

I’m a startup geek, mentor, business analyst, and angel investor. I have come from digital-, social and growth hacking marketing fields working with the largest digital agencies and publishing houses in the past.I am the founder of Women Startup Competition Global event series with 10 seasons.I was a professional advisor and mentor of Start it @K&H, EIT, GE, Intesa Sanpaolo - Novathon, Startit@ K&H, Nestle - HackYourCompany, SPAR network - HungaricoolI was organizer of Hackathon-in-the-box event series with more than 50 hackathons.I’m also co-Founder of Pozi.io the free, open innovation platform for the startup ecosystem.

Founder, WSC Network Kft

Tamas Muller

Simon Bazan

CEO, AI Booster

Founder & CEO of AI Booster with 11+ years of experience in B2B sales, AI, and business automation. Specializes in helping startups and technology companies scale through AI-driven sales strategies, process optimization, growth planning, and operational efficiency. Former Head of Sales Europe at Alphamoon, with hands-on experience in AI product commercialization, enterprise sales, and startup growth. Experienced startup mentor, speaker, and workshop facilitator on AI, sales, automation, and business development.

CEO, AI Booster

Simon Bazan

Paul Zoicas

Sr Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Operation, Macropay

Paul Zoicas is a venture scout and startup mentor helping B2B SaaS and fintech founders turn strong businesses into fundable, scalable companies. With experience across venture capital, strategic partnerships, and payments operations, he offers practical guidance on fundraising strategy, pitch decks, investor outreach, and business development. Paul mentors with a direct, founder-first approach shaped by work with Flashpoint VC, Macropay, and leading startup accelerators across Europe and the US. He is particularly passionate about helping early-stage teams navigate the venture landscape with clarity, credibility, and momentum.

Sr Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Operation, Macropay

Paul Zoicas

Leta Lista

Managing partner, Keepbld

I'm a three times founder with one exit, joined proptech startups as Product and Growth (exited), and now work with early-stage founders on their GTM and fundraising positioning at keepbld.com

Managing partner, Keepbld

Leta Lista

Slava Averin

VP of Demand Generation and Field Marketing, Creatio

Slava Averin is the VP of Demand Generation and Field Marketing at Creatio, where he leads a team of 50+ professionals driving business growth across global markets. He specializes in building sales pipelines in complex Enterprise software markets, with deep expertise in cold outreach, field marketing, partner and alliance marketing, B2B sales, and growth operations. Slava is the creator and instructor of an original course on B2B Lead Generation, which he teaches on a regular basis.

VP of Demand Generation and Field Marketing, Creatio

Slava Averin

Serhii Kudriashov

Venture Partner, ZAS Ventures

Sergey Kudryashov is a Venture Partner at ZAS Ventures, where he evaluates and mentors hundreds of early-stage technology startups. He focuses on AI and B2B SaaS product strategy, go-to-market, fundraising readiness, and cross-border expansion. He regularly helps Ukrainian founders refine positioning, OKRs, pitch decks, data rooms, and investor narratives. He has mentored startups through 1991 Accelerator, YEP, and other founder programmes.

Venture Partner, ZAS Ventures

Serhii Kudriashov

Radu Grigore

CTO, Travecta

Radu Grigore is the CTO of Travecta, the infrastructure layer digitising the last offline frontier of travel: multi-day tours. He brings 19 years in software (from developer to project manager to Business Analyst Lead) and deep experience turning ambiguous ideas into well scoped MVPs and shipped products. His work focuses on product discovery, MVP definition and delivery, helping also with building the teams and processes that let early-stage products scale cleanly. He works hands-on with modern AI, from agentic systems to RAG, helping founders apply it where it creates real product value rather than noise.

CTO, Travecta

Radu Grigore

Misha Datsenko

Product Manager, Optimizely

Misha is a product leader with experience in various business domains, who has scaled B2B and B2C platforms at various stages of product development. Misha mentors on product strategy, market and competitor analysis, success metrics, user research, MVP scoping, and go-to-market strategy.

Product Manager, Optimizely

Misha Datsenko

Hugh Simpson

Founder & Managing Director, Headmark Advisory. Investor, Board Advisor, Producer

Hugh is a technology and strategy advisor with 20+ years of international experience, beginning his career at sea before moving into data, AI and blockchain solutions. He now supports boards through Headmark Advisory, invests in high-potential start-ups and SMEs via Oggin Holdings, and helps creators produce factual content.He’s held executive and board-level roles with full P&L responsibility, delivering strategic outcomes, large-scale digital transformations, go-to-market strategies and operational excellence across multi-million-dollar businesses. His work spans Australia, the UK and Ukraine, leading diverse teams and supporting founders in high-growth environments.

Founder & Managing Director, Headmark Advisory. Investor, Board Advisor, Producer

Hugh Simpson

Daniel Kulig

Founder, DK Mentoring

Daniel Kulig is a startup mentor and advisor helping founders worldwide enter and grow in the US market. With over 20 years of experience in business across the US and Europe, he combines corporate finance expertise with hands-on startup mentoring. Since 2018, he has guided hundreds of tech startups in refining their business models, market strategies, and investor pitches. Daniel’s focus is on practical growth, market entry readiness, and building global business confidence.

Founder, DK Mentoring

Daniel Kulig

Niklāvs Macko

Founder, CEO at SIA Alisona

An experienced leader who has built and scaled numerous startups. My strong suits are business strategy, finance, go-to-market strategy, data driven decision making. I have served a CFO and COO role in multiple startups, and currently I am offering strategic consulting to startups and scaleups, as well as building my own startup in the marketplace space.

Founder, CEO at SIA Alisona

Niklāvs Macko

Mikk Orglaan

Business Advisor/Mentor, Challeng.ist

30y in IT business, serial entrepreneur. Done angel investing, moved to angel syndicate VC, business advisor for private clients, mentor in dozen of European startup accelerators. Last venture is addressing global pain in regards of finding and keeping right people to grow startups/organisations faster.

Business Advisor/Mentor, Challeng.ist

Mikk Orglaan

Tudor Andrei Stanciu

Co-founder & Technology Lawyer, Ventures’n’Law

Lawyer focused on tech deals and commercial contractsRunning Ventures'n'Law, the oldest continually active law firm brand dedicated exclusively to tech companies in Romania and a future venture studio focused on compliance tools for SMEsFormer community manager in the space of fintech and legaltech.

Co-founder & Technology Lawyer, Ventures’n’Law

Tudor Andrei Stanciu

Delia Necula

CEO, Fort Cyber

Delia Necula is an experienced mentor for early-stage founders, with involvement in programs like InnovX and Founder Institute. Combining corporate leadership and entrepreneurial expertise, she helps startups refine their business models, design growth strategies, and become investor-ready.

CEO, Fort Cyber

Delia Necula

Akhil Menon

Founder, notnull ventures

Akhil Menon is the founder of notNULL, working with top incubators and accelerators backed by major investment banks. He is a 3x founder with 1x exit and has raised several million in venture funding. Akhil has guided founders in investment readiness, fundraising, and market expansion, running masterclasses and bootcamps to help startups scale. He has also worked with leading venture builders including Nesta’s Mission Studio, Antler, and Entrepreneur First. With experience on both sides of the table, he brings a unique perspective on building strong, lasting founder–investor relationships.

Founder, notnull ventures

Akhil Menon

BATCH 1

would recommend the programme

raised after Demo Day

as programme partners

expert support delivered

ActualArmor

A modular AI platform that detects, verifies, and neutralizes harmful narratives in real-time

Program:

Bridge To Scale

A modular AI platform that detects, verifies, and neutralizes harmful narratives in real-time

Careerswift

An AI-powered hiring platform automating interviews, resume screening, and analytics that helps businesses cut costs and hire faster with data-driven insights

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI-powered hiring platform automating interviews, resume screening, and analytics that helps businesses cut costs and hire faster with data-driven insights

CloudBlocks

An AI Agent for designing and deploying scalable and cost-efficient cloud architectures for companies, depending on the business needs

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI Agent for designing and deploying scalable and cost-efficient cloud architectures for companies, depending on the business needs

Convinco

An AI-powered pitch coach that analyses context, audience, and speech to give instant feedback, helping founders and sales teams pitch with clarity, confidence, and impact

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI-powered pitch coach that analyses context, audience, and speech to give instant feedback, helping founders and sales teams pitch with clarity, confidence, and impact

FitNow

А mobile app that connects fitness and wellness studios on a single platform, allowing users to book workouts in just a few clicks

Program:

Bridge To Scale

А mobile app that connects fitness and wellness studios on a single platform, allowing users to book workouts in just a few clicks

GreatCatalog

A platform connecting furniture brands, designers, and consumers through 3D and AR, making it easier to create interiors and buy products

Program:

Bridge To Scale

A platform connecting furniture brands, designers, and consumers through 3D and AR, making it easier to create interiors and buy products

HYPERSHADOW OÜ

A white label AI-copilot builder for SaaS

Program:

Bridge To Scale

A white label AI-copilot builder for SaaS

Kadrowy

An HRM system for businesses with high staff turnover, designed to simplify hiring, time tracking, workforce management, and compliance

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An HRM system for businesses with high staff turnover, designed to simplify hiring, time tracking, workforce management, and compliance

Karpatia Benefits

Simplifies how companies design, manage and deliver personalized employee benefit programs

Program:

Ukraine Support Fund

Bridge To Scale

Simplifies how companies design, manage and deliver personalized employee benefit programs

MaiCall

A Voice AI platform for loan management, automating conversations with ML and behavioral scoring to make collections faster, smarter, and ethical

Program:

Bridge To Scale

A Voice AI platform for loan management, automating conversations with ML and behavioral scoring to make collections faster, smarter, and ethical

MeGoElectric UA

Developers of an accessible EV platform for both passenger and cargo use, enabling safe, independent mobility for wheelchair users and providing cost-efficient fleet solutions for healthcare and logistics operators

Program:

Bridge To Scale

Developers of an accessible EV platform for both passenger and cargo use, enabling safe, independent mobility for wheelchair users and providing cost-efficient fleet solutions for healthcare and logistics operators

Mentflo

An AI wellness platform that helps WHOOP, Garmin (and similar Health & Wellness wearables) users stop juggling apps, providing one place for fitness, sleep, and nutrition

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI wellness platform that helps WHOOP, Garmin (and similar Health & Wellness wearables) users stop juggling apps, providing one place for fitness, sleep, and nutrition

Object Control

An AI-powered SaaS helping fintech & insurers accelerate digital transformation and deliver superior customer experiences

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI-powered SaaS helping fintech & insurers accelerate digital transformation and deliver superior customer experiences

SuoQ

An AI queue & customer journey platform cutting wait times 20–50% with virtual queuing, booking, feedback, analytics and optional hardware

Program:

Bridge To Scale

An AI queue & customer journey platform cutting wait times 20–50% with virtual queuing, booking, feedback, analytics and optional hardware

Wild.Codes

Connects employers to pre-vetted tech talent

Program:

Ukraine Support Fund

Bridge To Scale

Connects employers to pre-vetted tech talent

Founders from the 1991 community say

“Having experience of multiple acceleration programs including the ones in the Bay Area I would pick this one. It's carefully crafted to the companies needs, very well organised, and extremely relevant to CEE geo and early stage.”

Gor Walowski
Founder, Hypershadow

“The programme exceeded all our expectations. It genuinely felt tailored to us, even with 15 startups in the cohort. The support from the 1991 Accelerator and EBRD team went far beyond the programme itself and the results we’ve achieved since speak for themselves.”

Alina Golubieva
CEO, Co-founder at Karpatia Benefits

“The program helped us significantly accelerate our growth - we increased revenue by 30%, secured an angel investment, and expanded into new enterprise pilots. It provided strong mentorship and valuable exposure to investors and founders.”

Vadym Bortnyk
CEO, co-founder, MaiCall

“What truly stands out to us about 1991 is how founder-centric they are. Instead of burying us under hundreds of documents, they focus on what really matters, what we’re building, how we’re going to succeed, and the qualities of the founders and the team behind it. Every VC says they’re founder-centric; 1991 actually acts like it.”

Ksenia Iliuk
Co-founders, LetsData

“1991 has an amazing team that brings together a strong and supportive community of founders and investors. Being part of this network opens up a lot of opportunities and helps you grow faster — both as an entrepreneur and as a person.”

Oleksandr Solovei
Co-founder, Finmap

“Investment Accelerator delivered by the 1991 team played an important role in our journey — its advice and network supported Deus Robotics in entering the UK market and building strong international connections.”

Antonina Iermeichuk
Co-founder & COO, Deus Robotics

FAQ

Who can apply?

Pre-seed tech startups with at least one Ukrainian owner who legally left Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 and and must hold, or have held prior to naturalisation, temporary protection status.

The business must already be registered and operating in one of the following countries: Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

Startup eligibility will be verified through official documentation.

In which countries should startups be registered?

Startups should have  already established a business in one of the 11 target EBRD CEE countries Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, and can verify it through official documentation.

Do all owners need to be Ukrainian?

No, but at least one of the owners must be Ukrainian. Majority Ukrainian ownership is preferred, but not mandatory. There must be no Russian or Belarusian nationals among the owners.

What stage and sector should my startup be at to participate?

It should primarily be pre-seed, but some flexibility is possible on a case-by-case basis. Priority sectors: AI/ML, IoT and smart tech, fintech (excluding crypto), cybersecurity, sustainability and cleantech, and robotics (excluding dual-use).

Is there a fee or equity contribution required to participate?

Neither. The programme is free and does not require any equity.

Is the programme conducted online or offline?

The programme is hybrid. Acceleration runs online from November 2026, with two mandatory in-person events in Warsaw: a two-day Bootcamp on 14–15 January 2027 and Demo Day on 25 February 2027. The lead founder or a co-founder must attend both events.

How much time should I expect to commit each week?

You should expect to spend up to 3 hours per week on group sessions, plus additional time for your dedicated mentor sessions and work between sessions. The two in-person events in Warsaw are 3 full days in total.

Is funding or investment guaranteed?

The programme guarantees preparation and access to investors, but not funding or investment. Each startup receives at least two facilitated investor sessions, individual introductions to funds that match its stage and sector, and VC involvement throughout the programme. 1991 Ventures may also consider follow-on investment for selected startups.

How are mentors assigned?

Each startup is matched with one dedicated mentor for the full programme. During onboarding, we learn about your sector, stage, target market and the specific challenge you want to work on, then match you with the mentor best suited to your needs. You can expect at least one hour of 1:1 time with your mentor each week.

How do I apply, and what happens next?

Applications open on 31 August and close on 2 October 2026. Apply through the form on this page. Screening, the selection panel and interviews take place from 3–17 October, with shortlisted teams contacted during this period. Selected startups will sign agreements between 18–30 October. The cohort of 12 will be announced on 30 October, and acceleration begins on 6 November, where you meet your mentor.

Venue Partners

Venture Cafe Warsaw is a part of a global network connecting innovators to “make things happen” through high-impact programming, spaces, storytelling, and broad innovation engagement.

Infopartners