Unlocking Creativity, Delivering Impact!
We are looking for talented entrepreneurs developing deep-tech climate solutions with the potential to transform industries and accelerate the transition to a net-zero future.
Bringing new ideas to life with each step forward – Towards future!
The DeepTech Climate Accelerator Serbia supports early-stage climate-positive ventures developing transformative technologies, materials, and systems that can reduce emissions, enable circularity, and accelerate the net-zero transition.
This program is powered by EPICenter in partnership with ClimateKIC, combining global climate-innovation methodologies with regional deep-tech expertise.
Our mission is to help startups validate their technology, strengthen business fundamentals, measure climate impact, attract investment, and scale solutions that deliver measurable climate benefit.
Our Thematic Areas
Our DeepTech Clim Accelerator Serbia focuses on startups working in one or more of the following
Our mission is to stand beside your team at every step, guiding you through complex challenges, reducing uncertainty, and opening pathways that accelerate your potential and amplify your success.
Why participate?
Joining the DeepTech Climate Accelerator Serbia gives your startup far more than a traditional acceleration program. It offers a unique opportunity to validate your technology, build a solid business foundation, develop measurable climate impact, and connect with the people and organizations that can accelerate your path to market.
Strengthen your venture with deep-tech focused support
Strengthen your venture with deep-tech focused support
Deep-tech startups face unique challenges — long development cycles, complex regulations, and the need for credible proof-of-impact. Our curriculum and mentors are experienced in guiding science-based, hardware, and climate-tech companies through these hurdles. You get targeted support that understands your reality.
Learn from top experts and practitioners
Learn from top experts and practitioners
You will participate in eight advanced masterclasses delivered by leading specialists in climate innovation, business modelling, regulation, fundraising, and impact measurement. These sessions give you practical knowledge you can apply immediately, reducing uncertainty and helping you make informed decisions.
Receive tailored 1:1 mentorship
Receive tailored 1:1 mentorship
Every startup receives personalised guidance from domain experts, investors, technical specialists, and climate-impact professionals. Whether you need help designing your go-to-market plan, refining your financial model, or preparing investor materials, you will have experts walking with you at every step.
Measure and validate your climate impact
Measure and validate your climate impact
Understanding and proving your climate impact is essential for accessing grants, investors, and corporate partners. Through ClimateKIC tools, you will learn how to calculate, model, and communicate your climate metrics.
Up to five startups will receive a fully funded, in-depth Climate Impact Assessment, supported by ProCredit Bank
Connect with investors, corporates, and leaders
Connect with investors, corporates, and leaders
From curated matchmaking sessions to pitch practice and Demo Day exposure, you will build relationships with the right people — those who can fund, pilot, or adopt your solution. The program intentionally creates high-value interactions that increase your chances of commercial traction and investment.
Prepare for investment with confidence
Prepare for investment with confidence
We help you understand the funding landscape, build your financial strategy, and craft an investor-ready pitch. Whether you’re raising a seed round, applying for grants, or exploring blended finance, you will receive guidance tailored to your stage and needs.
Join a growing community of climate innovators
Join a growing community of climate innovators
After completing the program, you become part of a broader European innovation ecosystem through ClimateKIC and the EPICenter network — giving you continued access to opportunities, introductions, and visibility.
Reduce risk and increase your chances of success
Reduce risk and increase your chances of success
Building a deep-tech climate startup is challenging — but you don’t need to face that challenge alone. The accelerator helps you avoid common pitfalls, shorten the path from prototype to market, and build the resilience you need for long-term success.
ClimateKIC Support and SAFE Opportunities
ClimateKIC Support and SAFE Opportunities
As a participant in the DeepTech Climate Accelerator, your startup gains the opportunity to connect with the wider ClimateKIC. Throughout the programme, you will also be introduced to ClimateKIC’s financial sustainability instrument, the Climate SAFE model, which is designed to help impactful early-stage ventures strengthen their financial readiness and reduce investment risk.
Program With Extraordinary Results
The DeepTech Climate Accelerator Serbia follows a structured, step-by-step journey designed to guide startups from early validation to investment readiness.
Each phase combines masterclasses, tailored mentorship, and climate-impact tools to ensure founders receive the right support at the right time.
Stage 1 — Recruitment, Selection & Pitching
Accelerator begins with an open call inviting deep-tech climate startups to apply. Eligible teams (TRL 3+) proceed through a structured review process, followed by pitch sessions where they present their technology, climate impact potential, and team capacity. This stage identifies the most promising ventures to enter the programme.
Open call for deep-tech climate startups
max 15
start-ups selected
Screening → Shortlisting → Pitch sessions
MENTORS make it happen
Stage 3 — Mentorship & Climate Impact Assessments
In this stage, startups receive tailored 1:1 mentorship from industry experts, investors, and climate specialists to refine their business model, technology pathway, and market strategy. Selected teams undergo a full Climate Impact Assessment using ClimateKIC tools, enabling them to quantify and communicate the environmental value of their solution.
30+
Personalized expert mentorship seions
Will Get Full Climate Impact Assessment funded
Strategy → Traction → Impact validation
Stage 4 — Investment Readiness & Demo Day
Startups sharpen their fundraising strategy, strengthen their pitch, and learn how to communicate their climate and commercial value to investors. The stage concludes with a high-profile Demo Day, where teams present to investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners, creating opportunities for funding and collaborations.
Investor bootcamp
Fundraising & pitch refinement
Demo Day
Showcase to investors & corporates
Outcomes
Readiness → Visibility → Opportunities
Eligibility Criteria
The DeepTech Climate Accelerator is designed for ambitious entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators developing breakthrough technologies in climate tech, greentech, cleantech, agri-tech, advanced materials, energy innovation, and other solutions addressing urgent environmental and societal challenges.
If that’s you, let’s start the conversation.
FAQ
No, participation in the DeepTech Climate Accelerator is completely free of charge for selected startups and their team members.
The Climate-SAFE is a founder-friendly investment instrument created by ClimateKIC to support high-potential climate-tech startups across Europe. It operates as a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), offering a flexible and efficient pathway for early-stage ventures to receive strategic funding and services.
The Climate-SAFE combines financial support with expert guidance, enabling startups to strengthen their climate impact, business model, and investment readiness.
Participation in the Climate-SAFE is entirely optional.
There is no requirement to join this agreement in order to take part in the DeepTech Climate Accelerator.
For questions regarding Climate-SAFE, you may contact the ClimateKIC investment team at: investments@climate-kic.org
We run a highly personalised acceleration program, so we will select up to fifteen startups per cohort to ensure each team receives dedicated support and meaningful guidance.
We recommend that each startup participates with at least two team members, ideally representing both technical and business roles. All core team members are encouraged to attend the masterclasses and mentoring sessions relevant to their responsibilities.
Yes. Many deep-tech climate solutions touch multiple thematic areas. If your project fits more than one topic, simply indicate this in your application. We welcome startups that approach climate challenges with a systemic and multi-disciplinary perspective.
For this edition, participating startups should be registered and operating in Serbia or the Western Balkans. Team members may work remotely or from different locations, but the company must be legally based within the eligible region.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at office@epicenter.rs.
Our team will be happy to support you.
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