Good morning {{first_name}},
This week’s Deep Tech Now brings you:
5 unmissable events for Climate Deep Tech, gathering startups, investors and stakeholders across Europe
The 5 best corporate-backed Mobility accelerators, bridging the gap between founders and Europe’s leading automotive and transportation players
Europe’s leading 5 venture funds backing Dual-Use startups, also reflecting our continent’s major shift towards strategic resilience
A special ecosystem gift, a chance to fast-track into the EIC Accelerator with Zaz Ventures
Read on for a handpicked guide of the opportunities and players that can accelerate your path forward.
DEEP TECH OPEN | CLIMATE
5 Top Events in Climate Deep Tech
Impact/Week 2025 | Barcelona, Spain | October 1-2, 2025
Taking place at Norrsken House Barcelona, bringing together thinkers, builders, founders and funders.
➞ Attendance capped at 1,000, apply here
➞ LPs & GPs: Join Impact/Return 2025
ChangeNow | Paris, France | March 30-April 1, 2026
Turns Paris’ Grand Palais into a world expo of solutions for the planet every year; stay tuned.
Climate Week Zurich | Zurich, Switzerland | May 4-6, 2026
New in 2026; 100+ events; partners including ETH Zürich and Google.
➞ Kick-off event ‘Data with Purpose’ on November 5, 2025.
HackSummit | Lausanne, Switzerland | May 2026
Climate meets Deep Tech, and 250 founders meet 250 investors out of 850 attendees.
London Climate Action Week | London, UK | June 20-28, 2026
Save the date for LCAW, which doubled in size in 2025 with 700+ events.
DEEP TECH OPEN | MOBILITY
5 Top Corporate-Backed Mobility Accelerators
Promoters: Flämingo Startup Hub, funded by the EU and the State of Brandenburg, and operated by Coconat, Grace Accelerator’s parent organisation Ignore Gravity, Deutsche Bahn Group startup hub DB Mindbox, and Media Deals
Focus: Transport cluster including smart mobility, sustainable transport systems, last-mile logistics, MaaS, railtech, and infrastructure optimisation
Format: Six-month, non-equity accelerator
Location: Bad Belzig, Brandenburg (hybrid)
Eligibility: Participants required to register company or branch in Brandenburg
Apply: By September 21, 2025
Promoters: International Airlines Group (IAG)
Focus: Challenges in the aviation industry
Format #1: 12-week commercialisation-focused hybrid Deploy track for startups in:
Artificial Intelligence
Automation and Robotics
Sustainability and Mobility
Experiential Platforms
Connectivity and loT
Tech Evolution and Security
Format #2: 24-week virtual Discover track for Deep Tech early-stage startups developing solutions in sustainable aviation fuel, carbon removals, single-use plastic alternatives and fuel efficiencies
Next step: Current programmes end with in-person Innovation Summit in October 2025
Promoters: Mobilians and Via ID; with partners including BMW Group and EDF
Focus: Startups in mobility and automotive
Format: Four-month programme; two batches a year
Location: Station F in Paris, France
Eligibility: At least two founders; with a product or use case
Apply: Stay tuned for application window; current programme ends in December 2025
Promoters: Mercedes-Benz, Plug and Play, the University of Stuttgart, ARENA2036, and 30 corporate partners
Focus: Mobility, enterprise, smart production, and beyond; hardware and software
Format: Two programmes per year, divided into three phases: Scouting; Pilot; Go Real!
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Eligibility: Stage-agnostic
Apply: Here
Next step: Claim a spot for flagship event Expo in Stuttgart on July 2, 2026
Promoters: Toyota; supporting business units include Toyota Motors Europe, Toyota Tsusho Europe, KINTO Europe, Woven Capital and Toyota Mobility Foundation
Focus: Energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy, smart communities, and mobility for all
Format: Mentoring and opportunities to develop Proof of Concepts (POCs), pilot projects, and commercial agreements; potential funding from Toyota’s Woven Capital venture arm
Eligibility: Presence or planned presence in the EU, UK, or Horizon 2020 associated countries
Apply: Via Toyota Open Labs innovation portal
Next step: Demo Day for Startup and Scaleups & SMEs cohorts in September 2025
DEEP TECH OPEN | DUAL-USE
Top 5 Funds Backing Dual-Use Startups
Latest fund: European Defence and Security Tech Fund: €125 M target; €40 M EIF commitment
Portfolio includes: Avalor.AI, Bodyguard.ai
Sweet spot: Seed to Series B
Latest fund: €1 B (including fund-of-funds)
Portfolio includes: ARX Robotics, Isar Aerospace, Space Forge, Tekever
Sweet spot: Early-stage
Latest fund: €150 M Presto Tech Horizons fund with CSG
Portfolio includes: Bavovna AI, BlueQubit, DiffuseDrive
Sweet spot: Companies with revenue seeking to accelerate growth
Latest fund: €100 M Defence Fund (including fund-of-funds)
Portfolio includes: Not disclosed yet
Sweet spot: Seed to growth
THE PULSE
Helsinki’s Redstone Launches Ocean Tech Fund
➞ Helsinki-based VC firm Redstone Nordics launched a new €25 M fund to back startups addressing ocean challenges, with a special focus on the Baltic Sea.
Key takeaway: According to Redstone Nordics, managing partner Kaj Hagros, “the blue economy is a $6 trillion industry with enormous untapped potential.”
ECOSYSTEM GIFT
Fast-Track Your Path to the EIC Accelerator
We’re offering one lucky reader a great opportunity, courtesy of Zaz Ventures: a fast-track qualification process into the next batch of Deep Tech startups they will help enter the EIC Accelerator in 2026.
A leading public funding consultancy for EU-based Deep Tech that helped 440+ clients obtain over €1.7B with a pure success fee model, Zaz Ventures has a strong track record of enabling teams to win extremely competitive opportunities.
Please note the following eligibility criteria:
SME, based in an EU member state or HE Associated Country
Deep Tech based on a scientific breakthrough (ideally hardware, or fundamentally new software)
Completed testing in application-relevant environments (in TRL 6)
Solving a validated problem with significant customer interest (LOIs)
Clear competitive edge and market understanding
If that sounds like your company, register your interest here.
Last Week’s Winner: Congratulations to Philipp Dohmen, CEO and Co-Founder at QAECY, who won a branding advisory session with Simon Schafstall (Studio Schafstall). We'll be putting you in touch shortly.
Thank you for reading. Is there a gift you’d like to share with our ecosystem in one of our next editions?