EWOR Launches $68M Fellowship to Empower Europe's Youngest Tech Entrepreneurs

Supporting super-early stage entrepreneurs in Europe is gaining momentum with new initiatives designed to fuel innovation and scale promising startups. EWOR, an entrepreneurship fellowship launched in 2021, recently announced a €60 million fund to back young founders aged 25 and under, offering them €500,000 in capital for a 7% equity stake. This initiative significantly expands on previous efforts like Project Europe, which provided smaller investments with less extensive support.

EWOR’s fellowship targets a diverse group of founders including visionaries, technical prodigies, driven operators, and serial entrepreneurs. The program offers virtual-first support featuring one-on-one mentorship with unicorn founders, access to a network of 2,000 mentors, venture capitalists, and subject matter experts. This comprehensive support system is designed to accelerate startups from the ideation phase to traction and beyond.

Unlike some programs that require founders to have a fully formed idea or team, EWOR welcomes applicants at any stage—even those without co-founders or concrete concepts. This inclusive approach is exemplified by fellows like a young machine learning researcher from Cambridge who joined with just an inception idea. The fellowship’s investment includes €110,000 directly from EWOR GmbH and €390,000 via an uncapped convertible note, providing flexible capital tailored to early-stage needs.

EWOR’s founders bring deep technical and entrepreneurial expertise from companies like SumUp and Adjust, enabling them to run the fellowship with a startup mindset focused on rapid iteration and measurable impact. Their proprietary vector database of 50,000 applicants allows precise talent matching based on skills and coding contributions, streamlining recruitment and collaboration opportunities for startups.

Notable alumni include startups like Aspect Health, which originated in Moldova and secured significant funding in Silicon Valley, eventually reaching a $50 million valuation. Current fellows include innovators such as Mark Golab, pioneering 3D printing for organ transplants, and Viktoria Izdebezka, developing advanced lead generation tools. Past fellows have achieved impressive exits, demonstrating the fellowship’s ability to nurture high-impact ventures.

The broader significance of EWOR’s fellowship lies in its commitment to lowering barriers for young European entrepreneurs, providing not only capital but also a robust ecosystem of mentorship and resources. This model exemplifies how targeted support can accelerate innovation, foster technical excellence, and drive economic growth within the European tech landscape.

For developers, investors, and policymakers, EWOR’s approach offers valuable insights into building scalable support systems that combine financial backing with expert guidance. It highlights the importance of flexible funding instruments and data-driven talent identification in cultivating the next generation of tech leaders.