The second generation of the Founders ABCDeep Tech Startup Support program is slowly approaching the very end of the accelerator path!

The accelerator program to support the development of deep tech startups from the Western Balkan countries and Hungary was developed as part of the international initiative The Alliance of Boundary Crossing for Deep Tech - ABCD. After a successful pilot in 2023, successful implementation continued in 2024. The second generation of the program lasted 8 weeks, and 11 startups were selected and successfully completed the program:

1. Merakzy
2. Meditera
3. SavAntiVir
4. SremCath
5. CAPTEC Medical
6. SentimentScope
7. Hexagon Startup Design
8. Simple Mobile Solutions
9. Leather & Hide
10. Flourish
11. Klima AC

During the program, the participants worked on adapting and improving the business model, practicing an effective pitch, and understanding their finances and the importance of planning, good projections, and budgeting. Topics covered in regular sessions included: problem/solution fit; pitch; value proposition; impact and sustainability; market and competitive landscape; go-to-market strategy and sales; team, key partners, and resources; finance and investments.
Regular sessions during the program were interactive, allowing participants to work directly on improving their business. The sessions were also attended by successful entrepreneurs and startups, who shared significant experiences related to specific topics and advised program participants on business development planning. Also, the participants had the opportunity to work individually with mentors, to improve certain elements of their business opportunity further and prepare as well as possible for the pitch.

On Tuesday, June 25, the Pitching Dry-Run was held, an online event within which program participants presented their innovative solutions to a jury of non-HEI representatives of the ABCD consortium. All participants invested effort and energy and patiently answered numerous questions from the jury, but in the end, the 3 best startups had to be selected for the final pitch, which will be held on Friday, July 5, in Eszétrgom, Hungary.

Congratulations this time to the teams Merakzy, Flourish, and CAPTEC Medical, and we wish them the best of luck in the finals when they will have the opportunity to win the prize of 10,000 EUR!