Startup Europe Awards 2024: 12 Innovative Startups Recognised Across the EU

The Startup Europe Awards 2024, organized by Finnova Foundation within the Accelerathon open innovation framework and endorsed by the European Commission's DG CONNECT, recognized twelve European startups that are reshaping industries through technology and sustainability.

The 2024 Winners

This year's ceremony brought together over 400 investors, corporate representatives, and EU policy makers in Brussels. The winning startups, selected from more than 1,200 applicants across 27 member states, gained access to funding opportunities ranging from €1M to €7M.

Category Winners:

• Green Energy: SolarGrid.io (Spain) — Peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace
• Health & Biotech: MedAI Diagnostics (Germany) — AI-powered rare disease early detection
• AgriTech: CropSense (Netherlands) — Precision farming through satellite data
• Circular Economy: ReLoop Materials (Sweden) — Industrial waste upcycling platform
• Smart Cities: CityBrain.eu (France) — AI urban mobility optimisation
• FinTech: ImpactLend (Poland) — Green SME micro-lending platform

Impact and Funding

Previous Startup Europe Awards winners have collectively raised over €380 million in follow-on funding and created more than 12,000 jobs across the EU. The 2024 cohort is expected to match or exceed these figures within 36 months.

The Accelerathon programme, now in its 9th edition, continues to serve as the leading pan-European open innovation vehicle connecting high-potential startups with EU funding mechanisms, corporate partners, and expert mentors.