Accelerating Deep Tech and Digital Ventures Across Europe
D2XCEL is proud to share the impact data from Cohort 1, which focused on five key market opportunities: Logistics, Sustainable Freight Transportation, Large-scale Stationary Energy Storage, Sustainable and Circular Construction, and AI-powered Digital Services for Smart Cities.
Funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC), D2XCEL is a free pan-European scaling programme that helps deep tech and digital ventures expand across borders. Launched in November 2023 and running until April 2026, the programme has already built an extensive network of 250+ investors, public and private lead customers, and innovation hubs.
To date, 102 ventures have joined the D2XCEL pipeline, each spending 6–8 months in a tailored mentoring journey that combines horizontal, individual, and ecosystem-level support. Participating companies gain access to exclusive events, investment introductions, and cross-border collaboration opportunities designed to accelerate growth.
Cohort 1 Overview
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Selected companies: 48
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Total amount raised: €179.17M
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Average raised per company: €3.73M
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Companies with women in executive roles: 23
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Total employees: 864
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Active investors backing companies: 222
Investment Growth After Joining D2XCEL
Since joining the programme, 9 companies from Cohort 1 have secured additional funding totalling €52.2M, with a median investment of €2.44M and an impressive 41.11% funding growth.
By Market Opportunity Group:
Sustainable Freight Transportation
- BuyCo - last round in March 2025 - undisclosed
Sustainable Freight Transportation
Large-scale Stationary Energy Storage
Sustainable and Circular Construction
Looking Ahead
These results demonstrate the tangible impact of D2XCEL’s cross-border approach to scaling deep tech ventures. By combining targeted mentoring, investor matchmaking, and access to Europe’s innovation ecosystems, the programme continues to empower founders to accelerate their growth and attract funding.
👉 Explore the full Impact Data Report, and stay tuned for upcoming Cohort 2 impact highlights!
This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement Nº101121100. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
