As the D2XCEL programme approaches its conclusion in April 2026, this article presents an overview of the mentoring services delivered to Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 ventures. It summarizes the mentoring approach and activities implemented during the period September 2024 – November 2025, highlighting their role in supporting startups through critical scaling phases.
D2XCEL’s mentoring services sit at the core of its pan-European scaling programme, supporting more than 100 ventures with tailored guidance to strengthen their scaling readiness and expand access to relevant ecosystems. The programme focused on key growth areas, including investment readiness, market entry and procurement, partnerships, team and talent development, intellectual property rights (IPR), and engagement with European Innovation Council (EIC) opportunities.
Beyond mentoring, D2XCEL provides active ecosystem support through network access and targeted personal introductions, including one-to-one meetings held online and onsite. Ventures were also invited to investment and partnering events, as well as selected third-party industry events, increasing their visibility and opportunities for collaboration and business development across European and international markets.
The mentoring framework was built around three interconnected schemes:
Collaborative mentoring (individual mentoring): Group-based mentoring within Market Opportunity clusters, supported by experienced external mentors, focusing on venture-specific challenges.
Horizontal mentoring (topic-specific mentoring): Cohort- and group-level sessions addressing cross-cutting scaling topics.
Ecosystem mentoring: Targeted support connecting ventures with D2XCEL’s wider network of industry experts and stakeholders.
Together, these services enabled a comprehensive support structure. Each venture participated in individual mentoring with two assigned experts, while also having access to optional webinars and workshops covering topics such as Team development, Internationalisation & Go-to-market strategy, Fundraising, IPR, Collaboration with corporations, Communication & PR, and more.
All quantitative evaluation metrics are based on the scale 1-5.
Collaborative mentoring represents the cornerstone of the D2XCEL mentoring model. It combines structured one-to-one guidance with group interaction, facilitated by Group Managers to ensure alignment with programme objectives.
This approach enabled ventures to address shared scaling challenges—such as market entry, competitive positioning, and access to finance—while also benefiting from peer-to-peer learning within their Market Opportunity groups. The combination of individual focus and collective exchange proved effective in addressing both venture-specific and systemic challenges.
A total of 72 mentors participated in the programme (38 in Cohort 1 and 34 in Cohort 2). Mentors were primarily sourced through partner networks and recommendations to ensure strong industry relevance and alignment with D2XCEL’s objectives.
Mentors were organised into complementary pairs, typically combining market or sector expertise with experience in areas such as fundraising or business development. This pairing approach ensured ventures received well-rounded guidance. Beyond mentoring sessions, mentors also contributed to preparatory activities and ongoing alignment with programme goals.
Horizontal Mentoring Services focused on scaling challenges common across all 10 Market Opportunities: Logistics, Sustainable Freight Transportation, Large-scale Stationary energy Storage, Sustainable and Circular construction, AI-powered Digital Services for Smart Cities, Supply Chain Management & Trade Finance, Sustainable Mobility, Renewable energy Production, Circular Models for Cities & Regions, and AI-powered Utility Management for Smart Cities.
These sessions addressed topics such as Founder Teams and Recruitment, Internationalisation and Go-to-Market strategy, Fundraising and Pitching, EU Funding Opportunities, IPR Management, Collaboration with Corporations, and more.
This cross-cutting approach ensured that ventures benefited from shared insights while also receiving guidance adaptable to their specific sector contexts. In total, 39 horizontal mentoring sessions were delivered, attracting over 1,000 participants (490 from Cohort 1 and 534 from Cohort 2).
Special thanks to our consortium and network partners involved in the topic-specific mentoring: Corporate Ventures Advisory, AnyChange, Teamaturity, Wenham Carter, DutchBasecamp, The Recursive, European Patent Office, Hepp Wenger Ryffel AG, European IP Helpdesk, ACE, and Zaz Ventures.
Ecosystem mentoring services were designed to connect ventures with specialised expertise beyond the scope of regular mentoring sessions. Using a structured process managed by Group Managers, ventures were matched with relevant stakeholders listed in the D2XCEL Ecosystem Service Masterlist, which categorises experts by domain.
During the reporting period, ecosystem mentoring interactions covered areas such as recruitment, internationalisation and VC strategy, port operations, company culture, logistics, pitching, and investor relations. These targeted exchanges helped ventures address specific operational and strategic challenges.
While approximately 40 ecosystem mentoring exchanges were fully tracked through the formal process, it is likely that additional interactions took place but were not systematically recorded.
Feedback collected from 24 respondents (ventures and experts) indicates a high level of satisfaction, with an average score of 4.54 out of 5, reflecting the perceived relevance and quality of these services.
Across Cohorts 1 and 2, D2XCEL’s mentoring services provided structured, multi-layered support to help ventures navigate the complexities of scaling. By combining individual mentoring, ecosystem connections, and horizontal expertise, the programme strengthened ventures’ readiness for growth while fostering meaningful engagement with a broader innovation ecosystem.
This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement Nº101121100. Funded by the European Union. 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.