EIC Summer School 2024: Practical training on accessing finance for EIC beneficiaries
- ›The EIC runs a two-part online Summer School on access to finance on 5 and 12 July 2024 aimed at EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator beneficiaries.
- ›Each session is four hours long and limited to 30 participants to preserve interactivity. Priority is given to those registering for both sessions.
- ›Session 1 focuses on investors and investment terms. Session 2 focuses on building a concise pitch deck and pitching skills.
- ›Registration opens on the EIC Community Platform at the beginning of May and training materials will be shared in a dedicated group on the platform.
- ›The event is organised by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The programme offers practical coaching but does not guarantee investment outcomes.
EIC Summer School 2024: Accessing finance made easy
The European Innovation Council is staging a two-part online Summer School on access to finance for its awardees. The sessions will run on 5 July and 12 July 2024. Each session lasts four hours and is intended to help EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator beneficiaries sharpen their investor outreach and fundraising capabilities. The programme promises practical guidance from experienced investors and EIC ecosystem experts and offers a forum to network with other EIC awardees.
Dates, format and who the sessions are for
| Date | Session focus | Duration | Target audience |
| Friday 5 July 2024 | Learn about investors and their investment terms | 4 hours | EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator beneficiaries |
| Friday 12 July 2024 | Build a crisp and convincing pitch deck | 4 hours | EIC Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator beneficiaries |
The training materials will be posted in a dedicated group on the EIC Community Platform. Interested parties should watch the Community Platform for registration opening in early May. The Summer School is organised through the EIC Business Acceleration Services and is part of the regular EIC Community events calendar.
What participants should expect to learn
The Summer School aims to equip participants with practical, investor-facing skills. Core areas covered include investor types and their investment criteria, key elements of valuation and term sheets, construction of a concise and persuasive pitch deck, and practical tips for investor meetings and follow up. Sessions are advertised as led by seasoned investors and ecosystem experts who will share real life insights.
Why this type of training matters in the European innovation ecosystem
Investor readiness training is a common gap for European deep tech teams. EIC grants provide important non dilutive capital but many awardees need private follow on funding to scale. Structured training on investor types, term sheets and pitching can shorten the learning curve. The EIC Business Acceleration Services positions these events as bridge activities to help awardees commercialise innovations and to increase their likelihood of raising capital.
A cautious note is warranted. Short workshops can improve clarity and messaging but they are unlikely by themselves to secure funding. Fundraising outcomes depend on market validation, team execution, timing and the availability of relevant investors. The small cohort size boosts interactivity but also limits how many teams can access direct feedback in this edition.
How to prepare and make the most of the Summer School
To get maximum value participants should arrive with the essentials in order. That includes a draft pitch deck, a one page executive summary, up to date financials or projections, a clear statement of the funding need and the milestones the funds will achieve, and a short list of target investors. Prepare questions about term sheet clauses and negotiation scenarios you might face.
| Preparation step | Why it matters | Practical tip |
| Draft pitch deck | Makes feedback actionable | Bring a 10 to 12 slide deck with clear asks |
| Financial snapshot | Supports valuation and investor discussion | Provide a one page summary of cash runway and planned milestones |
| Target investor list | Focuses outreach and relevance of feedback | List investor type, stage and why they fit your company |
| Questions on term sheets | Helps with real negotiation scenarios | Bring specific clauses or concerns you want explained |
If you are an EIC awardee keep your EIC Community profile up to date. The organisers will post registration details on the Community Platform in early May. Places are limited and priority will go to participants who sign up for both sessions.
Organisers, follow up and disclaimer
The Summer School is delivered under the EIC Business Acceleration Services. Training material will be shared in the dedicated EIC Community group after the sessions. This announcement is intended for knowledge sharing and does not represent an official European Commission policy position. Participation in training does not guarantee investor introductions or funding outcomes.
Watch the EIC Community Platform in early May for the registration opening and for links to further EIC Business Acceleration Services. For beneficiaries seeking more intensive or bespoke investor readiness support look into the EIC Investor Readiness and Outreach Programme and other EIC BAS offerings.