EWOR’s €60M Founder Fellowship is setting the stage for Europe’s most promising young founders, offering mentorship, funding, and a groundbreaking platform for growth.
Europe is witnessing a surge in support for the next wave of entrepreneurial talent. From venture investors backing youthful innovation to accelerator programs empowering young visionaries, the continent has become a hotbed for early-stage entrepreneurs. Following Harry Stebbings’ “Project Europe,” which promised to back young founders with a $10 million fund, EWOR is raising the stakes with a bold new initiative: a €60 million Founder Fellowship that promises to invest in and guide 35 high-potential entrepreneurs every year. At the heart of this initiative is a promise to provide unprecedented capital and mentorship for a generation that is not just thinking big — but thinking beyond.
The launch of the EWOR Founder Fellowship marks a major milestone in Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Founded in 2021, EWOR was established by a group of seasoned entrepreneurs, including Daniel Dippold, Alexander Grots, Florian Huber, Petter Made, Quinten Selhorst, and Paul Müller. Their collective experience at high-growth companies such as SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove informs the foundation of their new initiative. EWOR’s approach is as forward-thinking as its founders — focusing on supporting early-stage entrepreneurs who have the potential to redefine industries.
What makes EWOR’s fellowship stand out is its commitment to funding and nurturing entrepreneurs at both the ideation and traction stages. Unlike Project Europe, which targets founders with just an idea and offers €200,000 in return for a 6.66% stake, EWOR is offering a more substantial €500,000 investment for a 7% stake. This funding is designed to be a launching pad for visionaries, technical prodigies, and serial entrepreneurs. With a generous 1:1 mentorship model, fellows will benefit from personalized guidance, with up to five hours a week from a unicorn founder and access to a network of 2,000 mentors, VCs, and experts.
In terms of impact, EWOR’s record speaks for itself. Its alumni have gone on to raise between €1 million and €11 million during their fellowship, and some have already achieved multi-million-dollar exits. Notable past fellows include Ricky Knox, who successfully exited Azimo and Tandem Bank for nine figures, and Tim Seithe, who led Tillhub to an exit valued at nearly €100 million. Such success stories speak to EWOR’s unique ability to provide both the financial resources and the strategic mentorship needed to propel founders to the next level.
One of the most compelling aspects of EWOR’s fellowship is its adaptability to entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. Founders can join with just an idea or even no co-founder at all, as demonstrated by last year’s youngest machine learning researcher from Cambridge. EWOR runs its fellowship like a software company — continuously iterating and refining its approach to ensure that every founder receives the most valuable support possible.
This model is attracting attention from early-stage entrepreneurs across Europe. Ten founders have already joined the inaugural cohort, with standout innovators like Mark Golab, a U.K.-based 3D printing specialist who’s applying his technology to organ transplants, and Viktoria Izdebezka from Vienna, who is revolutionizing lead generation through her company Salesy. These trailblazing entrepreneurs are just the beginning, as EWOR continues to search for the next generation of game-changers.
As Europe’s startup ecosystem thrives, programs like EWOR’s Founder Fellowship are paving the way for ambitious entrepreneurs to turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality. By providing capital, mentorship, and a dynamic support system, EWOR is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of innovation. For young founders with the drive and vision to change the world, the EWOR fellowship represents a transformative opportunity that could well be the catalyst for the next wave of European tech giants.
