Future Unicorn Award

Europe's fastest-growing deep-tech scale-ups on a credible path to €1B+.

In partnership with 45 National Trade Associations & European Accelerators.

Europe's fastest-growing deep-tech scale-ups on a credible path to €1B+.

In partnership with 45 National Trade Associations & European Accelerators.

WHY THIS TRACK EXISTS

The award that named Europe's next unicorns before the market did. Nine alumni have already crossed the €1B threshold. This is where the pattern starts.

Portrait of Stéphane Ouaki — Stéphane Ouaki
Head of Department, EIC - European Innovation Council

NOmination criteria

First qualify. Then stand out.

Companies must meet the entry criteria before they are assessed by the jury. The scorecard then looks at growth, strategic relevance and the signal the company sends for Europe.

Eligibility: who can be nominated

European base

Headquartered in Europe, including UA, CH, NO, TR.

Growth track record

Twenty percent

year-on-year growth over three years.

Scale threshold

€30M valuation or €10M annual revenue.

Ownership screen

No Russian capital, limited Chinese exposure.

Jury scorecard: what makes a company stand out

01

Growth potential

A credible path to €1B+ valuation in the next one to five years, given team, market and momentum.

02

Strategic relevance for Europe

One of the critical technologies Europe would benefit from becoming meanigfully stronger in.

03

Signal value

A win that send the right message to foudners, investors and policy makers alike.

THE Award cycle

Eight months. From call to crown.

Twenty-nine countries.
One transatlantic bridge

June

Call for candidates from National Trade Associations & accelerators

Sep-Oct

October

Dec-Jan

3 Feb

4 Feb

THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM