Client
EBRD STAR VENTUREThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) created the Star Venture programme to support innovative startups across its regions of operation. As of 2025, Star Venture operates in 26 markets, including countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Western Balkans.
Since its launch, the programme has directly helped more than 350 early-stage startups. These startups have collectively raised over €573 million in funding as a result of Star Venture’s support and strategic introductions to investors and markets. The programme provides expert mentoring, business advice, intensive workshops, and access to a global network of investors and partners.
In each country, we first identified the specific challenges faced by the local startup ecosystem. Based on these insights, we designed tailored service offerings to best address their unique needs—whether it was ecosystem mapping, capacity building for accelerators, or improving access to finance. Finally, we delivered these services through targeted training, mentoring, program development, and strategic advice, ensuring practical support that drives sustainable growth and stronger startup communities.
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The main challenge of this project was to strengthen innovation ecosystem organizations in regions covered by the EBRD STAR VENTURE programme. The client aimed to improve local support for early-stage startups, helping them scale, create economic value, and drive economic transformation. Our work focused on equipping accelerators with entrepreneurial skills—especially in business growth and investor readiness—through mentoring, training, and strategic guidance. While the overall goal was consistent, each location had unique needs. The project is ongoing until November 2026, and so far, we have achieved the following:
Dreamups, Moldova:
The session provided valuable insights into how investors evaluate startups, which will help me better understand their perspective.
Civitta brought deep experience in ecosystem development and startup acceleration, enabling tailored strategies that aligned with local market needs. Our ability to design flexible financial models and facilitate warm investor introductions helped create strong networks and practical growth pathways for clients.
These insights are relevant across various sectors where innovation and partnerships drive growth. Emphasising clear value propositions, community engagement, and adaptive strategies can benefit clients ranging from technology startups to corporate innovation units in diverse industries. We are continuing our collaboration and are excited to contribute to meaningful, lasting change across these emerging startup ecosystems.