European Angels Fund (EAF)
The European Angels Fund (EAF) offers business angels and other non-institutional investors co-investments in innovative SMEs in the seed, early, and growth phases. Investments range between €250,000 and €5 million on a 50:50 basis.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
The fund strengthens the commitment of business angels and other non-institutional investors to finance young innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in the start-up, early, and growth phases through equity co-investments.
Eligible expenses
- Equity co-investments in SMEs
Eligible to apply
- Founders
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Experience in the targeted investment area
- Proof of successful investments in the past
- Good access to high-quality equity investments
- New investments by business angels
- Financial capacity of at least EUR 250,000 over a term usually of 10 years
Evaluation criteria
- Experience and track record of the investors
- Quality of the investment opportunities
- Character of new investments
- Available equity capital of at least EUR 250,000
Description
The European Angels Fund (EAF) supports business angels and other non-institutional investors in jointly providing equity capital to innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the seed, early, and growth stages together with the European Investment Fund. Within the framework of co-investments, investment volumes ranging from €250,000 to €5 million per investor are provided on a 50:50 basis. This promotes young, technology-oriented, and high-growth projects while strengthening the commitment of private capital providers. The fund aims to reduce barriers to initial and follow-on financing and to sustainably boost the European innovation ecosystem.
Funding is provided to experienced business angels and non-institutional investors who can demonstrate successful participation or portfolio transactions. Requirements include a convincing deal flow, proven investment capacity of at least €250,000 over a typical term of ten years, and evidence of high-quality new investments in SMEs. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis – direct contact with the EIF is sufficient to clarify the framework conditions for a long-term co-investment partnership. Through the EAF, investors gain not only financial leverage but also the freedom to make decisions in accordance with their own investment strategy.