Open Call for Startups: Apply to participate in the LLM-BRIDGE Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) 2026

The LLM-BRIDGE Consortium invites early-stage startups and entrepreneurial teams to apply to the LLM-BRIDGE Venture Incubation Programme (VIP), an initiative designed to accelerate the emergence of European startups developing solutions powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI).

Overview

The LLM-BRIDGE consortium seeks 30 early-stage European startups developing solutions with GenAI, LLMs, Natural Language Processing (NLP), or related AI technologies to participate in its 12-week incubation programme. The VIP will be implemented by an incubation partner in collaboration with the LLM-BRIDGE consortium members. 

The programme will cover topics such as:

  • Market validation
  • Technical feasibility
  • Responsible AI alignment
  • Scalability potential
  • European strategic relevance

Five of the top-performing startups in the VIP will be invited to participate in the Demo Day, and will be granted 25 000 € each in financial support, to further support their development and growth. The final winner of the five top-performing startups will also be awarded with the MentorMe programme delivered by 28DIGITAL. 

This call is implemented by 28DIGITAL in collaboration with the partners of the LLM-BRIDGE Consortium.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be legally established in a country participating in the Digital Europe Programme.

The programme focuses on early-stage ventures developing innovative solutions using Generative AI, Large Language Models, Natural Language Processing, Multilingual AI, and AI applications with cross-sector impact.

Applicants must be:

  • Startups, SMEs, or entrepreneurial teams intending to establish a startup.
  • Developing solutions based on Generative AI, Large Language Models, Natural Language Processing, or related AI technologies.
  • Operating at an early stage of development with demonstrated innovation potential.

 

Applicants must demonstrate and confirm:

  • Commitment to actively participate in programme activities
  • Availability of core team members during the incubation period
  • Capacity to achieve measurable progress during the programme

 

For more information on eligibility requirements, please see the official Open Call document linked below.

What support will startups receive in the VIP?

The VIP aims to support startups in:

  • Validating their technological solution and business model
  • Achieving product-market fit
  • Developing scalable and ethically compliant AI applications
  • Business and market development mentoring
  • Technical guidance related to GenAI and LLM solutions
  • Product and technology validation
  • Investor readiness and fundraising preparation
  • Access to relevant ecosystem stakeholders and infrastructure where applicable

Demo Day

At the conclusion of the VIP, five of the top-performing startups will participate in the Demo Day and receive 25 000 € each in financial support. During the Demo Day, the five startups will present their progress and results to a panel of experts, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.

After the final evaluation in the Demo Day, one startup will be awarded with 28DIGITAL’s MentorMe programme.

The Demo Day will be organised by the LLM-BRIDGE consortium and is expected to take place in September or October 2026.

When & where will the VIP take place?

Activities will take place online, onsite, or hybrid, depending on the final selection of the incubator. The LLM-BRIDGE consortium has recently closed the Open Call for identifying an Incubator to run the VIP, and is expected to make a final decision by May.

Timeline

How to apply?

The selection process is described in the official Open Call document and comprises the following steps to ensure transparency, impartiality, and compliance with the EU Digital Europe Programme principles of fairness and excellence: eligibility check, independent evaluation, consensus meeting, and panel ranking. 

The deadline for the Open Call for Startups is 1 June 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Download the Official Open Call Document
Apply now!

Questions?

LLM-BRIDGE Open Call Helpdesk: llm-bridge@28digital.eu

For questions regarding the submission process, eligibility, or evaluation procedure, please contact the Helpdesk before the call deadline.

Queries submitted after the deadline will not be considered.