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).

The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) call aims to select 30 early-stage GenAI startups to participate in a 12-week incubation programme taking place in summer 2026. The programme will support the development and scaling of innovative ventures working with large language model (LLM) technologies.

Selected startups will receive structured support, including entrepreneurial mentoring, technical guidance, access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources and data infrastructures, as well as regulatory and responsible AI orientation. The VIP also seeks to accelerate the commercialisation of LLM-based solutions, promote responsible AI innovation in line with key European frameworks (such as the AI Act, Data Act, GDPR, and the Digital Decade Targets), and foster cross-border collaboration and inclusivity within the European AI ecosystem.

Following the completion of the programme, up to five of the best-performing startups will be awarded a €25,000 Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) prize to further advance their development and growth.

Information on the call and the application procedure can be found on this website. Deadline to apply is 1 June 2026.

Background:

The LLM Booster for Regional Innovation and Digital Growth in Europe project (LLM-BRIDGE), co-funded under the Digital Europe programme, supports European startups and scaleups in the fast-growing domain of Large Language Models (LLMs). LLM-BRIDGE aims to strengthen national GenAI ecosystems by equipping startups, scaleups, incubators and investors with the support needed to build and deploy LLM-driven products.