This is a quarterly update on the latest news, events, and developments with D2XCEL, a pan-European scaling programme for deep tech and digital ventures.
The first quarter of 2025 has been an exciting ride for D2XCEL!
In January, we hit a key milestone—our social media network grew beyond 1,000 followers, reflecting our programme's growing interest and engagement.
Our second open call wrapped up with outstanding results: 184 applications from 29 countries and a combined €718M+ in funding over the past five years.
January and February were dedicated to our selection panel’s rigorous evaluation process, culminating in the announcement of the selected startups for Cohort 2 in mid-March.
March also brought us together for our third consortium meeting in Nuremberg, where we reflected on our progress, shared key learnings, and set the stage for what’s next.
Read on to discover the latest updates and what’s coming up for D2XCEL!
Cohort 2: Meet the Selected Companies
March 2025 marked an exciting milestone as we announced and welcomed 54 outstanding ventures into Cohort 2 of D2XCEL. These startups are driving innovation across five key market opportunities:
Supply Chain Management & Trade Finance | Sustainable Mobility| Renewable Energy Production | Circular Models for Cities & Regions | AI-powered Utility Management for Smart Cities
We are very pleased to welcome them to the D2XCEL network and are excited to support their journey with mentorship, scaling opportunities, and expert guidance to accelerate their impact.
More information on the companies is available at the D2XCEL website/Network page:
On March 21, 2025, we officially launched Cohort 2, onboarding all 54 selected companies into the D2XCEL programme.
Over the next six+ months, these ventures will benefit from a comprehensive 360° mentoring experience, designed to accelerate their growth and impact:
Tailored 1:1 mentoring – Each startup will be paired with two experienced mentors who will provide strategic guidance and help navigate key business challenges. Stay tuned as we introduce our mentors!
Special topic mentoring – Cohort-wide sessions covering essential topics such as Founder Team & Recruitment, Internationalization & Go-To-Market, Fundraising & Pitching, IPR portfolios, and more.
On-demand expert consultations – Access to industry specialists for deep-dive discussions and targeted problem-solving.
We’re excited to support these ventures on their journey to scaling and transforming their industries. Stay connected for updates via our social channels.
Events that galvanized our network
📍 Startup City Day | April 12, 2025 | Nuremberg, Germany
D2XCEL startups took the stage at Smart Freight Centre (SFC), joining Smart Freight Week—a flagship event accelerating global freight decarbonization through collaboration.
📍 Tech Tour Green City | March 25, 2025 | Paris-Marne-la-Vallée
D2XCEL supported Tech Tour Green City, linking deep-tech startups with investors in sustainable urban innovation across energy, construction, mobility, and smart cities.
We are really proud to see our cohort companies achieve major milestones while being part of D2XCEL. Here are some of them:
Kidre raised a €600,000 pre-seed round led by Failup Ventures and Antler - link
Zeal Robotics won an iF Design Award 2025 for their Zeal Runner, an autonomous mobile robot transforming warehouse logistics - link
Spark e-Fuels successfully closed a €2.3M pre-seed round, led by Nucleus Capital and other VCs - link
Recoma secured €2.6 M to scale circular construction solutions - lnk
Kelluu joined Nato's prestigious DIANA program, aiming to focus on advancing its sensing and surveillance solutions – link
Soletair Power partnered with Carbonaide to create net negative emissions by turning CO2 into sustainable concrete - link.
Clean Sea Solution launched their Aquadrone USV in Asia, marking its first deployment in Singapore - link
EmpoWomen, our sister project, revealed the impressive results of their second Open Call! They welcomed 14 pioneering women-led deep-tech startups selected from 251 applications - a 48% increase from their first call!
What's next for the startups:
Embark on a 6-month journey of acceleration, mentoring, and specialized training
Investment readiness support, receiving €45,000 in equity-free funding, and direct connections with investors.
At D2XCEL we are excited to support women entrepreneurs and founders in deep tech and digital innovation! More info in the link.
Our network partner NGI Sargasso attended MWC Barcelona and their startup side event 4YFN 2025, with 2 important sessions:
Next Generation Internet: Bridging Continents, Innovating Together
NGI Sargasso Showcase: Pioneering Innovations for Europe’s Digital Future
This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement Nº101121100. Views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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