The word “inception” comes from the Latin “inceptio”, meaning a beginning, an undertaking. It signals the starting point of something meaningful. For Open Horizons, the Inception Phase marks the real beginning of the journey for selected startups: when applications evolve into structured pilot plans.
From application to plan
Once the evaluation process is completed by our independent experts, the startups that make it through will officially enter the Inception Phase in October 2025.
For this first cohort, 11 startups will be selected. Each will receive €10,000 in equity-free funding to refine their business model and prepare a pilot proposal.
What you can expect from the inception phase
Over the course of one month, startups will:
- Receive tailored training from our partner InnovX on business model design and pilot planning.
- Work hand-in-hand with corporate partners to co-design a potential pilot that truly fits their needs.
- Deliver two key outputs: a Business Model Canvas and a Pilot Plan.
- Pitch their pilot proposal directly to their matched corporate.
- Wait to be selected for Pilot Phase.
A solid foundation
The Inception Phase is not just about general pitch decks. It is about proving that the startup has the right solution for the right challenge, with the capacity to deliver results in a real-world corporate environment.
At the end of this stage, 5 startups will be selected to move forward to the Piloting Phase. It will enable them to access up to €45,000 more in funding and test their solution on the ground in real-world corporate ecosystems.
Our impact
Across the three cohorts of Open Horizons, 39 startups will benefit from the Inception Phase, setting the stage for Europe’s next wave of deeptech solutions led by women founders. 18 of them will make it to test their ideas as pilots.
With two more open calls ahead, don’t miss your chance and join the Open horizons community — subscribe here.
Every great journey has its inceptio, yours has almost come.