Start-ups are key drivers of innovation and guarantee the future prosperity of central Europe. Despite the availability of new financing schemes, there is still a financial gap between the “3Fs” (friends, family, and founders) and venture capital. One solution is enhanced cooperation between public providers who leverage investments and groups of business angles and start-ups.

The CE-Connector project helped to increase the number of business angels and improve their investment competencies. 

It built sustainable linkages among them and strengthened linkages with providers of public leverage, industry and also among the ecosystems of participating territories. Such ecosystems will facilitate and pilot investments in start-ups, which are relevant for two selected strategic segments of territorial smart specialisation strategies. The new CE-Connector network will further enable transregional co-investment in start-ups and enable start-ups from other segments to seek funding from other territories.