For a second year in a row, Financial Times, in collaboration with Statista and Sifted, introduced the Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs ranking to spotlight and celebrate the most influential incubators and accelerators.
In the 2025 edition, the ranking expanded to include 150 hubs, evaluated through a comprehensive methodology that incorporated alumni feedback, expert opinions, and the performance of participating startups. For the second consecutive year, Germany’s UnternehmerTUM secures the top spot. Among CEE countries, Poland stands out with the highest number of ranked hubs, all based in its capital. Meanwhile, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia also boast multiple hubs. Discover all of them below (the order follows the ranking):
InnovX
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Founded: 2019
About: InnovX is a technology-focused startup hub, dedicated to supporting early-stage startups. It offers a range of services, including mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to funding.
ISE Group
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Founded: 2018
About: ISE Group is a technology-centric startup hub. It provides comprehensive support to startups, including business development resources, technological expertise, and strategic partnerships.
ZICER – Zagreb Innovation Centre
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Founded: 1994
About: ZICER is Croatia’s leading business support organization, offering incubation and acceleration programs, coworking spaces, and a comprehensive ecosystem for entrepreneurs at all development stages.
Startsmart CEE
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Founded: 2015
About: Startsmart CEE is a health-focused startup hub. It specializes in supporting early-stage startups in the healthcare sector.
Katapult
Location: Trbovlje, Slovenia
Founded: 2016
About: Katapult is a prominent technology accelerator, providing mentorship, funding opportunities, and strategic guidance, aiming to accelerate their growth and market entry.
Nuqleus
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Founded: 2019
About: Nuqleus is an innovation hub, focusing on supporting technology startups.
JIC
Location: Brno-Medlánky, Czech Republic
Founded: 2003
About: JIC fosters an open innovation ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs from startup to global market stages with services like acceleration, scaleup support, and student engagement.
Foundation 787
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Founded: 2014
About: F787 supports women and young people to start and grow their businesses whether they are MSMEs or tech startups.
Rebels Valley
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Founded: 2018
About: Rebels Valley is an innovation hub fostering collaboration between established market leaders and agile, niche-seeking startups.
Lipo.Ink
Location: Liberec, Czech Republic
Founded: 2017
About: Lipo.Ink is a non-profit organization, supporting both new and established entrepreneurs in the Liberec Region.
CIC
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Founded: 2019
About: The 8,000 square meter campus includes CIC Warsaw, providing premium, flexible coworking, and shared office space for startups, scaleups, and innovative businesses, and unique event and networking spaces operated by Venture Café Warsaw.
Sunrise Tech Park
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Founded: 2003
About: Sunrise Valley Science and Technology Park is a non-profit organization. It is a place for innovative technological enterprises, enterprising members of the universities community, and an R&D environment, who aim to commercialize their knowledge, establish and develop businesses and expand innovative activity.
Athens Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ACE)
Location: Athens, Greece
Founded: 2015
About: ACEin aims to assist young entrepreneurs and researchers in transforming their innovative business ideas or scientific research findings into sustainable business models.
Inkubator Sežana
Location: Sežana, Slovenia
Founded: 1991
About: Inkubator Sežana is providing services to support business and development in the local and regional environment, building an innovative business ecosystem.
The Athens Startup Business Incubator (Th.E.A.)
Location: Athens, Greece
Founded: 1918
About: The Athens Startup Business Incubator (Th.E.A) is a key initiative by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.
Baltic Sandbox Ventures
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
Founded: 2018
About: Baltic Sandbox Ventures operates as a business accelerator by offering structured programs designed to support early-stage deep tech and life sciences startups.
EGG – Enter Grow Go
Location: Athens, Greece
Founded: 2013
About: EGG is a business accelerator in Greece, having hosted 1500 new entrepreneurs who put their business plans into action.
