Open Calls

LvlUp Ventures and Semrush Launch Pitch Competition with $130K in Startup Funding Opportunities

LvlUp Ventures has teamed up with Semrush to host the LvlUp x Semrush Pitch Competition on November 30, 2025 (virtually), giving founders the chance to pitch their startups to active investors and secure up to $130,000 in potential funding.

Overview

The competition offers a platform for early-stage founders to showcase their traction, connect with investors, and win tangible startup capital. Each founder gets three minutes live to present their story before a judging panel that includes Adam Ned, Principal at LvlUp Ventures, and AJ Smith, Partner at Outlander VC.

What’s on Offer

  • $5,000 starter investment from LvlUp Ventures
  • Fast-track consideration for a $125,000 follow-on round
  • $100 grant for every participating startup

The event is fully virtual, designed to be accessible and founder-friendly while providing real exposure to investors actively funding early-stage ventures.

How to Apply

Founders can apply by filling out the LvlUp Ventures Funding Application

EIT RawMaterials Offers Up To €1M For Raw Materials Innovation Projects

EIT RawMaterials has opened its Call for RIS Innovation Projects, offering up to €1 million per project to support innovation across Europe’s raw materials value chain.

The call is aimed at projects developing new technologies, products, services or business models in areas including sustainable mining, processing, exploration, circularity, recycling and material substitution. Projects are expected to run for one to two years.

Funding And Support

Selected projects can receive funding covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, with the required co-funding depending on the project type and Technology Readiness Level.

Innovation projects can receive between €800,000 and €1 million. Selected applicants will also have access to proposal guidance, matchmaking support and EIT RawMaterials’ European network for raw materials innovation.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to startups, SMEs, large companies, universities, research centres, NGOs, government agencies and public institutions in RIS-eligible countries, including Cyprus.

Applications must be submitted by consortia meeting the call’s eligibility requirements. Each consortium must include at least two organisations from different RIS-eligible countries and represent at least two sides of the knowledge triangle: education, research and business.

The lead partner must be based in a RIS-eligible country. Organisations that are not yet partners can contact their regional innovation and knowledge centre for support.

The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) supports countries and regions with lower innovation performance by providing funding, expertise and networks to strengthen local innovation ecosystems, develop skills and bring new products, services and business models to market.

How To Apply

Applicants should download the call documents, including project templates and evaluation criteria, and prepare a proposal outlining the project’s objectives, expected impact and work plan.

Applications must be submitted through SeedBook. The deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026, at 13:00 CET.

About EIT RawMaterials

EIT RawMaterials supports Europe’s transition towards a green, circular and digital economy by promoting innovation, education and strategic cooperation across the raw materials sector.

Its work focuses on securing raw materials supply, closing material loops and developing new materials solutions.

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