Funding and Mentorship for European Media Innovators

Deadline: 1 April 2025

Applications are open for the second cycle of the Validation Booster programme, offering European media outlets, networks, and content creators the opportunity to test and refine their business ideas with expert support.

Objectives and Scope

The Validation Booster is a tailor-made acceleration programme for media outlets, networks, initiatives and individual content creators who want to learn how to do validation of business ideas that imply new digital products/services, diving into the process of rethinking a media’s potential and feasibility in the digital environment.
Successful applicants, in addition to the financial support through awarded grants, will benefit from mentorship and capacity building in the domain of business development during the six-month-long acceleration process (per cycle). In addition to the financial support through awarded grants, successful applicants will benefit from mentorship and strong capacity building in business development within the Validation Booster programme.
Successful applicants are expected to allocate their time for the programme for six months, including:
- Active participation in 12 online workshops over 4 months (each workshop lasts 4 hours);
- So-called “validation execution” over 2 months where successful applicants are expected to use learned tools to research, talk to their target audiences, validate their ideas -or learn that they need to pivot.
- Lastly, at the end of the project, create a pitch deck to formulate the best, most effective, most comprehensive way to quickly explain their new business to anyone they address (audience, potential donors, future clients…)

Funding Information

Successful applicants will receive up to €5,000 in grant funding and tailored mentorship to develop sustainable, digital-first media ventures.
Grant Budget Ranges:
- Grants for individuals – ceiling of up to EUR 3,000
- Grants for informal initiatives – ceiling of up to EUR 3,000
- Grants for media outlets/organisations – ceiling of up to EUR 5,000
Programme duration: June 2025 – November 2025

How it works?

Over six months, participants will take part in:
- Twelve online workshops over 4 months (each workshop lasts 4 hours)
- A two-month practical phase where participants test their ideas, conduct market research, and refine their business model
- One-on-one mentorship from media industry experts
- The creation of a pitch deck to present their validated concept to investors, funders, and potential partners
- By the end of the programme, participants will have a clear business case, tested in real-world conditions, and the confidence to seek further funding.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to:
- Independent media outlets and networks
- Individual content creators and journalists
- Media-focused civil society organisations (CSOs)
- Niche platforms, particularly those covering climate, renewable energy, and the green transition
Applicants must be based in one of the following eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine.

Evaluation Criteria