On 16 February 2026, the first ACCEND cohort met online for its kick-off: 29 deep tech scaleups from 12 countries, selected from 43 eligible applications.
The session went straight into practical questions: how to find testbeds, how procurement support works across countries, and how to get investor-ready for events like Slush. Companies also gained access to the bespoke ACCEND platform, where they can see the whole cohort, arrange meetings with each other and post what they need or offer.
Within days, every company was contacted by its ACCEND Guide to book a first session and map out an initial ACCEND Pathway.
Screenshot of kickoff meeting showing logos of ACCEND Cohort 1 companies