Luxinnovation’s Fit 4 Start programme has smashed its own record, drawing 556 startup applications for its 17th edition, now including a Defence vertical.
Fit 4 Start, Luxinnovation’s flagship acceleration programme, has broken its own record with 556 startup applications for its 17th edition, up 12% from 2025’s 496. Nearly 75% of applicants are based outside Luxembourg, and a new Defence vertical joins Digital, HealthTech and Space. Digital drew the most submissions (395), followed by HealthTech (86), Space (46) and Defence (29). The final selection of 24 startups will be unveiled at Luxembourg Venture Days on 14-15 October 2026, with the six-month accompaniment starting in January 2027.
To find out more about what’s behind this record-breaking edition and the rationale for adding a Defence vertical, Silicon Luxembourg spoke with Barbara Ries and Félix Even, Start-Up Relations Advisors at Luxinnovation, who coordinate the programme.
This new record of 556 applications confirms continuous growth since 2015. What do you think explains the programme’s growing international appeal?
The growing success of Fit 4 Start comes from a combination of factors: a well-recognised support programme, an attractive equity-free funding package, and international promotion carried out throughout the year. The programme has also become a genuine gateway into the Luxembourg ecosystem, which has developed strongly in recent years. For many foreign startups, it’s a unique opportunity to quickly immerse themselves in the local ecosystem and grow their business there.
The addition of the Defence vertical marks an important evolution. What motivated this move, and what opportunities does it open up for Luxembourg?
Defence is a field that touches on several sectors, notably cybersecurity, space, and aerial and ground technologies. With this new vertical, the goal is to help early-stage startups position themselves in the defence market and develop sector-specific activities through tailored support. For Luxembourg, it’s an opportunity to build on existing strengths while developing expertise in strategic areas, in line with European ambitions for innovation in defence.
With 131 startups already graduated, which success stories best illustrate the impact of the Fit 4 Start programme?
Among the recent success stories, we can mention Partao, Exobiosphere and MON5, which have seen strong growth and achieved great milestones since going through the programme, demonstrating Fit 4 Start’s ability to support innovative startups in their development. More broadly, companies such as Salonkee, Kidola, ClimateCamp and R3 Robotics also illustrate the programme’s impact, through their funding rounds, international expansion and contribution to the Luxembourg ecosystem.
