What benefits does the Ready to Scale program provide?

The program helps deep-tech startups raise €5M+ faster, win real customers and validation, scale from MVP to market-ready products, increase TRL with technology experts, build leadership-ready teams, and master compliance from day one.

When is the application deadline for Spring Cohort 2026?

Applications for the Spring Cohort 2026 must be submitted before February 25, 2026.

What is the application process?

The application process consists of 6 steps: Check entry criteria, complete quick readiness check, submit extended application, participate in Top 20 selection, final cohort decision, and kickoff & pitch event.

Deep-Tech Scale-Up Program | Ready to Scale by Gateway Factory

Text 'Build the next €100M Deeptech Company' with 3D text 'Ready to Scale' in red, accompanied by a flying UFO on the left and a space shuttle on the right.

Apply now

LET’S BUILD YOUR ROCKET TO GET READY TO SCALE

Gateway Factory is launching its DeepTech Scale-Up Program every 6 months, designed to help ambitious founders scale from MVP to market and from Seed to Series A.

Use your chance to earn the next ticket to Orbit!

What You Get With Us

FUNDING: RAISE €5M+ FASTER
BUSINESS READINESS: WIN REAL CUSTOMERS AND VALIDATION
PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY: SCALE FROM MVP TO MARKET-READY, INCREASE YOUR TRL WITH YOUR TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS
PEOPLE & OPERATIONS: BUILD A LEADERSHIP-READY TEAM
REGULATION & COMPLIANCE: MASTER COMPLIANCE FROM DAY ONE

Are you...

Text reading 'Ready to Scale' in bold orange letters with a modern font.

I didn't expect anything when we started, and they even allowed me to kind of nominate a mentor who has been added and who has had a really huge impact on our AI and software development.

– Melanie Guenter, LIMAA Technologies

When you are a founder and you're stuck in your daily operations, it's very important to get external impulses. Experts who have done that several times already.

– Sebastian Kleff, sovity

We really wanted to learn from peers and not do a lot of top-down mentoring programs. More learning from founders who are on the same path as we are.

– Marius Pohle, maesn

Meet our teams

batch#1

batch#2

The most ambitious deep-tech founders are already applying.
‍Are you one of them?

Diagram of a space shuttle with labels indicating its external tank, solid rocket boosters, and orbiter components.

Join Europe’s next generation of tech leaders.

Applications are accepted at any time.

New cohorts begin in Spring and Autumn. If you’re ready to scale, apply now!

How to apply

So, you're ready to scale your DeepTech startup?
Perfect, we’re ready to support you.

Here’s how our application and selection process works:
‍
Step 1: Check Our Entry Criteria:
Deeptech Startups
5+ employees
€100k+ revenue OR €1M+ Seed funding
Scalable business model
National or European team

Step 2: Quick Readiness Check
‍Fill out our short application form. It takes just a few minutes and helps us assess whether your startup fits the program’s focus and criteria.

Step 3: Extended Application
‍As a next step you’ll receive an invitation to complete a more detailed application. Tell us more about your vision, product, traction, and what makes you a game changer.

Step 4: The Top 20 Selection
‍From all submissions, the 20 most promising startups will be selected to pitch in front of our team in a virtual 1:1 session.

Step 5: Final Cohort Decision
‍After the pitch calls, we’ll select the final cohort of 15 teams – a group of ambitious, impact-driven startups ready to scale across Europe with the Gateway Factory network at their side.

Step 6: Kickoff & Pitch Event
‍Mark your calendars: October 6th 2026, the selected cohort will join us in Cologne for the official program kickoff. You’ll meet partners, investors, and stakeholders – and take the stage with a pitch in front of an exclusive audience.

Contact Information

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