InvestEU SME Window (guarantees and equity via financial intermediaries)
InvestEU - SME Window
Status not published
Continuous. Financial intermediaries are selected via EIF calls for expression of interest; SMEs apply to the intermediary at any time.
Not a grant and not applied for directly. InvestEU provides an EU budget guarantee that lets banks, guarantee institutions, leasing companies, venture debt providers and VC funds lend to or invest in SMEs on better terms. Founders access it by borrowing from an accredited local intermediary, which discloses InvestEU backing in the loan documentation.
European Commission with the European Investment Bank Group (EIB, EIF) and other implementing partners
ppp · supranational
Deadline: rolling — Continuous. Financial intermediaries are selected via EIF calls for expression of interest; SMEs apply to the intermediary at any time.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Quick — mostly identity and bank details.
Who can apply
- Stage: seed, series_a, growth
- Locally registered entity required
SME or small mid-cap established in an EU Member State. Final eligibility and pricing are set by the intermediary.
How to apply
- Use the EIF or InvestEU 'find a financial intermediary' search for your country
- Apply for financing directly to that bank, guarantee body or fund
- The intermediary applies the InvestEU-backed terms (reduced collateral, longer tenor or lower rate) as part of its normal credit process
Source. https://investeu.europa.eu/what-investeu-programme/investeu-fund_en — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked