Programme Manager Business Creation

EIT Culture & Creativity is the institutional partnership dedicated to helping European cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI) to become more sustainable, resilient, and competitive.

Launched in 2023 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, an EU body, we provide access to funding, knowledge, and tailored support. As part of the largest European innovation network, we build lasting connections between research, industry, academia, and cultural institutions.

• Our vision is to fundamentally strengthen the CCSI as a vital force for transformation—economically, socially, and environmentally.
• Our mission is to drive responsible growth in and beyond the CCSI through innovation, education, business creation and societal transformation.

Our first focus is on five key areas: architecture, gaming, fashion, cultural heritage, audio-visual and media. We support innovators every step of the way to scale their ideas, translate innovation into impact, and redefine what entrepreneurship means today.

We are present across 30 countries, with our HQ in Cologne, and Regional Hubs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Košice, and Vienna — building a powerful ecosystem that transcends silos, sectors and localization.

We believe that culture and creativity are not luxuries, but constitute a critical infrastructure for resilience, renewal and economic growth. Whether you are a creative innovator, a company, a university, a research center, a cultural institution, an investor, a policymaker, a civic leader or someone on a learning journey, we invite you to join us in imaging desirable futures for Europe.

Programme Manager Business Creation (all genders)

Locations: Italy, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Finland

ABOUT THE POSITION

EIT Culture & Creativity is looking for a Programme Manager Business Creation to lead the delivery of Spark, our pan-European incubation and pre-acceleration programme, for cohorts 2027 and 2028. This is a fixed-term role for a maximum of two years, covering the full lifecycle of both cohorts.

Spark supports aspiring entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI) in turning early-stage ideas into registered companies that are ready to pursue product-market fit. The programme runs in two connected phases: short, high-intensity start-up sprints, followed by an in-depth programme delivery journey of nine months in total.

You will own the end-to-end design and delivery of both phases across the two cohorts, working directly with aspiring founders as well as trainers, mentors, and partners across our pan-European network. We are looking for a highly entrepreneurial individual who thrives on building and running high-energy, high-touch programmes for early-stage founders.

ABOUT THE TASK & MISSION

Your key accountabilities include:

Programme Design, Planning and Coordination

Prepare and coordinate the Spark incubation programme and its funding/application calls for cohorts 2027 and 2028.

Design and run the start-up sprints and the 9-month programme delivery journey, including progress, evaluation and monitoring systems.

Plan and organise hackathons and other high-intensity, sprint-style formats as part of the participant journey.

Collaborate with trainers, mentors, and third-party partners across Europe to deliver the programme effectively.

Track and report on the progress of the approximately 30 ventures per cohort participating in Spark, from early idea to registered company preparing for product-market fit.

Work with the PMO on selection, reporting, deliverables, and monitoring of programme and funding progress.

Define procedures to reach key performance indicators (KPIs) and track their achievement.

Founder Support & Engagement

Ensure the learning and growth objectives of Spark align with the real needs of aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders.

Maintain ongoing support and engagement with participants beyond graduation, fostering successful ventures to apply for subsequent EIT Culture & Creativity support programmes for startups and scaleups

Coordinate with other parts of the organisation to connect founders with services such as access to market, finance, skills, talent, and a seal of excellence.

Organise and execute activities to showcase participating start-ups, including Demo Days and pitching sessions.

Manage the integration of participants and alumni into EIT Culture & Creativity tools.

THE REQUIREMENTS

To be successful in your role, you must have:

We are looking for a highly entrepreneurial Programme Manager with experience designing and delivering incubation, pre-acceleration, or venture building programmes for aspiring entrepreneurs and newly formed ventures.

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