FAQ

FAQ

General

How is RAPTOR different from an incubator or an accelerator programme?  

A typical incubator and accelerator programmes would offer some level of business training and investment or potential for investment. RAPTOR awards a cash grant and provides mentorship, with the end outcome being a minimum viable product and 1-week testing period. 

Who can apply? 

The RAPTOR call is open to start-ups or SMEs based in a European Union (EU) Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated state. 

Do I have to be from/based in the same city as the challenge?

No, you can be from and live anywhere, as long as your start-up/SME is based in a European Union (EU) Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated state. 

I am a start-up/SMEs with a developed solution already that fits the challenge. Am I am eligible? 

Yes, as long as you have plans to make some upgrades or modifications to your existing solution during the MVP development period and you participant fully in the mentoring and in situ-testing.

What if I already have an urban mobility solution but it does not connect to RAPTOR’s challenges? 

If you are an early-stage start-up, you may be interested in the EIT Urban Mobility Accelerator.  

What is the difference between City RAPTOR and RAPTOR Pilot 2? 

City RAPTOR and RAPTOR Pilot 2 both follow the RAPTOR programme framework. The key difference are: 

  • Timeline: City RAPTOR and RAPTOR Pilot 2 have slightly different timelines. See the webpage of each here on raptorproject.eu to view timelines. 
  • Management: City RAPTOR is run by partners of EIT Urban Mobility. RAPTOR Pilot 2 is run by the EIT Urban Mobility, with support from the cities involved.  
  • Financial Sustainability: The start-ups/SMEs that win City RAPTOR must be involved in a negotiation phase will begin to propose a suitable financial sustainability mechanism. The start-ups/SMEs that win RAPTOR Pilot 2 has no obligations related to financial sustainability with EIT Urban Mobility.  
Can I apply if my start-up/SME has non-EU equity ownership ?

Applications are accepted if start-ups or SME’s are legally registered in an EU Member State or a Third Country associated to Horizon Europe,

Competition

How many winners will be selected?

There will be one winner (in other words, one start-up/SME) per challenge. 

When and how will the winners get announced?

The communication will be by email to the main contact given in the application form on AwardsPlatform.

How will the solutions be evaluated?

The 3 evaluation criteria are innovation, feasibility, and impact. More information is available in the Competition Terms. 

See competition terms for City RAPTOR 

See competition terms for Pilot 2 

Can I apply to more than one challenge?

Yes, you may propose a solution to multiple challenges and/or multiple solutions to one specific challenge. However, no applicant may be awarded for more than one RAPTOR project. 

How does the selection process work?

The evaluation of proposals will be conducted in two stages. The first stage will be an individual evaluation of the applications on the online submission portal. The top 3 applications from each challenge will be invited to the second round panel hearing.

If my solution is not a winner, can I appeal?

There will be no appeal process.

Programme

What does the mentorship programme look like?

The mentorship programme us customised to meet the needs of each start-up/SME that is involved in RAPTOR. When start-ups/SMEs apply, they will already have been invited to supply some basic information about their foreseen mentoring needs, in the application form.

If I win, do I have to be in Barcelona or the relevant RAPTOR challenge city during the solution development phase?

No, you can work from anywhere, as long as you attend virtual check-in meetings and online mentoring sessions. Note that for the in-situ testing of your solution, you will need to be present in the RAPTOR challenge city.

How many much bureaucracy and workload will be involved for the winning start-ups/SMEs?

RAPTOR is designed to be as agile as possible. There will a simple monitoring process compulsory as explained in the terms and conditions.

Could I be disqualified for some reasons after being awarded?

EIT Urban Mobility S.L may withdraw all or part of the prize awarded if the terms and conditions contained in these rules are violated, or in the event of any significant deviation from the stated content and objectives for the responder’s proposal. A basis for withdrawal of part of the award would be: if progress to MVP development ceased, or if an MVP was not provided for the PARTNER by the specified date. However, underperformance issues of an MVP in-situ would not be grounds for withdrawal of the prize in and of itself.

City RAPTOR

What do the winning start-ups/SMEs get? 

The winning start-ups/SMEs will win an award package made up of mentoring, advice, hosting, and cash. The total value of each RAPTOR award package is up to 50.000 EUR.  

The package includes office space hosting of the Awardees in the city provided location.  

The award package also includes mentoring and support over the development phase covering technical and business mentoring as well as marketing/promotion.  

The award package also includes a cash element of 30.000 EUR (excluding VAT). 

Will winning start-ups/SMEs have to give shares of their company to EIT Urban Mobility? 

Once the winning start-up/SMEs are selected, a negotiation phase will begin to propose a suitable financial sustainability mechanism (FSM) that provides a Return on Investment (ROI) for EIT Urban Mobility via:  

• Grant in exchange for Applicant’s contribution to EIT Urban Mobility Financial Sustainability or SAFE agreement,  

or 

• Revenue share, equity, or product and service fees 

EIT Urban Mobility and the cities involved in CITY RAPTOR have fully trained business mentors who can support through this FSM process, which must be concluded by 9 September 2022. 

How does the SAFE model applies to Awarded Start-ups ?

In the case a winning start-up/SMEs chooses a SAFE agreement with EIT Urban Mobility, the following condition apply :

• The 30.000 EUR cash award is dedicated to implement the solution and answer to the city challenge. However, in the case of a SAFE agreement, from 20.000 EUR to 30.000 EUR value of future shares will be committed to EIT Urban Mobility.

RAPTOR Pilot 2

What do the winning start-ups/SMEs get? 

The winning start-ups/SMEs will be awarded a prize package worth up to 50.000 EUR to support the development and in-situ testing of their minimum viable product (MVP) solution.  

Awardees will sign a declaration accepting the prize and its conditions before the disbursement of the award.  

The cash element of the prize package is 30.000 EUR (excluding VAT).  

The prize package also includes mentoring and support over the RAPTOR project timeframe, covering technical and business mentoring as well as marketing and promotion.  

The prize package includes hosting of the awardees up to 2-day per week in the main EIT Urban Mobility offices in Torres Glories, Floor 24, Avenida Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain.  

Will winning start-ups/SMEs have to give shares of their company to EIT Urban Mobility? 

No, this is not a component of the RAPTOR Pilot 2. Winning start-ups/SMEs that are interested in investment may be invited to engage with the relevant EIT Urban Mobility staff about opportunities, but it is in no way a part of the RAPTOR Pilot 2 programme.  

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Email us at raptor@eiturbanmobility.eu


This project is funded by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
EIT Urban Mobility acts to accelerate positive change on mobility to make urban spaces more liveable. Learn more: eiturbanmobility.eu.

raptor@eiturbanmobility.eu

EIT Urban Mobility Headquarters
Torre Glories, Diagonal 211
25th Floor
08018 Barcelona
Spain

Press Corner

If you are a journalist interested in receiving further information on RAPTOR activities, announcements, press events or in booking an interview with a representative, please contact:

media@eiturbanmobility.eu
+34 654 017 463