⚠ Summarised by AI based on an external source. Last updated: 12 May 2026. Starthubs is not liable for any inaccuracies. Always consult the official challenge information.
xdeck is a Cologne-based accelerator built by founders for founders — and Batch #14 is now open for applications. The fellowship is fully equity-free and fee-free: xdeck takes no stake and charges nothing, and instead delivers a personalised acceleration package tailored to where your startup actually needs help. The early-bird deadline is 1 July 2026, the final deadline 1 August 2026, with Pitch Day on 3 September 2026 and Batch #14 kicking off mid-September. Eight startups will be selected.
What is xdeck looking for?
xdeck partners with early-stage B2B tech and software startups from across Europe — pre-seed teams with the ambition to raise equity funding and the drive to build scalable, defensible companies. The selection assessment runs along six dimensions, the "6 T's": Team (skills, experience and founder-fit), Thesis (your proposed solution and why customers would treat it as a must-have), Technology (core value proposition and defensibility in an AI-accelerated market), Traction (milestones such as revenue, PoCs, LOIs and product shipments), TAM (market size, ICP and competitive landscape), and Timing (why now is the right moment to enter the market and what you want to achieve in the next twelve months). The programme is sector-agnostic within B2B tech, with a clear preference for technically defensible software propositions.
Who is this for?
Pre-seed B2B tech and software founders building scalable ventures, based anywhere in Europe (the Netherlands is explicitly in scope — past batches include startups from Berlin, Hamburg and beyond). Teams should be ready for hands-on operator support and willing to engage in a structured acceleration process. Service businesses, consultancies or hardware-heavy plays without a software core are less of a fit; xdeck's mentor and alumni network is firmly anchored in B2B SaaS, enterprise software and platform models. Founders should also be open to spending time in Cologne for sparring sessions and xdays, though the programme is not strictly residential.
What's in it for you?
- Equity-free, fee-free fellowship — no stake taken, no hidden costs
- Fully individualised acceleration package focused on B2B sales, feature prioritisation, fundraising and hiring
- Structured four-phase process: diagnosis (1:1 founder interviews, sales call shadowing, product demos), objectives (OKR session with expert), acceleration (bi-weekly sparring with xdeck buddies, founder-led xdays, monthly mentoring) and alumni
- Access to a mentor bench of operator-founders, including alumni of Cleverbridge, LeanIX, Warehousing1, Kapten & Son, Qualifyze, RightNow Group, Fincite and others
- Alumni network of 100+ startups, 15+ partners and 25+ mentors — 91% of past xdeck startups are still active, collectively raising €300M+ in funding
- Potential follow-on funding through xdeck.vc, the team's own venture fund
- Average founder happiness score of 9.3/10 across past batches