The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Momchil Sabev, Director of the EIC and EISMEA

Join us for an interview with Momchil Sabev, Director of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), as we explore the critical role of public institutions in shaping Europe’s startup and innovation landscape.

With a career that bridges entrepreneurship, private sector consulting, and high-level EU leadership, Momchil shares how his diverse experiences inform his approach to supporting ambitious founders and driving systemic change across the continent.

This conversation shines a spotlight on EISMEA’s often-unsung but vital work in strengthening Europe’s innovation ecosystem. We delve into the biggest hurdles startups face when scaling internationally, the EIC’s growing impact in DeepTech, and why non-financial support – such as mentorship, strategic partnerships, and access to expertise – can be just as transformative as funding.

Momchil also explains how EISMEA and the EIC are tackling the fragmentation that still hinders startups from less-connected regions, ensuring opportunity is distributed evenly across Europe. Looking ahead, Momchil paints a vision for the next decade of European innovation—one where EISMEA and the EIC act as catalysts for a more integrated, competitive, and founder-friendly ecosystem.