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25.02.2026.|
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Copy linkBelgrade’s Katapult among leading European startup hubs
The list of leading European startup hubs by the British newspaper Financial Times includes the largest number of hubs from Great Britain, Germany and Spain, but the Katapult accelerator from Serbia is also there, in 48th place. The list is published for the third consecutive year and ranks the best centers that provide programs to help people build or develop a company. It includes 180 startup hubs from 25 countries across Europe.
In this year’s list of “Leading European Startup Hubs 2026,” the first three places are held by German companies, and in first place, for the third consecutive year, is UnternehmerTUM from Munich. This company was founded in 2002 and has helped more than a thousand companies so far. Second is the Start2 group, also from Munich, with an international presence in 18 countries, and third is BeyStartUP from Nuremberg, with good results in connecting early-stage company founders with financing opportunities in Bavaria.
The Belgrade-based company Katapult Akcelerator was founded in 2021. It has a score of 79.79 on the list compared to 91.82 for the first-placed UnternehmerTUM. The website katapult-akcelerator.rs states that they support companies that are in the process of developing business ideas or expanding, from various industries, with an emphasis on areas defined in the Smart Specialization Strategy of Serbia. So far, they have supported 80 startups. In terms of the region, the list also includes two Croatian startup centers (in 52nd and 129th place) and four Slovenian ones (in 38th, 54th, 91st, and 144th place).
As stated by the Financial Times, in order for a startup center to qualify for a place on the list, it must be operating since at least 2021, be physically located in Europe, and run at least one incubation or acceleration program. The views of investors, entrepreneurs, and academics were also taken into account in creating the list, as well as the success of the centers’ “graduates.” Those who went through the centers were asked to rate how well they were provided with mentoring and training, infrastructure, legal assistance, and networking and funding opportunities.
The full report on Europe’s leading startup centers will be published on March 5.
In this year’s list of “Leading European Startup Hubs 2026,” the first three places are held by German companies, and in first place, for the third consecutive year, is UnternehmerTUM from Munich. This company was founded in 2002 and has helped more than a thousand companies so far. Second is the Start2 group, also from Munich, with an international presence in 18 countries, and third is BeyStartUP from Nuremberg, with good results in connecting early-stage company founders with financing opportunities in Bavaria.
The Belgrade-based company Katapult Akcelerator was founded in 2021. It has a score of 79.79 on the list compared to 91.82 for the first-placed UnternehmerTUM. The website katapult-akcelerator.rs states that they support companies that are in the process of developing business ideas or expanding, from various industries, with an emphasis on areas defined in the Smart Specialization Strategy of Serbia. So far, they have supported 80 startups. In terms of the region, the list also includes two Croatian startup centers (in 52nd and 129th place) and four Slovenian ones (in 38th, 54th, 91st, and 144th place).
As stated by the Financial Times, in order for a startup center to qualify for a place on the list, it must be operating since at least 2021, be physically located in Europe, and run at least one incubation or acceleration program. The views of investors, entrepreneurs, and academics were also taken into account in creating the list, as well as the success of the centers’ “graduates.” Those who went through the centers were asked to rate how well they were provided with mentoring and training, infrastructure, legal assistance, and networking and funding opportunities.
The full report on Europe’s leading startup centers will be published on March 5.
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