EWOR vs KTH Innovation: A Complete Comparison

Choosing the right platform to grow your startup can shape everything – from who you build with to how fast you scale. If you’re deciding between KTH Innovation and EWOR, it’s worth asking: Are you building for the campus or for the world?

This article breaks down how EWOR and KTH Innovation compare across five key areas – programme structure, mentorship, funding, network, and selectivity – so you can choose the platform that best matches your ambition.

1. Programme Structure and Educational Support

Both EWOR and KTH Innovation offer structured programmes designed to help entrepreneurs grow. But they differ significantly in depth, flexibility, and global access.

EWOR offers two core fellowships:

• Ideation Fellowship, for refining and validating early-stage ideas
• Traction Fellowship, for scaling existing ventures

Both combine founder-led education, expert mentorship, and startup-building resources tailored to your stage. The experience is modular and remote-first – designed to move with you, not slow you down.

Each programme combines founder-led education, real-world mentorship, and global access. Participants get 24/7 access to a curated library of over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and modules – designed by unicorn founders, investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs. From validating ideas to securing your first term sheet, the modules are tailored to support you and your journey as a founder.

KTH Innovation offers a range of entrepreneurial programs designed to support students, researchers, and employees in developing technology-based ideas into viable ventures. These programs provide free commercialization support, including personal business development coaching, legal assistance with intellectual property, help securing funding, and guidance in building effective teams. A unique aspect of the support is the focus on deeptech and research-based innovations. KTH Innovation also facilitates international exposure through programs like Brighter, which takes startups to global innovation environments. Additionally, KTH's involvement in the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) provides access to a broader network and courses in applied entrepreneurship.

In short, while KTH Innovation offers a solid foundation through on-campus resources and local networking, EWOR provides greater flexibility – with a global reach and a more in-depth entrepreneurial curriculum ideal for students seeking international exposure and mentorship.

2. Mentorship Opportunities

Mentorship isn’t just about guidance – it’s about who’s guiding you. EWOR links fellows with unicorn founders, exited entrepreneurs, and top operators across industries. These aren’t guest speakers; they’re active full-time mentors at EWOR, many of whom have built and exited €1B+ companies like SumUp, ProGlove, and Adjust. 

By contrast, KTH Innovation often leans on faculty or regional entrepreneurs. While valuable, this advice can be theoretical or context-limited. EWOR offers mentorship grounded in real outcomes – helping you tackle investor meetings, product pivots, or global go-to-market strategy with confidence.

KTH Innovation offers mentorship programs connecting students and entrepreneurs with experienced individuals to help scale their ventures. Mentors, often with backgrounds in industry or founding companies, provide expertise, advice, and network access. They assist with various aspects of business growth, including business development, sales, and market entry. The programs aim to bridge the gap between research-based innovations and the entrepreneurial resources needed for scaling. Mentors offer new perspectives and guidance on navigating the commercialization process. This support is crucial for developing projects and increasing the chances of successful scaling.

At EWOR, mentorship isn’t theoretical – it’s experiential. You’re matched with experienced mentors who are a part of a global network of over 1,000 investors and mentors. Whether you're refining your pitch, making your first hires, or navigating product-market fit, you'll have seasoned operators at your side – helping you move faster and build smarter.

3. Funding and Investment Opportunities

One of the key differences between EWOR and KTH Innovation is the access to funding. EWOR provides up to €500,000 in funding for selected startups, offering crucial financial support in the early stages. Beyond that, EWOR connects participants with a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angels. Fellows also take part in what is called the “Grand Pitch”, an exclusive event where they present to hundreds of vetted investors, helping reduce fundraising time by over 80%. On average, EWOR founders raise 130% more than typical pre-seed startups at 2.5x higher valuations, thanks to the quality of the network and hands-on support. It’s not just about finding capital - it’s about raising smarter, faster, and on better terms.

KTH Innovation offers various funding options to support students and entrepreneurs. They manage the Vinnova funding program VFT-1 for early-stage funding, where teams can apply for up to 300,000 SEK. This funding can be used for market research or prototype development. KTH Innovation also provides initial proof-of-concept funding, around 5,000 euro, to assess market interest and business concept viability. Projects are selected from those working with business development coaches. KTH Innovation helps secure funding to verify technology, file patents, and build teams. They also connect startups with investors through networks like the EarlyBird Network, which focuses on early-stage tech startups from KTH. KTH Holding, part of the KTH innovation ecosystem, can invest in startups based on KTH research and education, often providing initial small investments to validate ideas and attract further investment.

While KTH Innovation may offer grants or seed funding for early-stage startups, EWOR’s ability to provide substantial initial funding and connect entrepreneurs with a global investor network gives it a clear edge in supporting scalable business growth.

4. Networking and Community

Being part of a supportive entrepreneurial community can make a significant difference in an entrepreneur’s journey. EWOR fosters a tight-knit, selective community that includes some of the most promising entrepreneurs from around the world. Participants gain more than just access to mentors, experts, and investors – they join an exclusive network of peers who are just as driven, talented, and committed to building ambitious, high-impact startups. For example, many fellows are working on startups that tackle urgent global challenges such as climate change, education inequality, mental health, and financial inclusion.

KTH Innovation provides a supportive and creative community for students and entrepreneurs. They can connect with peers through programs, events, and workshops focused on idea development and networking. KTH Innovation also facilitates connections with industry professionals, investors, potential customers, and alumni through its global network and targeted introductions. This helps individuals test and develop their ideas, find team members, and gain valuable guidance and support.

While KTH Innovation likely has a strong on-campus community and access to local networks, EWOR’s global reach and exclusive cohort model ensure that participants can connect with a diverse range of entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors from different regions and industries. 

5. Selectivity and Prestige

Both EWOR and KTH Innovation are selective in admitting participants, but the level of exclusivity differs. EWOR is known for being highly selective, accepting only the top 0.1% of applicants. This ensures that participants are surrounded by equally talented and driven individuals, creating a stimulating environment where excellence is the norm.

KTH Innovation is a prestigious hub within the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, one of Europe's leading technical universities. KTH itself is highly selective, with a rigorous academic process. KTH Innovation supports promising startup teams with resources and expertise. They accept a limited number of new projects twice a year. While they don't have a strict selection process to weed out ideas initially, they use a tool called the KTH Innovation Readiness Level (KTH IRL) to assess projects. This tool evaluates ideas across six dimensions: Technology Readiness Level, Customer Readiness Level, IPR Readiness Level, Team Readiness Level, Market Opportunity Readiness, and Funding Readiness Level. To be eligible for some funding, projects need to reach a certain readiness level in all dimensions. They look for teams with a prototype, an initial team, and the ambition to commit for 6-12 months. At least 30% of the team members must be KTH students, researchers, or employees.

While KTH Innovation may have its own competitive admissions process, EWOR’s rigorous selection criteria and international focus create a prestigious network of entrepreneurs who are among the best in their field, offering unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and growth.

In case you’re unsure whether EWOR is the right fit for you, here are just a few recent fellows:

• Jørgen Tveit – Oxford engineering graduate, co-designer of a revolutionary underwater flywheel, and recipient of Europe’s largest-ever pre-seed round (€13M).
• Lukas Köstler – PhD in Computer Vision (TUM), ex-Tesla Autopilot engineer, now building a Spatial AI startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp (€4M raised).
• Nick D'Aloisio – Founded his first company at 16 (€30M exit to Yahoo), sold his second to Twitter, and is now working on neuro-inspired deep learning.
• Faris Fakhry – MIT nuclear physicist assembling a team to develop a next-gen fission test reactor, backed by Thiel Fellowship founders.
• Rihab Lajmi – Ex-Google/Microsoft engineer with 100k+ followers, now building a conversational AI recruiter targeting a €30B market.

These are the kinds of people you’ll build alongside at EWOR. Don’t settle for average. Build with the exceptional.

That’s a Wrap

Choosing between EWOR and KTH Innovation isn’t just about comparing features – it’s about deciding the kind of founder you want to become.

If you’re looking for local resources and campus connections, KTH Innovation may offer a solid start. But if you’re building for something bigger – if you want global mentorship, significant early funding, and a community that challenges you to operate at the highest level – then EWOR is built for you.

Want to see if EWOR’s Ideation or Traction Fellowship is right for you? Explore how our fellowships work – or start your application today.

Image credits: Kaleidico on Unsplash