Eight winners have been announced in a tender for the New Hungary Venture Capital Program (Új Magyarország Kockázati Tőkeprogram), which will see venture capital funds receiving EU backing to help finance local start-ups.
The eight winners were selected from among 18 applicants, and will be managing nearly Ft 45 billion (€165.75 million), of which the local firms will provide Ft 13.4 billion and the EU Ft 31.5 billion.
According to gazdasagiradio.hu, the winners are Big George’s NV Equity Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő, Central Fund Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt, DBH Investment Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt, Etalon Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt, Finext Startup Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt, Morando Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt, Portfolion Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt and Primus Capital Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt.
The funds are meant to target innovative SMEs in the early stages of their development.
The announcement follows an earlier tender that was withdrawn due to complaints about the selection criteria, writes Népszabadság.
In announcing the winners, Economy Minister István Varga said that Hungary was the first country in the European Union to launch a community-funded venture capital program aimed at SMEs.