Companies such as Skype, WaveLight AG, Fimasys, PassivSystems, Aluwave, BMEYE, Interinfo, Energate, Fluxome and many others would not exist today without the funding and guidance provided during their early stages by venture capitalists supported by the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP, 2007-2013) and its predecessor programme.4 This highlights that venture capital funds and