New DYPA Program to Support Youth Entrepreneurship for Unemployed Individuals Aged 18-29.
Focus on Women, Digital & Green Economy

The Call for the Program "Support of new entrepreneurship for unemployed youth aged 18-29, with an emphasis on women and the digital & green economy", with a total budget of €37 million, has been announced. It will benefit 2,114 unemployed individuals nationwide.

The program provides a €17,500 grant for the establishment of new businesses by young adults aged 18-29.

Applications are open from 18/02/2026 to 18/03/2026 23/03/2026 (without priority order).

Beneficiaries of the action are registered unemployed individuals in the DYPA (former OAED) registry who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs) and submit a funding application.

The funding application (investment proposal) is submitted exclusively online through the DYPA Information System and includes a business plan proposal.

The funding amount for new businesses is €17,500, paid in three installments:

• 1st installment of €4,700, after approval & commencement of activity (Tax Office).
• 2nd installment of €6,400, after the end of the 1st semester from commencement.
• 3rd installment of €6,400, after the end of the 2nd semester from commencement.

The Investment Center [Blackbird Group] provides full support: eligibility check, expected score estimation, and the preparation/submission of an accurate application for the best possible outcome.

⬢ Basic Requirements

To submit an application, a beneficiary must primarily meet the following conditions:

• Hold a valid unemployment card at the time of application.
• Have completed the personalized approach process and agreed to a Digital Individual Action Plan (Digital ASD) by DYPA.
• Have not participated in a DYPA New Freelancers program from 2019 onwards.
• Be aged between 18 and 29 years old.
• Not be engaged in education, employment, or training (NEETs).
  *Male candidates must have fulfilled their military obligations.

⬢ Eligible Business Types

Almost all new business activities are eligible, with very few exceptions. Indicatively, professional activities requiring a vacant position (notaries, bailiffs, etc.), public transport vehicles (taxis, etc.), seasonal businesses (canteens, kiosks, mobile businesses), franchises, shop-in-shop, agency networks, gambling/electronic games, and businesses operating exclusively after 22:00, etc., are not eligible.

⬢ Funding Amount & Distribution

The grant amount is a lump sum of €17,500, paid in 3 installments:

• 1st installment of €4,700, after commencement of activity at the Tax Office and in any case following the approval decision (Milestone A).
• 2nd installment of €6,400, after the end of the 1st semester from commencement, following the verification of a 6-month operation (Milestone B).
• 3rd installment of €6,400, after the end of the 2nd semester from commencement, following the verification of an additional 6-month operation (Milestone C).

⬢ Subsidized Expenses

There is no longer a requirement for expense matching in the program (specific invoices are not requested as in the past). For Milestones B and C, a summary of income-expenses derived from accounting records (myDATA) is required to prove that the grant was consumed for the operational needs of the business during the subsidized period.

⬢ Inclusion Process

Applications will be accepted until the 2,114 spots are filled. The evaluation is comparative: applications are approved based on their scoring rank, starting from the highest scores.

The commencement of the business can take place after the submission of the application and, as stated, no later than 125 days following a positive evaluation (approval).

The business to be established must operate within Greece.

The program, with a total budget of €37,000,000, is co-funded by the Greek State and the European Social Fund+ under the "Human Resources and Social Cohesion" 2021-2027 program.

⬢ Program Guide / Documents