Stellar Development Foundation Launches First EMEA Accelerator, Powered by CV Labs
Published: 2026-05-01T16:50:59 · Updated: 2026-05-01T14:50:59Z
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has opened applications for its inaugural EMEA accelerator, run in partnership with CV Labs. The 12-week program will accept ten early-stage startups building across payments infrastructure, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and decentralized finance sectors where Stellar has recorded sharp institutional growth over the past year.
Real-world assets on the network grew 158% in 2025, while total value locked rose 127%. The network now counts more than 10 million active accounts and over 21.5 billion total operations. Franklin Templeton, PayPal, MoneyGram, Visa, Mastercard, and U.S. Bank are among the institutions that have integrated Stellar into live or pilot systems for payments and settlement.
Why EMEA
EMEA is home to more than two billion people and is one of the fastest-growing digital regions globally. Stellar already has operational footing there through integrations with Yellowcard and Flutterwave, and portfolio investments in Invoicemate, ChipperCash, Kredete, OkHi, and Cedar. The accelerator formalizes that presence and directs dedicated resources toward early-stage teams in the region.
"When it comes to using blockchain in real-world financial applications, the EMEA region is one of the most dynamic globally," said José Fernández da Ponte, President and Chief Growth Officer at SDF. "Through this accelerator with CV Labs, we want to support founders in the region building scalable financial infrastructure that can operate across borders while advancing our broader mission of improving access to the global financial system."
Who Should Apply
The program targets premium founders with a genuine competitive edge whether through team background, jurisdictional positioning, or early product-market fit. Startups building on other chains are eligible and encouraged to apply, provided there is intent to integrate with the Stellar tech stack.
Regional scope: Startups based in or serving Africa, the Middle East, or Europe.
Focus areas: Decentralized finance, cross-border payments, and real-world asset tokenization.
Eligibility requirements:
- Founders must be 18 or older
- Applicants cannot be residents of sanctioned jurisdictions, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine, or other OFAC-designated territories
- Projects must contribute to the Stellar ecosystem and cannot facilitate illegal activity, gambling, or deceptive practices
Existing Stellar ecosystem companies may apply, though the $150,000 XLM development grant is a one-time award and will not be reissued to teams that have previously received it.
What Participants Receive
The program is entirely free for selected startups and structured around non-dilutive capital.
Funding: Up to $150,000 in XLM for development from SDF. Additional funding opportunities include growth awards, marketing grants, and matching fund investment contingent on completing a mainnet launch on Stellar and meeting defined traction milestones.
Perks: Access to a benefits package valued at over $200,000, including co-working space access, cloud credits, design and branding consultancy, and discounts on code audits.
Programming: Hands-on guidance across customer development, product strategy, tokenomics, regulatory navigation, and go-to-market execution.
Network access: Direct exposure to investors and financial institutions active in the Stellar ecosystem, plus access to CV VC's venture network[cite: 1]. CV VC's recent merger with Elixir Capital also opens pathways into Hub71 in Abu Dhabi for teams seeking strategic opportunities in the UAE.
Logistics: Travel stipends and accommodation for the South Africa component. The SDF may also cover costs for the Lisbon Demo Day. Visa invitation letters are provided to support international travel where needed.
Program Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | Early July 2026 |
| Program start | Early August 2026 |
| On-site component | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Demo Day | Stellar Meridian, Lisbon, Portugal — October 2026 |
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Strong candidates will be invited to an interview with the SDF and CV VC investment teams before final selections are made.
About CV Labs
The accelerator is operated by CV Labs, the ecosystem arm of blockchain venture capital firm CV VC[cite: 1]. CV Labs runs innovation hubs across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, and the UAE, and has a track record of accelerating startups that have since entered the CV VC venture portfolio.
"Our acceleration-as-a-service model has already helped other leading blockchain ecosystems," said Olaf Hannemann, Co-Founder at CV VC. "With Stellar, we are now bringing that track record to one of the fastest-growing digital regions in the world."
Applications are open now at cvlabs.com/accelerator/stellar.