(and how to avoid common mistakes)
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Applying for your first grant, whether cascade funding or any other EU scheme, can feel like stepping into unknown territory. Most organisations, especially newly registered ones, underestimate how much they already have to offer, or overestimate what evaluators expect.
Here are 10 things first-time applicants wish they had known earlier, and how you can use them to turn your early-stage organisation into a winning contender.
1. You can still stay ahead of the game, even if you just registered your company
If your organisation is only days or months old and you are looking for funding fast, it is completely normal to feel you have “nothing to show yet.” But you have far more to offer than you think.
One of the best hidden tricks? Leverage the past successes of your team.
Even if those achievements come from previous jobs, the know-how is now part of your company. Evaluators want to see the human capital behind the organisation.
Once you put these achievements on paper, your company suddenly looks – and feels – much stronger.
2. Shine boldly with your HUMAN CAPITAL
If you’re a brand-new entity with no grants, awards or major projects yet, never invent accomplishments. Evaluators can verify information quickly. So exaggeration can easily backfire.
Instead, highlight what you do have:
- Competencies
- Past roles and experience
- Certifications
- Industry connections
- Unique knowledge
When described clearly and honestly, your team’s collective skillset becomes your greatest early-stage asset.
3. Being newcomer to Cascade funding is not a weakness, but going unprepared is
A freshly established organisation applying for a grant, UNPREPARED, is like going to war without a weapon.
But proceeding completely unarmed is avoidable.
With the right preparation, guidance and storytelling, you can still enter the competitive arena holding solid “aces”, credible assets that evaluators recognise.
A seasoned business development and EU projects team, like ours at Sploro, knows exactly what questions to ask you to uncover your hidden strengths and present them in the most evaluator-enticing and convincing way.
4. Start small before you try to conquer the world
Ambition is wonderful. Every entrepreneur we meet dreams BIG, often from day one.
But strategically?
Start with smaller scope grants.
Cascade funding open calls are especially attractive for newcomers:
- Simpler requirements
- Shorter projects
- Lump-sum payments
- Lower administrative burden
Winning small grants first helps you build credibility, experience and success stories, making you far stronger for larger grants later.
5. The partners you choose matter more than you think
In life people often say, “better alone than poorly accompanied.” In EU funding, the same rule applies.
If the call allows individual applications, great.
But if consortium participation is mandatory, choose partners wisely.
A weak partner can:
- Pull down your proposal score,
- Delay work,
- Or even jeopardise your approved project.
Reliable partners are one of the strongest success factors for beginners, and one of the hardest assets to secure alone.
6. Collaboration beats individualism, especially in budgeting
Early-stage companies often want to take the biggest share of the budget. It’s understandable, but risky.
Evaluators look for:
- Balanced distribution,
- Clear responsibilities,
- Fair allocation of tasks and resources.
If one partner gets the “lion’s share” while others get crumbs, the proposal looks untrustworthy. It may even get rejected.
It’s always advisable to listen to your grant consultant’s advice here. He or she sees what evaluators will see and what applicants often just override.
7. Think GIVE-AND-TAKE, not TAKE-AND-TAKE
Strong applications reflect ecosystem thinking. Successful SMEs understand that funding is not only about money, but also about the network that comes with it.
So be ready to:
- Share responsibilities,
- Involve stakeholders,
- Co-develop solutions,
- Allow partners their fair place in the project.
When your proposal demonstrates openness, collaboration and scalability, evaluators recognise maturity, even in new organisations.
8. Your idea must fit the call, not the other way around
Many first-timers try to twist their project idea to “force” it into an appealing call. That strategy almost never works.
What evaluators expect:
- Relevance,
- Alignment with objectives,
- Coherence with the topic,
- Real impact within the call’s scope.
If your idea doesn’t fit the call 100%, you need either a different angle—or a different call.
9. You can’t hide inconsistencies, they are the #1 rejection reason
New applicants often submit:
- Unbalanced work plans,
- Vague deliverables,
- Budgets that don’t match tasks,
- Mismatched partner roles.
Evaluators catch these instantly.
Clarity, internal coherence and simplicity always win over complexity. This is exactly where expert guidance saves you time, anxiety and mistakes.
10. You don’t have to do it alone, experience shortcuts exist
Applying for your first EU grant is overwhelming. The terminology, the forms, the budget templates, the eligibility rules. It’s so easy to make errors, which are otherwise avoidable.
Working with experienced consultants drastically increases your chances.
Because they:
- Translate the call into practical requirements,
- Help you develop a realistic strategy,
- Polish your story,
- Avoid red flags,
- Guide you in partner selection,
- And catch inconsistencies before evaluators do.
It’s the difference between just applying and submitting a competitive proposal.
Final Thoughts
Your first grant application doesn’t need to be intimidating. Understanding these ten points early on saves you time, avoids frustration and significantly increases your chances of success. New organisations may not have long histories, but they do have people, ideas, ambition and potential. That’s more than enough to get started—if you know how to present it.
If you want expert support in preparing your first proposal or shaping a long-term funding strategy, Sploro’s consultancy team is ready to guide you from the first idea to final submission.
And if you’re looking for a smarter, faster and far more organised way to handle your financials in EU grants, give KRONIS a try, our platform that helps SMEs manage their financials and EU project expenses with confidence and ease.
Want to boost your success rate? Let’s talk.
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10 Things SMEs Wish They Knew Before Applying for Their First EU Grant
