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Mifundo and the EIC Accelerator: A Credit Score That Crosses Borders

September 30, 2026887 words5 min

Mifundo, registered in Tallinn in 2018 and led by founder and chief executive Kaido Saar, collects credit data from national credit bureaus and registries and turns it into a single, standardised European credit report and score, so that a bank in one country can assess a customer whose financial history is in another. Its EIC Accelerator project, EU-CREDIT-AI, "Verified and Passportable Financial Identity", receives an EU contribution of €2,499,999 and ran from April 2024 to March 2026, according to CORDIS. Saar has said Mifundo received €10 million from the EIC, "the first fintech" to do so, according to Nordic Fintech Magazine.

The final report says Mifundo built relations with credit bureaus and registries in all 27 EU member states, and its technology can already "passport credit data regarding the people corresponding to 20 countries and 70% of the population in Europe", according to CORDIS. It says the first banks changed 40% of their credit decisions after receiving a Mifundo report. The report also says it "takes certain time to educate banks and consumers" and asks the European Commission to push banks to accept citizens of other member states and national registries to join a pan-EU mechanism.

20Countries covered
€10MEIC support, CEO figure
40%Credit decisions changed, company claim
€20,470Revenue, 2025

Company file

Legal entity
Mifundo OÜ, registry code 14587569, Tallinn
Registered
October 2018
Founder and CEO
Kaido Saar
Product
Standardised pan-European credit report and score via one API
Data partners
Biroul de Credit (Romania), Yapily (open banking)
Customers
Banks; none named publicly
EIC funding
Blended finance, €2.5M grant

Where Mifundo Stands Now

In 2026 Mifundo kept adding data sources: Romania's credit bureau Biroul de Credit in July, according to ArcticStartup, and the open banking provider Yapily in September, ahead of the EU's revised Consumer Credit Directive taking effect in November 2026, according to ArcticStartup. The Estonian register shows revenue of €2,935 in 2023, €1,677 in 2024 and €20,470 in 2025, while reporting a profit of about €300,000 in each of 2024 and 2025, according to the Estonian business register.

"It takes certain time to educate banks and consumers about passportability of cross-border credit data."

Mifundo, EIC project report

The Technology: One API for 27 Credit Systems

Credit bureaus in Europe operate in national silos, so a newcomer with a strong record at home looks like a blank file abroad. Mifundo, with the customer's consent, pulls data from bureaus in the relevant countries, merges it and applies a standardised score, in the same format whatever the country or language. It targets the 45 million Europeans it says live, work or buy property across borders.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The product exists and works for most of Europe's population. The market does not yet. Revenue of €20,470 in the year after launch shows that banks have not adopted it at any scale. The report's appeal for EU advocacy is effectively an admission that demand depends on regulation.

  1. Standardised EU credit reportDeliveredLive product.
  2. All 27 member states20 countries70% of population.
  3. Bank adoptionMinimal€20,470 revenue.
  4. Named bank customersNone publicNot disclosed.

The Money

The CEO's €10 million figure implies about €7.5 million of EIC equity alongside the €2.5 million grant; the EIC Fund has not published its stake. The register reports profits of about €300,000 a year; with revenue this small, that profit cannot come from sales, and the summary data does not show its source.

What Cannot Be Checked

Questions for the EIC

How much the EIC Fund invested and on what valuation, which banks use Mifundo, how many reports it sells, and how the company reports a profit on €20,470 of revenue are not public in summary form.

Why Europe Should Care

Cross-border credit is a gap in the single market, and the revised Consumer Credit Directive comes into force in November 2026. Mifundo could become useful infrastructure if banks must assess foreign histories properly. For now, EU money has built a pipe few banks use.

What the award promised

A verified, passportable financial identity accepted across the EU.

What the record shows

20 countries connected, partners signed, €20,470 in revenue.

The Verdict

Product built, market missing

Mifundo delivered the technology. Banks have not yet paid for it in meaningful numbers.

Mifundo and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.

Industry

Digital and computingFinancial technology

Focus
  • Lending and credit
Technologies
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cloud software
Keywords
  • Cross-border credit
  • Credit bureaus
  • Financial inclusion
  • Migrant workers
  • Open banking

Start with the EIC Accelerator

Expert review for Step 1 and Step 2, suitability assessment and grant screening.

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
EIC AcceleratorBeneficiary Deep Dive#Mifundo#fintech#credit scoring#open banking#financial inclusion#Estonia
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