‘European Data Incubator’ is looking for experts in entrepreneurship/big data to become Startup Evaluators
The project ‘European Data Incubator’ (also funded under H2020) is looking for experts in entrepreneurship/big data, to become Startup Evaluators, from the end of June 2019.
You would be part of choosing the top 50 big data startups to take part in the next 8-month round of incubation.
What’s in it for you?
- Play a key role in the selection of the brightest big data startups in Europe
- Be reimbursed for your time and work in the evaluation process
- Connect with up-and-coming figures in the big data community
Meet last year’s startups to get a better idea of the kind of innovative companies taking part in the European Data Incubator: https://edincubator.eu/startups-2018
Apply by Wednesday, 29 May at 12 noon (CEST): Go to the F6S application form
Less than ten applications will be finally selected, ensuring an equal gender balance.
Créme de la créme of European startups are heading to Prague in April to clash for the European Champ title
On April 10, 2019, at the Prague Congress Centre, the first ever European Continental Finals of the global competition Startup World Cup 2019 will be held as a part of the Startup World Cup & Summit (SWCSummit). The winner is about to win $ 500,000 USD investment prize and the title of the European Startup Champion. They will also gain entry to the global Grand Finale, which is to be held in Silicon Valley in May. Apart from the competition, the event will welcome keynote speakers from all over the world, including Apple’s first CMO, John Rizzo, the ex-VP of Instagram and CEO of Strava, James Quarles, the bestselling author and founder of Electronic Arts, Dave Evans, Avast CEO, Vince Steckler, and the billionaire Karel Janeček. Along with them the organisers expect dozens of angel investors, founders, and innovators from all around Europe. They will all be ready to network, provide guidance to fresh entrepreneurs, and look for new business opportunities.
Hundreds of up-and-coming startups are confirmed to attend SWCSummit, one of the most important events in the startup world in the Central Europe region this year. The goal is to find the European champion, create a talent network, draw the public’s attention to small businesses’ added value, and, most importantly, boost the European startup scene’s confidence. “Europe used to be an unshakeable cradle of innovation. Nowadays, despite Europe’s huge potential to retain its position, we feel momentum is shifting away. With this in mind, we see SWCSummit as an opportunity to spark new connections, investments, and ideas that can help Europe reclaim its reputation of the global innovation epicenter,” says Vít Šubert, the startup incubator UP21 CEO and the event’s co-founder.
“There’s an opportunity for everyone at SWCSummit – not only startups vying for the title and $ 500,000 USD investment prize. The event will be divided into special zones dedicated to startups, innovators from the corporate world, investors, and the general public. All attendees will be brought together through Myia, a networking and matchmaking smartphone app,” explains Václav Pavlečka, the CEO of Air Ventures and the second co-founder of the event.
The startup event of the year
For the first time, Prague is going to witness the best startup projects in Europe, the winners of 13 regional finals of the Startup World Cup. The finalists will compete to win $ 500,000 USD investment prize, the title of the European Startup Champion, and participation at the global finals held in San Francisco. Europe is the first continent to hold its own finals of this startup competition.
In the scope of SWCSummit, the regional finals of Visegrád Group takes place. 265 confirmed startups will compete to become the winning startup of the V4 Regional Finals, who will gain entry to European Continental Finals as well as entry to the global grand finale taking place in Silicon Valley in May.
Learn more about the Startup World Cup & Summit
The Startup World Cup & Summit (SWCSummit) is a unique marriage between the two most significant startup summits to emerge over the last few years. The Startup World Cup is a global startup summit and competition organized by the Silicon Valley venture capital fund Fenox. It was created to support innovations worldwide, interconnect subjects within the startup ecosystem, open doors for talented entrepreneurs, and identify 20 of the best startup projects on the market today. Regional winners will compete at the grand finale in Silicon Valley for $1 million and other cool prizes. SWCSummit is organized by the investment fund Air Ventures and the startup incubator UP21. Dating back to 2012, the summit has attracted speakers from leading global corporations and startups, including TechCrunch editors, Startupbootcamp chiefs, Silicon Valley investors and representatives from companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Hyperloop Transport Technologies and Kiwi.com. The summit has also headlined corporate leaders like Andre Wehner from Škoda Auto and Tomáš Budník from O2. Learn more at www.swcsummit.com.
UP21 is an incubator and investor, providing startups with four crucial elements to help them succeed — financial support, specialized mentoring, personal development, and key industry skills. For each startup, UP21 creates a personalized navigation plan and leads innovators on their path to success in the spirit of its motto: “Investment is not enough. Ask for a great co-pilot.” Learn more at www.UP21.com.
Air Ventures supports rising tech startups. The fund invests in dynamic technology companies with the focus mostly on the Central European region, brings unique know-how to marketing strategy-building, and allows startups to reach audiences and attract customers efficiently. Learn more at www.airvcs.com
Commissioner Mariya Gabriel endorses the Western Balkan policy recommendations
It was only on 15 November 2018 at Startup Europe Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, that the Founding Members of the Startup Europe Central and Eastern Europe Network (SECEEN) and the Startup Europe Western Balkans Network (SEWBN) publicly signed a Joint Declaration aimed at reinforcing the tech entrepreneurship ecosystems of their regions. Four months later, the Founding Members of the Startup Europe Western Balkans Network (Seavus Educational and Development Center – North Macedonia; Serbia Start Up- Serbia; Oficina- Albania; Innovation Centre Kosovo- Kosovo*; Digitalizuj.me- Montenegro; SPARK poslovni park d.o.o- Bosnia and Herzegovina) are proud to present the first joint effort from the Network– the Policy Recommendations reflecting the main challenges the Western Balkan countries need to tackle in order to thrive and be further connected to the European entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In her opening speech in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at the Startup Europe Summit 2019, Mariya Gabriel highlighted the perfect timing for the Startup Europe Central and Eastern Europe Network and Startup Europe Western Balkans Network to be established, which is why she supported their launch back in November.
“[The Networks] focus on existing barriers for growth in the region and this Summit, now in Romania, is crucial because they will present publicly a set of concrete and actionable recommendations for European leaders and policymakers” – Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
The Commissioner strongly believes that the policy recommendations are just the beginning of a long journey and everyone’s support is needed for the winds of change to blow strong. Throughout her speech, she pushed for active participation from all startups coming from Central and Eastern Europe and, in particular, the Western Balkan region and stressed that the opportunities provided by the Digital Agenda for Western Balkans should be seized. This is the only way for a truly Digital Single Market to be created.
Soon afterwards, Mariya Gabriel was handed over the policy recommendations by Europa Media Group, the Hungarian founding member and the leader of the two Networks, about which she said:
“This set of policy recommendations will facilitate the development of the Networks and contribute to the economic progress of their regions.”
Mariya Gabriel’s endorsement is already providing the boost that Western Balkan voices need in order to be heard by ecosystem players across Europe, thereby allowing everyone to benefit from a more equal and leveraged European startup ecosystem.
Concerning the policy recommendations for the Western Balkans
The policy recommendations, which are the very first joint endeavour of the Startup Europe Western Balkans Network, aim to facilitate the internationalisation of the Western Balkan countries and promote them in macroeconomic environments, as well as building bridges across the participating markets and cultures. In the long-run, the Western Balkan countries have a huge potential to become new hot spots attracting startups and innovators from all over Europe. However, common structural challenges must be addressed first through target measures. Some of the strategies that could be highlighted include building new collaboration mechanisms and support the existing ones, nurturing soft-landing opportunities and enhancing coordination both at national and regional levels.
For more information pertaining to the work of the Startup Europe Central and Eastern Europe Network and the Startup Europe Western Balkans Network, please contact Krisztina Toth at [email protected].
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
“It has been a great opportunity”: The ‘Startup Lighthouse Awards’ at TechChill!
Are you thinking of scaling your startup in Europe? Join one of our ‘Deep Dive Weeks’ and you’ll forever be a part of our Startup Lighthouse family.
Just like your enthusiastic godparent, we promise we will always find ways to promote you, talk about you, and get you in front of the right people.
DT4G#Barcelona – Call for applications
We encourage you to join DT4G#Barcelona, our exclusive startup event within the European Commission program, Startup Europe, that will take place on 25 April 2019 at the Pier01 of Barcelona Tech City.
DeepTech4Good is an Acceleration Programme, financed under the Horizon 2020 framework, committed to help Deep Tech startups accelerate their development and scale up at a European level. There are 4 application domains: Health & Well-being, Industry 4.0, Smart Mobility, Smart City. DeepTech4Good is led by 4 innovation hubs from Germany, France, Austria and Spain, working together to identify high potential Deep Tech startups.
The DT4G#BCN event is an excellent opportunity to present your innovative technologies in front of investors and large companies from different European countries. The startups will have the chance to do pitches, have b2b meetings with investors and representatives of large companies and to participate in the Open Innovation Challenges, focused on presenting innovative solutions to the corporates’ challenges in order to create cooperations with these European corporates.
@Startups: Don’t miss the unique opportunity to apply for the call of investor’s pitching & corporate challenge pitching until the end of March. The finalists will be able to pitch in front of investors and international corporates during the event in Barcelona. For more information check out the official event website: https://www.deeptechforgood.eu/events/dt4g-barcelona/.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Barcelona!
Contact: Sabine Runge, .
www.deeptechforgood.eu | www.facebook.com/DeepTech4Good/ | https://twitter.com/DeepTech4Good | www.linkedin.com/in/deeptech-4good-126140158/ |
DeepTech4Good: Start-ups Coming to the Fore
It’s all in a name. Deep tech start-up is the new term for a start-up founded on the basis of a breakthrough technology or science. The start-up’s product or service often revolves around a disruptive innovation. The development cycles they are involved in are often longer and more capital-intensive than with the products found in other sectors of industry. The European Union has spotted this and is now funding a European accelerator programme called DeepTech4Good. The initiative is part of Horizon 2020, the European Union Research Framework Programme, and the aim is to help start-ups raise their market profile and become a driving force in the Internet of Things (IoT) market. Five European start-up events will be organized under the programme, each resulting in the selection of eight start-ups to receive coaching on growing their business from the project partners of DeepTech4Good. The first finalists have already been chosen at the first two events called DeepTech4Good#Paris and DeepTech4Good#Stuttgart. DeepTech4Good#Stuttgart was organized by the project partners, S2i and Photonics BW.
DeepTech4Good is being coordinated by Cluster Systematic. Under the initiative, eight partners from Germany, France, Austria, and Spain will receive approximately €1.5 million from the EU and will be charged with acting as official EU ambassadors for the Startup Europe initiative. Based on a vision that deep tech is good for society, the program focuses closely on four IoT sectors: Smart Cities, Smart Mobility (modern travel solutions), Industry 4.0, and Health & Well-being. In total, 200 high-potential start-ups from four European hubs will be helped to forge networks with relevant stakeholders with the aim of initiating innovation projects. This should make it easier for them to access funding and gain further support in raising their profile. One of the overarching aims of the programme is to network and connect up hubs within Europe.
Eight start-ups receive awards at the pitch in Stuttgart
The DeepTech4Good#Stuttgart event in late 2018 was an opportunity for 23 young European enterprises to make a 5-minute pitch and inspire investors with their ideas. Eight winners were chosen after winning over the jury: Adlatus Robotics, AScon Systems, HD Vision Systems, INERATEC, skinmade, and vialytics (all from Germany), Mobility Work from France, and EET from Austria. The winners are now eligible to receive personal coaching and may progress to the accelerator programme. Gaining access to a Europe-wide network and receiving input from experts will help the start-ups scale up their business and provide welcome support with innovation initiatives – ideal prerequisites for evolving into future deep tech unicorns in Europe.
The role of Baden-Wuerttemberg as a start-up hub
“Deep tech start-ups will increase in significance for Baden-Wuerttemberg in the coming years. It’s particularly important to recognize and promote the scale-up potential. Events like DeepTech4Good#Stuttgart make a crucial contribution in this respect. With powerful sponsors like bwcon, Start-up BW, Agorize, VentureZphere, the Stuttgart stock exchange, and the StartupEurope initiative organized by the European Commission, the event provides an ideal network and it’s sponsors like these that will secure Baden-Wuerttemberg’s position as a future hub for start-ups,” says Dr. Petra Püchner, Commissioner for Europe of the Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour, and Housing Baden-Wuerttemberg, summarizing the exceptional importance of the event. “This support already starts on the doorstep at our events. For example, the start-ups receive specific training on the best way to sell themselves and different ways to network and embark on a collaboration with partners from industry,” adds Samantha Michaux, who as a project manager and Startup Europe Ambassador at S2i is responsible for supervising the project.
The next DeepTech4Good Business Event will take place in Graz in Austria on March 26, 2019.
Contact: Samantha Michaux, [email protected]
www.deeptechforgood.eu | www.facebook.com/DeepTech4Good/ | https://twitter.com/DeepTech4Good | www.linkedin.com/in/deeptech-4good-126140158/ |
Pitching contest at Startup Europe Summit
We’re looking for 25 companies that have raised already seed or series A funding to join us at Startup Europe Summit, 21st-22nd March.
What we offer to the applicants with seed funding:
- Exhibition possibility
- Travel (economy) and accomodation (2-3 nights) costs will be covered for one representative from your country to Cluj-Napoca.
What we offer for the Series A companies:
- Possibility to pitch in front of an expert jury. The selected entries will have about 10 minutes to pitch, followed by a Q&A session. All pitching participants will be rewarded with access to top investors – something that can really mark a milestone in your entrepreneurial life! The companies the jury members represent are: AXON, Early Game Ventures, Index and Atomico. More details will follow.
- Travel (economy) and accomodation (2-3 nights) costs will be covered for one representative from your country to Cluj-Napoca.
How to apply?
- We welcome applications from Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Croatia.
- all verticals are accepted
- send your pitch deck to [email protected]
-
in the body of the email, tell us:
- why you’d like us to attend,
- what your expectations are,
- your vertical,
- contact details of the person who would be attending the event (name, surname, position, email, telephone);
- Subject: SES19
Apply by 4th March
What is Startup Europe Summit?
Startup Europe Summit is an event that brings together the leading players in technology entrepreneurship and innovation. This year, the summit will take place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in light of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the Summit you will be able to join thematic workshops, network with venture capitalists, engage with policy makers and learn how to grow your business abroad.
Startup Europe Summit draft agenda.
StartUp Europe Awards Special Edition SES19 is looking for the best European startups
StartUp Europe Awards (SEUA), an initiative supported by the European Commission in collaboration with Startup Europe and organized by the Finnova Foundation, is holding a Special Edition for European startups that will be recognized during the Startup Europe Summit 2019 (SES19), to be celebrated in Cluj-Napoca, Romani, on 21 and 22 March 2019.
This SEUA Special Edition SES19 will recognize five startups, one for each one of the following prizes: Female-led startup; Young-led startup (founder under 30); United Nations Sustainable Development Goals startup; Social Inclusion startup and Job Growth startup.
It is possible to apply to the awards for every startup created 5 or less years ago in Europe. To apply, startups must fill in with detail the form found in the website of the SEUA Special Edition, and the deadline to apply ends on 23:59 hours (CET) of 17 February 2019. The startups should choose the prize most suitable for them (just one option).
A multidisciplinary jury, composed by professionals from different countries and fields, will make the selection of the best EU startups taking into account existing startups in the EU that meet these criteria and the applications received. Some of the jury members are part of the High Level group of experts from Startup Europe (European Commission).
Benefits for the selected startups
Winning startups will be invited to participate in the Startup Europe Summit SES19 that will take place between 21 and 22 March in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The expenses during both days for 1 member of the startup will be reimbursed (transport from country of origin to Cluj-Napoca, accommodation and daily allowance).
The startups will be recognized in a ceremony that will be held on March 21 in the frame of the Startup Europe Summit 2019 and will count with the presence of authorities from the European Commission, key influencers, investors, tech leaders, tech journalists, policy makers and entrepreneurs.
In SES19, the selected startups will be able to showcase their innovation in the networking area of the conference and will gain exposure and visibility through the StartUp Europe Awards Media Alliance composed by more than 30 media outlets and social networking sites.
The selected startups will pass to the European level of the next StartUp Europe Awards edition, regardless of any other startup competing or awarded in their country or category.
StartUp Europe Awards (SEUA) is an open innovation initiative promoted by the European Commission and the Finnova Foundation in collaboration with StartUp Europe; it is supported by the President of the European Parliament, the President of the Committee of the Regions, the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Committee and several members from the European Parliament. StartUp Europe Awards is sponsored by StartUp Europe Accelerator.
SEUA has celebrated two European finals (one in Brussels and the other one in Sofia), and is going to launch the third edition during the first quarter of 2019.
The winning startups will have access to information on opportunities offered by the European Union to boost and internationalize their projects through the StartUp Europe Accelerator program of the Finnova Foundation.
For more information about the StartUp Europe Awards Special Edition SES19 please visit https://bit.ly/2RMIL42
Startup Europe Summit 2019
Known as an evolving tech hub in Romania, the city of Cluj-Napoca will host the fourth edition of Startup Europe Summit in 2019, the perfect occasion to recognize the best European startups.
In the previous edition of the Startup Europe Summit, startups found information about new funding opportunities; meetings with investors, corporates and leading enterprises and public administration representatives as well as networking with a vivid community of key decision makers and tech leaders within EU, notably Central Eastern Europe and Western Balkans regions.
Press contact
Catalina Valencia
Soft-Landing calls are now open: apply to explore a new startup market in 2019!
The Soft-Landing open calls are now open!
Calling MedTech European startups to join our Deep Dive Week in Dublin – Applications until 15 February
Startup Lighthouse is opening up applications for its next mini acceleration programmes with Dublin being the first. Do you have a #MedTech #startup and you are looking to scale abroad? Have you been considering Ireland? Join us at our Deep Dive Week Dublin (7-10 April). (more…)