Innovate!Europe is a unique, three-part program to identify Europe’s most promising startups and accelerate their drive into the global technology market. Hundreds of promising startups from around Europe and Israel are competing for invitations to the Innovate!Europe Master Class and Silicon Valley Trade Mission and to be recognized as the Top European Startup and win free 90-day stay at Guidewire Group’s business accelerator in the heart of Silicon Valley, a prize worth over $30,000.
Innovate!Europe is produced by early-stage analyst firm Guidewire Group and supported by top tier sponsors and partners, including Microsoft, SeedCamp, Sun, Vator.tv and yours truly, VC Cafe. To follow the competition, learn about the competitors, and connect with other members of the ecosystem, subscribe to the blog or join the Innovate!Europe Facebook andLinkedIn groups.
In the first round of the competition, top applicants who completed their application by March 26th were selected to complimentary Going Global Workshops around Europe to receive valuable training in positioning and pitching from Guidewire Group’s team of expert analysts while being evaluated for the next phase of the competition.
Applicants who BOTH complete the Innovate!Europe application AND post a profile and video application on Vator.tv by Sunday, April 5th will be evaluated by Guidewire Group’s analysts for participation the next phase of the competition.
Creating a profile and video application on Vator.tv is free and as easy. Register here and create a company profile. Then upload a simple web-video that introduces yourself, describes why your company should be considered, and how you think you could benefit from the opportunity to be part of the Innovate!Europe program. Once your video is uploaded, send the url of your Vator profile to: innovate@guidewiregroup.com.
The top applicants from around Europe and Israel will be selected as finalists and receive invitations to participate in Innovate!Europe’s Master Class and Silicon Valley Trade Mission.
The Innovate!Europe Master Class taking place May 4-6, 2009 in Zaragoza, Spain is an intensive program, where you will learn the governance, marketing, fundraising, partnering and business development skills critical to thriving in Silicon Valley from serial entrepreneurs and investors from both sides of the Atlantic. The Master Class will culminate with your presentations to the Master Class faculty, who will select the Top European Startup. (The cost of The Master Class will is €995 for 2 of your companies executives, and your company must participate in the Master Class to be eligible to be selected at Top European Startups.)
The Innovate!Europe Trade Mission taking place June 8-12, 2009 brings participating finalists to Silicon Valley for a week long program where Guidewire Group analysts will introduce you to Silicon Valley’s leading companies, investors, entrepreneurs, partners and members of the press and help you develop relationships to accelerate their business. The cost to participate in the Silicon Valley Trade Mission is €3,000 Euros for 2 of your companies executives, and only open to you if you’ve participated in the Master Class.
The Innovate!Europe program is a great opportunity for Sun Essentials participants from EMEA to get feedback, expert training, endorsement and introductions that will help you accelerate their business at home and in the US. And winner of the competition will win a free 90-day stay at Guidewire Group’s business accelerator in the heart of Silicon Valley, a prize worth over $30,000.
I encourage you to compete by completing the Innovate!Europe application AND post a profile and video application on Vator.tv by Sunday, April 5, 2009. And even if you decide not to apply, come along to one of the Innovate!Europe NetworkingMeetups in cities around Europe.
I'm a former general partner at google ventures, head of Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe and founding head of Campus London, Google's first physical hub for startups.
I'm also the founder of Techbikers, a non-profit bringing together the startup ecosystem on cycling challenges in support of Room to Read. Since inception in 2012 we've built 11 schools and 50 libraries in the developing world.
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