Innovate! Europe

INNOVATE!EUROPE IS COMING TO SWITZERLAND!

Venture Cocktail is proud to be partnering with Guidewire Group’s Innovate!Europe, a three-part competition designed to identify Europe’s most promising startups and accelerate their drive into the global technology market. Thanks to the support of CTI Startup, Innovate!Europe is coming to the Bern on March 30th to include Swiss startups in the competition, and I want to encourage you to get involved.

During this unique search for the top startups in the entrepreneurs will receive mentoring and promotion while competing against other aspiring startups from around Europe and Israel. The winner will receive an exclusive spot at Guidewire STUDIO, an in-residence business accelerator in the heart of Silicon Valley (this 90-day STUDIO engagement is valued at over $30,000).

Innovate!Europe will hold a Going Global Workshop in Bern on March 30, 2009. Participation in this workshop is FREE for selected companies. During this workshop, Guidewire Group’s expert analyst team will give you feedback on your company’s competitive value proposition and market opportunity and help you hone the pitching skills you need to best compete in markets like Silicon Valley.

You can apply to participate in the workshop here: http://www.innovate-events.com/apply1. The deadline for application is March 23rd, so don’t delay.

(Additional Going Global workshops are being held in Israel, Germany, France and the UK)

The most promising companies from each workshop will receive online promotion and exclusive invitations to the next two phases of the program: The Innovate!Europe Master Class and the Innovate!Europe Trade Mission to Silicon Valley.

The Master Class will take place in Zaragoza, Spain (May 4-6). During this event, entrepreneurs will learn the governance, marketing, fundraising, partnering and business development skills critical to thriving in Silicon Valley. Taught by serial entrepreneurs, investors and experts from Europe and the United States, the Master Class curriculum will highlight proven strategies and best practices that are integral to becoming a successful global entrepreneur, and prepare you to make the most out of the Innovate!Europe Trade Mission.

The top graduates of Innovate!Europe’s Master Class will have an opportunity go on the Innovate!Europe Trade Mission to Silicon Valley the week of June 8th. During this event, companies will receive targeted introductions to Silicon Valley’s leading companies, investors, entrepreneurs and members of the press and help accelerate your market expansion.

If you’re company is no eligible to participate in the competition but know a startup who is, feel free to forward this note to them. And do join the Innovate!Europe team and local entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners and members of the press at the Networking Meetup in Bern on the evening of March 30th by RSVPing here: http://www.amiando.com/IENMBern.html.