Startup Agenda

The EIT Digital Challenge 2022 is on the lookout for the best European deep-tech scaleups: are you one of them?
2024-04-22, 2024-04-08, 2024-03-25, 2024-03-11
The EIT Digital Challenge, the leading competition for European digital deep tech companies, is now accepting applications.
Fast-growing start-ups with existing customers – so called scaleups – are invited to apply in one of five thematic areas: Digital Tech, Digital Cities, Digital Industry, Digital Wellbeing and Digital Finance.
The best five companies will receive a full year of tailored support from the EIT Digital Accelerator team, worth €50,000. The application deadline is 19 September 2022.
“The EIT Digital Challenge aims to identify the best European deep tech entrepreneurs and help them scale up their businesses internationally, supporting the European deep tech ecosystem. We will select the top 20 companies and invite them to an exclusive closed-door event at the end of October where they will have the opportunity to pitch to a jury of high-profile corporates and investors,” says Diva Tommei, Head of the EIT Digital Accelerator.
The five winners will get coached for investor readiness and then be introduced to top investors from a network of 1000+ VCs from all over Europe. They will also get market readiness coaching and strategic go-to-market support, facilitating access to international prospects.
In addition to that, the winners will gain access to EIT Digital’s pan-European innovation network of 350+ partners and enjoy great international visibility by means of EIT Digital’s network channels.
“When we took part in the Challenge, last year, we were really impressed by the level of the companies that we saw pitching. That made us even prouder of being selected as winners. Afterwards, the support of the EIT Digital Accelerator helped us promote and scaleup our technology at the international level, introducing us to other top European players,” says Maxine Roper, CEO of Connecting Food, the company that won the 2021 edition.
Since its launch in 2014, the competition has attracted thousands of applications from more than 33 European countries. Many of the winning scaleups have moved on to become internationally successful companies.
Prominent award winners include KONUX, Medicus.AI, SidekickHealth and Connecting Food.
How to apply
The deadline for applications is 19 September 2022. For further information on selection criteria, and to apply, please visit www.eitdigital.eu/challenge.

Grab Your Chance to Pitch during European Angel Investment Summit 2022
2024-04-19, 2024-04-12, 2024-04-05, 2024-03-29, 2024-03-22, 2024-03-15, 2024-03-08, 2024-03-01
Join hundreds of investors and corporates attending the European Angel Investment Summit – make connections, learn from experts and pitch in front of the world’s best angel investors!

Who can apply:

Early stage companies from all industries and sectors;
Actively fundraising for an equity investment of between €50K – €5M;
Company based or operating in any EU country.

What we Offer:

Complimentary European Angel Investment Summit tickets;
Pitching slot;
Profile listed on Summit website and promotional campaigns;
Access to all workshops and sessions;
Access to networking area and possibility of 1-1 matchmaking meetings facilitated by the InvestEU Portal.

In 2021 18% of startups that attended and pitched at EBAN events raised funding from investors they had met while there. More than 8M Euros has been raised from startups that attended our last online editions of the EAIS and the Congress in 2021. 280+ one to one meetings between investors and startups have taken place at the 2021 edition of our events (done 100% online).
If you are actively raising a seed or series A round, this is one of the best stages in Europe you could pitch at. Investors in the audience are business angels (75%), VCs (20%) and Corporates (5%).

Call for Startup Applications is Now Open!
You can now apply for EAIS2022. You have until the 9th of September to send your application.

Slush 2022 THE WORLD'S LEADING STARTUP EVENT
2024-04-17 - 2024-04-18, 2024-03-17 - 2024-03-18
4,200 startup founders and operators.
2,200 investors.
400 media representatives.
A gathering of 12,000 curious minds at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Center.
And yes, it’ll be carbon-negative.

What’s Happening?
Slush is bringing the global startup ecosystem under one roof. In cold, dark November, a curated group of speakers from across the globe, showcases, and unique networking opportunities will all be in Helsinki. With hundreds of Side Events happening across the city throughout the Slush Week, the fun flows out of Messukeskus and into the streets.

Startup Course: Set - VALIDATE YOUR SOLUTION
2024-04-15 18:00 - 2024-05-24 21:00, 2024-03-25 18:00 - 2024-05-03 22:00, 2024-03-04 18:00 - 2024-04-12 22:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | TU/e, Building Alpha, Het Eeuwsel 57, Eindhoven, 5612 AS, Netherlands
SET – VALIDATE YOUR SOLUTION
PART OF THE STARTUP READINESS PROGRAM
Did you find the first customer segment that is experiencing the same problem? Would you like to discover whether your solution is the best solution to their problem? Then this ‘SET’ module of the Startup Readiness Program is right for you!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
During 5 sessions spread over 10 weeks, you will learn to validate your solution with your earlyvangelist. The program is a fast-paced mix of theory, practical assignments and individual coaching. The program is provided by experts in the Brabant startup ecosystem.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

You are going to find and demonstrate the problem/solution fit. Continuous validation is central to this;
Access to a vast startup ecosystem and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs;
Free program valued at €7.500.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM YOU?
• Your startup meets the selection criteria, which contains that you already found a first customer segment that is experiencing the same problem;
• Presence and commitment throughout the program;
• Active contribution during the sessions.

THE PROGRAM

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 | 6 PM – 9 PM

PROBLEM VALIDATION
You get to work with the earlyvangelist, how did you validate the problem? What is your evidence base?

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 6 PM – 9 PM

SOLUTION
What is your solution and what are the assumptions? You will learn how to demonstrate your value to the earlyvangelist.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 | 6 PM – 9 PM

CUSTOMER INTERVIEWS
How to conduct a good interview, what questions to ask and how to analyse the outcome.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 | 6 PM – 9 PM

PROBLEM/SOLUTION FIT
What does a problem/solution fit look like and what does it mean for your startup? You will learn when you have reached your problem/solution fit.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 | 6 PM – 9 PM

ROADMAP
How do you avoid premature growth? You will work with a 100-day plan and the resources required for this.

CO-FOUND A DEEP-TECH VENTURE THIS FALL
2024-04-15 08:00 - 2024-04-19 17:00, 2024-04-08 08:00 - 2024-04-12 17:00, 2024-04-01 08:00 - 2024-04-05 17:00, 2024-03-25 08:00 - 2024-03-29 17:00, 2024-03-18 08:00 - 2024-03-22 17:00, 2024-03-11 08:00 - 2024-03-15 17:00, 2024-03-04 08:00 - 2024-03-08 17:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | High Tech Campus Eindhoven, High Tech Campus 1, Eindhoven, Netherlands
We’re preparing for the start of the next cohort of our deep-tech venture building program in October, and we’re searching now for co-founders (CEOs, CTOs and CBOs) to join teams.
We give co-founders a unique opportunity to build startups from the ground up, starting with advanced technologies from world-renowned institutions and tech companies.
We already have three technologies up for grabs, plus we are searching for collaborators for our first open challenge on energy storage. We are continually scouting and assessing new technologies and will update the co-founder landing page as we bring them online.
What’s in it for co-founders?

The co-founder team starts with 70% of the shares. (If the technology is very mature due to investments by the tech institute, this could be less.)
Pre-seed investment if the startup passes the first phase successfully
Proven nine-month program
When the time is right, we support you in deal-making and investor connections.

Important dates

Interview week after summer holidays: August 22nd
FasTrackathon: October 12th
Program Start: October 31st

Read more about the HighTechXL program, the technologies and how to become a co-founder of a deep-tech venture. You can start by filling out the entrepreneur questionnaire, and our team will be in touch at the end of August after the summer holidays.

Startup Drinks Brabant
2024-04-08 20:00 - 23:30, 2024-03-11 20:00 - 23:30 (Europe/Amsterdam)
Join us for the Startup Drinks Brabant.
We meet up over a beer to meet new people, meet new startups, share experiences and have some fun. All in a very laid back and informal setting.
Want to attend? Questions, ideas, complaints, remarks, suggestions, jokes? info@roundone.ventures

BrainBloC kennissessie
2024-04-01 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-04 13:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Twinning, De Lismortel, Eindhoven, 5612 AR, Netherlands
BrainBloC data & experience lab.
In hub Twinning op de TU/e campus Is afgelopen jaar een heel tof BrainBloc data & experience lab opgezet voor datagedreven organiseren. Binnen dit experience lab is er vooral aandacht voor ecosystemen rondom digitalisering, internet of things (sensoring), blockchain, artificial intelligence, de digitale lopende band en nieuwe business- en operating models. Je kunt hier ontdekken, bewust worden, kennis tot je nemen, vaardigheden ontwikkelen en de laatste tools leren kennen. Kortom, alles wat je nodig hebt voor je transformatie naar een duurzame, digitale en decentrale FutureNext.

In een RTL televisie-uitzending, opgenomen in ons nieuwe lab in hub Twinning krijg je een indruk wat we bijvoorbeeld kunnen betekenen voor samenwerkingspartner Logistics Community Brabant (LCB) en de logistieke sector op het gebied van datagedreven logistiek. Omdat concepten zoals internet of things, smartcontracts, blockchain, artificial intelligence en de digitale lopende band voor de meeste mensen abstract zijn, wordt via bijvoorbeeld simulatie, demonstratie, gaming en lego bouwstenen inzichtelijk gemaakt wat deze concepten inhouden en wat je er als professional en organisatie mee kunt.
In het BrainBloC data & experience lab bieden we ook leerwerkprogramma’s aan om de nieuwe wijze van organiseren te leren en toe te passen. Tenslotte organiseren we webinars, workshops, trainingen en expertmeetings. Hierin speelt datawijsheid en datagedreven organiseren een belangrijke rol met de vraag: wat zijn data en hoe kun je vraag en aanbod van data het beste organiseren.
Hoe kun je deelnemen?
Regelmatig worden gratis en vrijblijvende kennismakings- en verkenningssessies georganiseerd in ons BrainBloC data & experience lab. In slechts een dagdeel ontdek je wat data zijn en hoe je deze het beste kunt organiseren: niet zozeer binnen je organisatie, maar binnen een supply chain of ecosysteem. Daarnaast bieden we arrangementen aan voor organisaties of groepen professionals.
Bezoek het data & experience lab
Bij voldoende deelnemers is het data lab in principe elke eerste maandag van de maand van 13:00-17:00 geopend of in overleg op andere tijden. Je moet je wel aanmelden. Na aanmelding ontvang je nadere informatie. Wil je als groep deelnemen, neem dan contact met ons op.
We adviseren om voor het bezoek aan ons BrainBloC data & experience lab, het gratis lunchwebinar ‘Datawijsheid‘ te volgen.
Wil je meer informatie? Neem dan contact met ons op.

RTL Uitzending

Grow Digital 2023
2024-04-01 - 2024-04-02, 2024-03-04 - 2024-03-05
Join us on June 6 & 7 at the “Grow Digital 23” Conference, EIT Digital’s flagship annual networking event in Brussels.
Secure your early-bird ticket to hear the latest on Generative AI, Space Tech, Industry 5.0 and Cybersecurity
Save up to €100 by booking before March 15, 2023!
REGISTER NOW
The conference will be on-site and organised at The Egg, close to the Brussels Gare du Midi train station.
It’s a unique opportunity to get up to speed on digital deep tech innovation, network with key players from industry, research and academia, and establish new business relations.
Attendees will also get free access to the pitching sessions and award ceremony of the EIT Digital Challenge, the competition for the best European deep tech scaleups, which takes place alongside the Grow Digital 23 conference.
For program details, ticket prices and sponsorship opportunties, please visit the conference website.
