Apply For The EIT Digital Challenge 2017 By October 8 To Scale Up

EIT Digital launches the 4th edition of the EIT Digital Challenge, its pan-European contest for late stage startups & scaleups that are developing innovative digital tech solutions and are ready to go international. Startups & scaleups can apply in five categories: Digital Industry, Digital Cities, Digital Wellbeing, Digital Infrastructure and Digital Finance. Applications can be submitted until 8 October 2017.

An expert jury will select the best five teams per category and the finalists will pitch at one of the five final events in Berlin, Budapest, Eindhoven, Madrid, and Trento.

Applicants will be competing for an exclusive prize package worth €100,000 that includes:

• A full year of dedicated support from the EIT Digital Accelerator worth €50,000
• A team of specialized business developers and finance experts will support you to further develop your international growth strategy, find customers and raise capital
• An additional €50,000 cash price
• Access to EIT Digital’s innovation network that consists of more than 130 well-established corporates, SMEs, startups, universities and research institutes
• Great international visibility and publicity

Operating In 13 European Cities As Well As A Hub In Silicon Valley

Established in 2014, the EIT Digital Challenge has drawn more than 1,400 entries from 27 EU countries so far. Most awarded scaleups grew to become internationally successful companies such as the Austrian software solution for charging station owners and e-car drivers be.ENERGIZED and Estonian scaleup DigiFlak that offers security devices, which are designed to protect the sensitive data of end users and companies.

The five winners will receive a full year support by the EIT Digital Accelerator that helps European digital technology ventures to scale up their business, enter new markets and raise capital. A team of 40 experienced business developers and finance experts operate from 13 cities across Europe, along with a hub in Silicon Valley. Since 2012, the EIT Digital Accelerator has supported more than 250 companies to access new markets and helped them raise more than €80 million in investment to date. The program was ranked 8th among the Top 20 in the Global Accelerator Report 2016 by Gust.

Dedicated Support For Deep-Tech Ventures To Scale Up Globally

The contest focuses on scaleups that develop digital technologies in the deep-tech field, and are seeking to accelerate their international growth. Deep-tech innovations are technologies that are built around unique, often protected or hard to reproduce technological or scientific advances. They have a strong research base and develop disruptive solutions that fuel the digital transformation. However, these businesses face specific challenges that involve time to market, capital intensity, and technological risk and complexity.

“Deep tech digital ventures require high quality specialized support when it comes to finding customers and raising capital,” explains Willem Jonker, CEO of EIT Digital. “Through our excellent pan-European business and technology ecosystem, and guided by our experience and our proven track record in deal making, we as EIT Digital are in a unique position to drive the international scaling of these deep-tech digital ventures.”

Apply & Pitch At One Of Five European Final Events

The best five applicants in each category will be invited to pitch their product or service in front on an expert jury at one of five final events:

• Digital Cities – Trento – 28 November 2017
• Digital Industry – Eindhoven – 29 November 2017
• Digital Wellbeing – Madrid – 30 November 2017
• Digital Finance – Budapest – 4 December 2017
• Digital Infrastructure – Berlin – 11 December 2017

To apply, a company must be based in the EU, have at least €300,000 in revenue or €2 million in equity investment, and be less than 10 years old. The deadline for applications is 8 October 2017. For more information and to apply please visit EIT Digital’s website.

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