Unique Accelerator PortXL’s Final Call For Startups To Enter 2017’s Batch

Rotterdam is not only home to Europe’s smartest port but also numerous startups aiming to use the city as their gateway into the world. And it’s working! Rotterdam is continuously being featured by leading media outlets as an entrepreneurial and innovative city to watch. Some examples of the local organizations for innovation include the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Rotterdam Science Tower, Port Innovation Lab and the unique port accelerator PortXL.

Discovering New Market Opportunities With PortXL

PortXL is the world’s first accelerator challenging European startups in the port, maritime and offshore industry. What a lot of startups don’t realize, however, is that technologies from other areas like Transport and Logistics, Energy or Chemical & Refinery can also be applied to these industries thus opening new market opportunities.

This is where PortXL comes in: the aim is to help startups realize their potential and seize these opportunities. The unique accelerator offers an ecosystem of highly involved corporate partners, investors, and mentors that help startups to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey. Within one year of founding PortXL has managed to gather more than 180 partners & mentors including Van Oord, Port of Rotterdam, EY, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Vopak, Damen, Uniper, First Dutch, Rabobank, Boskalis and Innovation Quarter.

Despite the fact that PortXL is a rather young accelerator, they already have results to show: Out of the first batch including 12 startups, six signed a customer contract and indicated that they plan to stay in Rotterdam, bringing their technologies to higher level and securing Rotterdam’s reputation of the world’s smartest and most innovative port. “Rotterdam serves as a springboard for the rest of the world. You’re expected to ‘put your shoulder to the wheel’ here, but if you really want something, you can make it happen”, says Mare Straetmans, Managing Director at PortXL.

100 Days To Scale Startups

So, what can you expect from the program? It’s a 100-days long, intense program giving startups the opportunity to pitch their ideas to 250 port professionals and more than 20 CEO’s within three months, thus bridging the gap between startups and large enterprises.

Here’s the deal:

• Direct access to launching customers
• Active support by 150+ seasoned mentors
• Access to a network of 20+ investors
• Free office space at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship
• An extensive alumni program
• €15.000,- compensation for housing and food
• Sponsored services by financial, fiscal, intellectual property, marketing, and many more experts
  In return for participation, we ask for 8% of the shares
• but (and that’s a big but!), if you don’t like equity deals, PortXL now also offers to opt for the convertible note!

Ready to conquer the world? Then apply now to join PortXL’s 2017 program and get ready to become the next port multinational!

 

 

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