This contest is designed to boost innovators and disruptive thinkers! 🚀

We believe that what entrepreneurs need the most is practice, mentoring, and opportunities. 💡
If you have a disruptive idea, top-flight pitching skills and a convincing value proposition, you’re already ahead of the pack. 👏
B2B Rocks and partners will make sure you get lots of visibility with investors in addition to other valuable prizes & winning opportunities! 🏆

The jury for this year's World Pitch Contest: SaaS/AI Edition will include:

• Solene Brebant, Balderton
• Itxaso Del Palacio, Notion Capital
• Ferdinand Dansard, Earlybird
• Anais Monlong, IRIS
• Johanna Diaz, ActuIA
• Daphné Leprince-Ringuet, Sifted 🌟

👉🏼 Apply by September 3, 2024 http://bit.ly/B2BR24-Apply

If you're an innovative, early-stage startup making the agricultural and food industries greener and more sustainable, the EBRD AgVenture competition could be for you!

We want to hear from young agrifood tech businesses operating in EBRD investment regions and focusing on greening the agrifood sector. 🌍

🏆 What Will You Win?

• Tailored Advisory Service: Through the EBRD Star Venture programme worth €80,000 for winners and €50,000 for runners-up.
  • Systematic business diagnostic assessment
  • Customised advisory support from consultants
  • Online/in-person mentoring sessions
  • Access to finance opportunities
• €10,000 Reimbursable Grant: For business growth needs
• Visibility: At global agrifood tech forums
• Networks: Links to the EBRD and other networks

✅ Are You Eligible?

Apply if:

• Your startup aims to improve environmental sustainability in the agrifood tech sector 🌾
• Most operations are in EBRD investment regions 🌐
• Annual turnover is up to €1 million 💶
• In business for less than 10 years 🚀
• Product/service has a Technology Readiness Level of 7-9 (per Horizon 2020) 🔧

📅 How to Apply

Interested startups can apply here.

Timeline (2024 Intake)

• Deadline: 19th August 2024 at 23:59 BST 🕛
• Preliminary Selection: Notification and invitation to a pitching session
• 8-Minute Pitch: Initial pitch to a panel of experts
• Finalists Notification: 6 finalists invited to pitch on 30th September 2024 at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London 🇬🇧
• Pitch Training: Online session for finalists
• Final Pitch: Presentation of three winners and three runners-up on 30th September 2024 at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit

Winners will receive 18 months of support from the EBRD to disseminate the EBRD AgVenture awards package.

Takeaways: 📌

🚀 Meta, Hugging Face, and Scaleway announce a new AI accelerator program for European startups looking to integrate open foundation models into their products.

🌍 A select number of European startups will gain access to cutting-edge open models and resources in the field of AI, accelerating the EU AI ecosystem and shaping the next wave of innovation.

🗓️ Startups can apply until 16 August 2024 via.

🤝 Meta has been working with Hugging Face, an open-source community-driven platform that hosts machine learning models and tools, and Scaleway, a European cloud leader for AI infrastructure, on an “AI Startup Program” to accelerate the adoption of open-source AI solutions in Europe. Applications for the program are now open to startups from across the EU member states, with the aim of bringing the economic and technological benefits of open models to the broader ecosystem.

🏢 The AI Startup Program is based at STATION F in Paris, allowing European startups to benefit from the resources available at the world's largest startup campus. With the support of the HEC incubator, the program will accelerate five startups in the MVP or product stage, from September 2024 to February 2025. Startups from across the European Union are encouraged to apply, with a panel of experts from Meta, Hugging Face, and Scaleway selecting projects based on open foundation models and/or demonstrating their plans to integrate these models into their products and services.

🔧 The startups selected will benefit from technical mentoring by research teams at Meta Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR), the company’s artificial intelligence research laboratory, access to Hugging Face’s platform and tools, and Scaleway’s computing power in order to develop their services based on open-source AI technology bricks. This program follows the first edition of the accelerator announced in November 2023, which supported Pollen Robotics, who are using Meta Llama and Segment Anything models to develop an open-source robotics platform, Fringuant, who are developing a body scan technology for fashion retailers, and Qevlar AI focused on strengthening cybersecurity.

📅 Applications are open until 16 August 2024, and startups can apply via 👉🏼 here.

Mastercard Lighthouse is a unique partnerships program designed to empower fintech and sustainability & social impact tech startups, with the vision of 1 billion people living more prosperous and secure lives by 2025. 🌍💳 Through strategic partnerships, we aim to help these startups scale their solutions globally. 🌐✨ We are currently looking for fintech and impact tech companies for the fall 2024 cohort starting in September! 🍁🚀

In this free-of-charge and no-equity 3-month program, we pair scale-ready fintech and sustainability/social impact startups with advisors, banking partners, experts, and Mastercard associates specialized in bringing collaboration to life and pursuing strategic partnerships. 🤝💡

We are currently looking for startups from the Nordics and Baltics to join one of our two tracks:
🌟 Mastercard Lighthouse FINITIV for fintech startups: https://mclighthouse.com/FINITIV/
🌟 Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV for impact tech startups: https://mclighthouse.com/MASSIV/

📅🔗 Apply on our website by August 11

Join our info webinar on August 5

Your 7-week incubation program is designed for teams that are ready to establish their startups and for those already operating in the Life Sciences. 🧬💡 This program offers comprehensive bi-weekly workshops in key areas, including business development, marketing, market research, investor relations, etc. 📈📊 Each participating team also benefits from personalized one-on-one mentoring sessions. 👥

For teams that need to conduct practical tests or experiments, we will provide access to a variety of facilities, such as cloud labs, real laboratories, and engineering testing spaces. ☁️🔬⚙️ Whether you're on the verge of launching your startup or looking to scale an existing venture, our program is structured to support your growth and enhance your market readiness in these dynamic industries. 🚀📈

The program ends with a live event in Kaunas, during which you will present your idea/business and the progress you have made during the program. 📅🎤

Who are we looking for?
- Startups - companies already in operation and developing new technologies. 🚀
- Research Groups / Teams - scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs focused on turning their projects into market-ready solutions. 🧑‍🔬👩‍💼

We are particularly interested in advancements within the Life Sciences in the following fields:

- Medtech 🏥
- Biotech 🧬
- Agrotech 🌾
- Medical AI 🤖
- Pharmatech 💊
- Healthtech 🩺
- Foodtech 🍏

Details:

📍  Where? Kaunas
 📅 When? September 24th
⏳  Duration: 6 weeks
📚  Intensity: 2 workshops per week

Find it interesting? Apply until September 3rd and join us on this adventure!

For more information

This program is dedicated to highlighting the most innovative tech companies poised for regional and global success. 🌍🚀 By participating, you’ll join an elite network of industry leaders and top market players, giving you the platform to showcase how your company is driving a brighter future. 🌟

Are you looking to gain visibility, recognition, and further grow your business? 📈🏆

How to register? 📝

Join the ranks of these inspiring companies and showcase how your business is contributing to a better world. 🌎✨ Apply now and let your impact be recognized!
Applications must be completed by 31 August 2024. 📅✅

EIT Health has announced the HICEE Call for Start-ups, open until July 10th, 2024. This programme is looking for promising ventures in life sciences such as biotech, medtech, and digital health. Up to 25 ventures, including both early-stage start-ups (pre-seed or seed) and local rising stars (Series A and beyond), will be selected for extensive training.

Selected start-ups will receive tailored investment readiness support to make them attractive co-investment targets, connecting them with a wider investor community and creating opportunities to extend their runways.  

Key Benefits for Participants:

• Access to influential stakeholders in CEE, including investors, support organisations, universities, and public bodies.
• Tailored support and training are provided through customised programmes that meet the unique needs of each start-up. They will be able to choose from a range of customisable support services tailored to their requirements and be eligible for specialised financial support through the EIT Health Accelerator Access to Finance services.
• Participants benefit from being recognised as top emerging start-ups, gaining visibility and access to exclusive events and channels that enhance their profiles. 

More information

Apply here

Submitted applications can be ventures from any sector, but must be related to 5G/telecommunications technologies, utilizing AI in the field of telecommunications (e.g., network management); Internet of Things (industrial, retail, healthcare, transportation, etc.). Please check our sponsor profile carefully and submit your proposal which you think will be most valuable to them.
🔍 TOPICS: Dive deep into the realm of 5G Technology and present your groundbreaking proposals.
📅 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: From today until 12:00pm June 28th, 2024 (GMT+8)
🏆 PRIZES: up to USD 60,000, along with subsidies for flights and accommodation to Taiwan for the finale week visit in October.

Register 👉🏼here.

🌐 Launch Into Web3 with Startup Wise Guys’ Accelerator! 🌐

Hey Web3 Founders! Are you ready to elevate your startup new heights?

We’re excited to announce that applications for our second Web3 Acceleration Program are now open!

Why You Should Apply:
- 💸 Secure up to €150K in convertible investment plus a chance for €300K in follow-on funding.
- 🧠 Gain invaluable insights on sales and product development from experts in the Web3 space.
- 🤝 Join a vibrant ecosystem with access to over 350 mentors, more than 200 investors, and 600+ entrepreneurial peers.
This is your gateway to accelerate towards a decentralized future alongside a network that believes in your vision.

🤜🤛 Partnering Again with 3 Comma Capital SCR, SA for Our Second Web3 Acceleration Program!

Together, we’re reinforcing our commitment to pioneering the digital revolution. 3 Comma Capital SCR, SA specializes in asset management for Web 3.0, investing in the decentralized infrastructure that powers the next generation of the internet.

📅 Apply 👉 here 

Let’s build the future of Web3 together!

Objectives:
K-Startup Grand Challange is a startup inbound program organized and financed by the Korean government. The ultimate objectives of a K-Startup Grand Challange are to promote the expantion of an open enterpreneurship ecosystem in Asia and to assist in South Korea's evolution into a prominent startup business hub in the region.

Register here.