IBM SmartCamp finalists pitch for Silicon Valley trip

14 Nov 2011

Tokyo is the world's largest megacity. In 2011, there are 21 megacities, but by 2050 there could be at least 27 megacities, containing 10m people each. This calls for technology to pioneer smarter, cleaner cities

London will be the setting of the IBM SmartCamp this week, when five tech innovators from the UK will share their business plans around driving smarter, more sustainable cities. The finals will be held on 16 and 17 November at IBM’s new Forum Wing on the Southbank in London.

If you are around London this Thursday, 17 November, you can head to the IBM SmartCamp and be part of the studio audience to watch the five finalists pitch live.

To coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, the finalists will also network with 25 world-class entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts as they pitch for a place in the global finals in Silicon Valley in early 2012.

They will also host a one-minute elevator pitch on IBM’s global Smarter Planet blog.

IBM’s SmartCamp is a global event aimed at identifying early stage entrepreneurs who are developing business ventures that focus on creating products or services for cleaner, greener cities of the future. By 2050, IBM predicts 70pc of the world’s population will be living in cities. And, by then, there will be at least 27 megacities of 10m people, compared with 21 cities in 2011.

SmartCamp London is being held in association with StartUp Britain, Startupbootcamp and Silicon Valley Comes to the UK.

A series of SmartCamp events are planned around the world to climax in the world finals event in Silicon Valley.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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