World Cup trophy. Image: AGIF/Shutterstock
Does your start-up have what it takes to compete in the global Startup World Cup?
Irish start-ups are being encouraged by Enterprise Ireland to apply for the Irish regional qualifier of the Startup World Cup.
The Startup World Cup is a global initiative developed by Fenox Venture Capital that offers start-ups the opportunity to win $1m funding at the global competition stage.
‘The Startup World Cup gives start-ups with the potential to scale internationally, the opportunity to be catapulted onto a global stage at a crucial time in their progression and development’
– JOE HEALY
Applications are now open and entrants should ideally have a live product at minimum viable product stage or later, and be generating revenue.
The closing date for entries is today (Friday 3 November) and the announcement of the top 10 regional qualifying companies will take place next Tuesday (7 November).
The top 10 start-ups will then have a week to develop their pitch before the regional qualifying pitch event on Tuesday 14 November.
Does your start-up have the skills to scale?
The live pitch event is also open to start-ups and entrepreneurs to attend and hear from the expert judging panel, which includes: Joe Healy, Enterprise Ireland; Barry O’Brien, Silicon Valley Bank; Charlie Ardagh, Facebook; David Bowles, Delta Partners and Thomas Olszewski, Frontline Ventures.
“The Startup World Cup gives start-ups with the potential to scale internationally, the opportunity to be catapulted onto a global stage at a crucial time in their progression and development, and it is for this reason that we are delighted to support it,” explained Healy.
“Enterprise Ireland supports Irish start-ups and entrepreneurs through the Competitive Start Fund and the High-Potential Start-Up programme, and, in addition to funding, provides advice and learning platforms to help start-ups with global ambition to become investor-ready.
“This ethos is mirrored in the format of the StartUp World Cup conference, which provides unrivalled access to leading entrepreneurs and has support for start-ups at its core.”
The Startup World Cup conference and final competition will take place in May 2018 in San Francisco and will see the top start-ups, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and tech CEOs from regional rounds across the globe compete against each other.
Finalists will be asked to take part in a live pitch to some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and business leaders to win the $1m prize fund. Previous panel members include Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit.
World Cup trophy. Image: AGIF/Shutterstock
