Call for applications: the European Tech Tour Association seeks 25 most promising emerging Southern Europe technology companies
Call for Applications for 2011 Southern Europe Tech Tour: Deadline is September 4
The European Tech Tour Association announced that the 2011 Southern Tech Tour will be held November 30 to December 2, 2011 in Spain (Bilbao) and Italy (Milan).
The Tech Tour will pair the most promising early and later stage growth companies with representatives from leading cross-border venture capital and global corporate firms. The Funds that will be present at the Tour represent over €10 billion worth of investment capital.
The 25 best high growth companies
Companies from across the technology spectrum based in Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey and Croatia can apply to become one of 25 finalists. Finalists will be chosen from a pool of over 250 applicants. Selected companies will not be charged to apply or present. The deadline for applications is September 4, 2011.
Inma Martinez, serial entrepreneur and investor, will serve as President of the Southern Europe Tech Tour. “The companies that we are seeing at the Selection Committees for the region are radically improved where it comes to management execution and leadership, the one ingredient that the incipient entrepreneurial culture lacked in the last tours of 2003 and 2007” stated Martinez. “Southern European entrepreneurs and small cap companies have finally ramped up to create companies with global vision that can suit the portfolio requirements of international investors.”
The selection committee includes representatives from:
- Nauta Capital Innogest SGR
- 360 Capital Partners Hummingbird Ventures
- Atlante Ventures Idoo Family Office
- Bullnet Gestion Italian Angels for Growth
- Clave Mayor Fidelity Growth Partners
- Centerboard Partners Groupo Intercom de Capital
- iLab Ventures IG Expansion
Registration
Applicants can register for the Tour at http://www.techtour.com/Registration.htm. As part of the process applicants must submit a company profile, business plan and draft presentation together with the registration form.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be assessed on the uniqueness of their technology, the strength of their business model, vision, and capability to execute on the business plan and the quality and track record of their management. Submissions will be reviewed by the selection committee, which is comprised of 20 senior business leaders from various backgrounds including venture capital, technology, research and economic promotion.
Rewards for finalists
The selected 25 finalists will each have a twenty minute slot to present their business plans to senior partners, vice presidents and CEO's from the global venture capital and technology industry, as well as service providers and academics. In addition, they will benefit from networking opportunities, local and international media exposure and potential opportunities to secure funding. The Tech Tour does not charge selected companies to present.
About the European Tech Tour
The European Tech Tour Association was founded in Geneva in 1998 in response to the growing interest in emerging technology companies in various European regions. Tech Tour is an independent, not-for-profit organization composed of key contributors to the high technology industry. The Association recognises that continued prosperity in Europe lies in its ability to transform today's innovative projects into tomorrow's global technology leaders. For further information, please visit www.techtour.com
