Pioneers Discover is inviting startups from around the world to apply for several incubator, hackathon and accelerator programs offering prizes of up to €50,000 as well as investments, collaboration and mentoring opportunities. Amongst an exciting selection of new open calls, our consultancy arm is looking for startups to take part in this year’s Next-Incubator program and the second edition of the Industry 4.0 Hackathon.
To list the first of several new opportunities following the end of Pioneers’18 and GovTech.Pioneers applications, Pioneers Discover is once again working with Energie Steiermark, one of Austria’s leading regional energy providers, to scout the startups for the company’s Next-Incubator corporate venture team. This year Next-Incubator is increasing its commitment to long-term strategic collaborations with startups, and is looking to invest in the best companies following interviews, a bootcamp and a two-month program in Graz. The open call, which runs until April 29th, is primarily for European startups with rapidly scalable business models – especially those from the DACH region.
Following the success of our first Industry 4.0 Hackathon in Linz in November last year, the second edition goes ahead at the same factory300 venue (home to our partner startup300) from May 7th-9th. This time we’re welcoming four new industry-leading companies as partners. PALFINGER, Engel, Rotax and EBNER are next in line to set real-world challenges for the best startups who apply. If you think your startup can develop solutions like last year’s winners did, then get your application in by April 20th. This call is open to any European startups.
In a brand-new program for Pioneers Discover, we’re also looking for 5G and IoT startups from both Europe and Israel to take part in Hub:raum, the incubator for Germany’s telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom. With three separate programs ongoing in Berlin, Krakow and Tel Aviv between June and December, this is a rolling open call. Benefits include co-prototyping, mentoring, commercial co-operations and partnerships, access to Deutsche Telekom’s powerful connectivity solutions and financing.
Another recurring partnership for Pioneers Discover is that with Spanish banking group BBVA, as we once again scout worldwide innovators for BBVA Open Talent, the biggest FinTech startup challenge in the world. Applications are open in three categories, namely FinTech for Business, Fintech for Future and FinTech for People. The finalists will advance to pitch at the BBVA Open Summit in Madrid in October, just like our startup B2B Pay did last year. The three category winners will also win an increased prize of €50,000, so make sure to apply before the open call closes on May 3rd.
The time has also come for startups to apply to take part in the GoAustria 2018 autumn program, which runs twice each year. The two-week incubator will take place in Vienna and Styria, starting on September 17th and ending on October 3rd. As always the non-specialist program will give participants the opportunity to explore the Austrian and European markets, as well as to find new investors and/or collaboration partners. Selected startups will also be allocated a personal mentor, who will support them as they validate their business model and design an internationalization plan. Applications close on June 4th, and preference will go to startups from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Israel.
View more information and apply for all open calls here.
Startups can also join the waiting lists for Pioneers’18 or GovTech.Pioneers.
