Are you a seed or early stage startup? Do you have at least one woman in your team? Are you looking for funding? If the answer to those three questions is yes, then the time has come for you bring your best pitch game and get in front of some investors.
Why? Well, apart from the chance to win one of three cash prizes, you can also win free startup mentoring for six months right here at Starttech Ventures. Sound good? I thought so.
We’re thrilled to announce that we will host the Athens leg of the LeanIn EU WBAs (Women Business Angels) Pitching Battles, right here at Starttech Ventures’ HQ on February 22.
I know what you’re thinking. Where can I sign up? Right here, that’s where! The deadline for applications is February 16, so hurry up and get your application in on time.
The prizes
There are three cash prizes on offer: EUR 1,500, 1,000, and 500, for the top three pitches. Additionally, the top two startups will gain access to startup mentoring from Starttech Ventures’ Venture Building team.
The acceleration period will consist of bi-weekly calls, guidance on how to use Lean Canvas, how to set actionable metrics, how to do build-measure-learn cycles. The winning startups’ product or service must meet our criteria of being B2B software-based, and targeting north america and/or north-west Europe.
Who are the LeanIn EU WBAs
The LeanIn EU WBAs is a new development area in Europe supported by the European Commission. The aim is to increase the number of women business angels and women entrepreneurs in the EU. Several pitching events, like the one at Starttech, will be organised during the project in consortium countries to give a chance to entrepreneurs to connect with investors in the area and raise funding.
Rules for applying
- Participation is open to startups from any field
- The startup can be founded in any country but must be able to participate at the chosen pitch event on the given date
- The startup must be interested in raising investments
- Only seed or early stage startups will be considered for participation (startup must have at least at MVP);
- Both male and female founded startups can apply, but there must be at least 1 woman in the team
- Priority will be given to women entrepreneurs who have participated in the LeanIn EU WBAs training programme
A total of eight startups will be selected to pitch, and all participants will be contacted at a minimum of one week before the pitch event via email. Further details about the event (detailed agenda, etc.) will be sent to the eight shortlisted startups within the same e-mail.
Draft agenda
While the detailed agenda for the February 22 Pitching Battles will be sent out later as mentioned, below is an approximate breakdown of what the day will entail.
SCHEDULE:
16:30: Welcome Coffee & Registration. Introduction.
17:00: “Fostering Innovation in Greece. The woman factor.”, Spyros Arsenis, NBG Business Seeds Coordinator
17:20: Introduction of investors and pitching rules:
Flavia Richardson, Funding London, UK
Tal Tochner, PICO Partners, Israel
Alexandra Choli & Myrto Papathanou, Metavallon Ventures, Greece
Marika Rella, Vector Partners, Greece
Antigoni Lymperopoulou, New Economy Development Fund, Greece
Myrto Sokou, Independent Consultant, London
18:00: Pitches 1-4 (5 min pitch + 5 min Q&A for each)
18:45: Coffee break
19:00: “Women Act: Empowering Women in Leadership”, Maria Gianniou & May Zanni, co-founders of Women Act, Greece
19:15: Pitches 5-8 (5 min pitch + 5 min Q&A for each)
20:00: Announcement of winners
20:15: Networking & Farewell
VENUE: Starttech Ventures, 2nd floor, Lykourgou 1, Athens, 10551
APPLICATIONS: Click here to apply.
Go, go, go!
There you go then you budding entrepreneurs. All that’s left to do is apply, and you’ll be halfway there to taking part in the Greek leg of the LeanIn EU WBAs Pitching Battles. So why are you still sitting there thinking about it? Get yourself in gear and apply today!
