CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - Armenian Startup Academy Berlin – September 03-10 in Berlin, Germany
The “Support to SME development in Armenia” (SMEDA) project announces the “Armenian Startup Academy Berlin” (ASAB) and invites Armenian technology based startups to participate in ASAB, taking place from September 3-10 in Berlin, Germany. Startups in the field of high-technology and IT are asked to apply for participation at the Academy.
SMEDA is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ Private Sector Development in South Caucasus Programme. SMEDA is part of the EU4Business and EU4Innovation initiatives of the European Union.
Representatives of up to 15 start-ups can attend the one-week academy in Berlin and get the opportunity to meet potential financiers, partners, and clients who are experts on the European venture and start-up scene. Thus, the participants get the chance to find potential investors and enlarge their network. Furthermore, they are supported in their business development and receive an investment readiness training with international experts. The ASAB addresses start-up companies which have already developed products and services with existing sales or customer interests. “Idea-only” startups can’t apply.
The aim of the project is to create a linkage between the European and the Armenian start-up ecosystem promoting the Armenian start-up scene in Europe and raising the awareness of it being a strong technological and R&D hub.
Application for participation is open until 07 July 2017, 6pm AMT.
Activities included in the participation are
- Workshop/ Preparation for ASAB (Yerevan)
- Tailored Business Coaching & Business development for each startup (Berlin)
- 2-day Investment Readiness training (Berlin)
- Meetings with accelerators, Business Angels and Venture Capitalists, with potential matching opportunities (Berlin)
- Public Event: Armenian Start-up Reception with investors, German startups/ speed dating event (Berlin)
- Participation in Berlin start-up night (Berlin)
The participation of the event will give various benefits to startups, including
- Direct Business Development & Investment Support
- Tailored networking opportunities in Europe
- Exposure to potential investors
- Presentation of the own Startup to the European startup ecosystem
- Visibility
For participating startups, the costs related to event participation (travel expenses, accommodation, visa) are covered by SMEDA.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS/ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
-
Industry/ Sector: The product or service is in the high-technology, innovative sector.
-
Prototype or product: The product or service are in an advanced stage. “Idea-only” startups can’t apply.
-
Registration of a Company: A company/ legal entity needs to be existing (registered company in Armenia as LLC, OJSC or CJSC) or to be in the founding process.
-
Team: The company consists of a team. Please provide a list of the core team member with their position, competencies and tasks in the company as well as their CVs or linkedin profiles.
-
Pitch/ Presentation: A short 3-minute pitch video (could be filmed with a smart phone) needs to be submitted.
EVALUATION PROCESS
The evaluation will be done by the SMEDA team together with the organizers of the event from Germany – namely BerlinerStrategen, a strategy and startup consulting company in Berlin.
The evaluation for the ASAB will be done in two stages. After the first stage of evaluation the start-ups will be shortlisted for the next stage. For the second stage BerlinerStrategen will join the assessment procedure. The criteria for selection are based on the questions listed below and the quality of the documents submitted.
All interested candidates need to submit their application form with all required files util July 7, 2017, 6pm AMT.
All the applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered. For all interested candidates, an Info Day will be organized June 28th at 17:00 at ISTC in Yerevan (Alek Manukyan 1, YSU 7th building 6th floor). There we will provide more information on the application process and answer questions.
Timeline
June 28 Info Day
July 07 Application Deadline
July 09 1st round shortlisting
July 13 Final selection
July 14 Announcement of the winners
July 17 – End of August Preparation of participants
September 2 – 10 ASAB in Berlin
September & October Feedback and Follow-Up
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please follow this link to fill in and submit your application form: goo.gl/NYWxRk
(At the end of the application procedure, you will be asked to include a link to provide us with a folder including all required application documents!)
More info: www.smeda.am
All the information provided during the application process will be treated confidential. All individuals involved in the evaluation are signed NDAs and are bound to confidentiality.
In case of any questions, please free to contact us by sending an e-mail to info@smeda.am mariam.haydeyan@giz.de or calling to +37410269986.