Geneva, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB UK) 27 January 2015
Tech Tour today announced the opening of the call for applications for the Benelux Tech Tour which will take place in Belgium and the Netherlands May 20-21, 2015. The Tech Tour Selection Committee will choose the top 50 Emerging companies and the top 25 Growth companies from across the Benelux region and bring them together with leading European Venture Capital firms that are seeking to invest in the region. Selected Growth companies in the previous 2 editions of the Benelux Tech Tour have successfully raised over €170M in funding. Tech Tour’s partners for the event are iMinds and Startups.be who bring a wealth of experience and credibility to the organizing team.
Top 50 Emerging Companies and Top 25 Growth Companies
Technology companies across all technology sectors who are based in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg can apply to compete for their chance to present. The Benelux Tech Tour is the first regional Tech Tour event to incorporate the selection of Emerging companies. This provides a significant opportunity for the regions start-ups and early stage companies to gain visibility among the investment community and of course access to a potential pool of seed capital.
Jürgen Ingels (Belgium) and Patrick Polak (The Netherlands) will take the helm as co-presidents of the event. Between them they have over 30 years’ experience in Technology businesses, investing and consulting and both bring their expert guidance to the event. Jürgen Ingels, Founder of Clear2Pay and now Managing Partner of Smartfin Capital said, "As a strong believer in the potential of this region and its people, I am delighted to support this new edition of Tech Tour in the Benelux. Since C2P was acquired by FIS, I have returned to my prior love of funds, investing and supporting growth companies so I am living and breathing entrepreneurship daily. Seeing close up the challenges young companies face in growing internationally and finding the right funding makes me realise even more, the importance of events like the Tech Tour."
Veteran VC Patrick Polak, joint founder of Newion Investments with over 18 years’ experience in venture investment explains, "The companies that are presenting at Tech Tour are selected and nominated by the top VC’s in the Benelux, so from the industry itself! You can’t get closer to VC’s representing €10Bn in funds under management, in such an efficient, informal and direct way. Tech Tour is not just another pitching event. It is an intense collaboration between Tech companies and the people who fuel them for further acceleration to materialize their dreams!"
Applying for the Benelux Tech Tour
- No charge to apply
- No charge for selected companies to attend the event – selection is merit only based
- Companies are selected by an expert selection committee, according to their potential market impact, and can be at any funding stage from seed to pre-IPO.
- Selected companies will be presenting to a group of pre-qualified 70 global investment professionals, advisors and corporates.
- Tech companies with operations in, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – are invited to apply by March 15 at http://www.techtour.com/beneluxapplications
Registration
Applicants can register for the Tour at http://www.techtour.com/beneluxapplications. 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 75 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 Tech Tour
The Tech Tour was founded in Geneva in 1998 in response to the growing interest in emerging technology companies in various European regions. The Tech Tour mission is to promote investment in the most promising technology companies in Europe through Regional Tours and Vertical Summits. Since its inception in 1998, Tech Tour companies have been very successful in obtaining funding and the company provides an important platform for Entrepreneurs. Investors, Government influencers, Industry experts and Advisers to come together network, collaborate to further the high-tech innovation ecosystem in Europe. For further information, please visit http://www.techtour.com
Media Contacts:
Patrice McCauley
+41 22 544 60 62
patrice(at)techtour(dot)com
Ellen Thijs,
+32 473 26 51 54
ethijs(at)smartfincapital(dot)com
Karen Boers
+32 47 376 42 49
karen(dot)boers(at)startups(dot)be