Procedure
Innovation and fresh ideas have always been at the heart of the NEXT Conference, entrepreneurs and start-ups are an essential part of the NEXT Community. This year, we've created a new platform for ideas, giving founders the opportunity to pitch before investors and opinion leaders as well as socialise. The NEXT Elevator Pitch comes with the great help of three partners: Hanse Ventures, Wired and YOU IS NOW.
How to take part
Start-ups can apply for a presenting slot by filling out the form. The NEXT Community then decides on who gets promoted to the second round by means of a public voting. Out of the 30 applications with the most votes, the NEXT Elevator Jury selects twelve lucky finalists who get the chance to present their idea to the jury on stage on May 17, the first conference day. The jury then decides on the winner.
Criteria for applications
We are looking for young founders, founder teams or start-ups in early stage (not older than twelve months) with innovative ideas and sustainable business models in the internet and e-commerce industry. The idea must not be funded at the time of application. Each applicant is allowed to send in one proposal.
Update of April 12, 2011
We've learned from the feedback we received that the criteria we set out in the beginning were too strict. So we reformulate the criteria as follows:
- Applying start-ups can now be up to three years old.
- They are allowed to be already funded at the time of application.
- It is required to launch something (a start-up, a product or service) at NEXT11.
The prize
The winner of the NEXT Elevator Pitch enjoys a customised coaching day at Hanse Ventures with the following modules: team leadership, SEO, financial budgeting and social media marketing. Additional to the coaching day the winner also gets a scholarship for one semester at the Founder Institute Berlin. The prize amount altogether is 6,000 Euros. For the runner-ups we offer a SEO workshop at Hanse Ventures worth 2,500 Euros.
Timeline
The application phase starts on March 23 and ends on April 27. Start-ups which match the above mentioned criteria will be put up for public voting immediately. Early applications thus receive a head start. The voting phase also closes on April 27. The 30 start-ups with the most votes will be brought before the jury which then decides on the twelve finalists by the beginning of May. The finalists will be officially announced in early May.
NEXT Expo Area
In addition to the main programme, there will also be an expo at NEXT11 where companies can present themselves and their products. As part of NEXT Elevator an offer with special terms is available for start-ups to be present as exhibitors at the NEXT Expo area. For more information take a look at our offer for start-ups.