Last week saw the official, public launch of the SIE Network‘s Hello Tomorrow Challenge which seeks to connect, promote and accelerate European entrepreneurs looking to leverage science and technology to develop truly innovative, disruptive products and services. As such, the challenge will focus on innovations in the following five areas: biotech and medical technology, energy, big data, hardware and robotics, and IT & communication.
Last week’s event officially launching the Challenge brought together all the key types of stakeholders needed to create the right environment for disruptive innovation to flourish, including research, science, VC/finance, government and business. You can read more about the event and what such leaders as Minister Fleur Pellerin, Elaia’s Marie Ekeland, Orange’s Vivek Badrinath, Netatmo’s Frédéric Potter, Universcience’s Claudie Haigneré, and ESPCI ParisTech’s Jacques Lewiner had to say about innovation in France and the Hello Tomorrow Challenge here.
How does Hello Tomorrow work?
One of the nice things about the Challenge is that if you don’t have a cofounder but have a great idea, the Hello Tomorrow team can offer you a platform to join an existing team or find your cofounder. Via their matching-matching system, you can either advertise for others to join your team or you can find a team to join. However, you do need to finalize your team before the January 29th deadline to properly apply to the Challenge.
Of those that apply, 25 teams will be selected to receive coaching and mentoring through April 18th when the big First Day of Tomorrow innovation conference and grand final will take place, at which a total of €400k in prize money, including €100k for the top winner, will be awarded.
Don’t forget to apply by January 29th!
Although more than 50 ambassadors from 36 countries and 16 accelerators from across Europe are helping to source the best candidates from across the continent, the Challenge organizers continue to look for the best and brightest candidates. So, if you or your cofounder (if you have one) are a European resident or citizen and you have a startup founded under a year ago or an idea that you know would be the perfect fit for the Challenge, make sure to apply here by the 29th of January!