The European Commission is looking for Europe’s best startups in this year’s Tech All Stars competition. The lucky winners will have exclusive access to Europe’s most prestigious startup events and will pitch to the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Chad Hurley and Niklas Zennström.

European Commission Vice President @NeelieKroesEU said “Part of businesses success is making the right connections and the European Commission can help open doors. Finalists will get connected to EU funding sources, successful entrepreneurs and other influential people.”

The competition is open to EU registered startups younger than 3 years, which have raised less than €1 million in external funding. Applications are open until May 22nd 2014.

Tech All Stars Competition

• 10th-11th June 2014. Over two days, 12 finalists get to know London’s vibrant startup scene, connect, learn and get inspired by successful entrepreneurs. Finalists will be trained and challenged in an eliminatory pitch battle and a distinguished selection panel will chose the top three.
• June 12th Founders Forum London. Top three finalists pitch their startup to a world-class audience of tech leaders and investors. The best European startup will be elected, and the winner will be announced by Neelie Kroes
• Summer 2014. The Grand Tech All Stars Winner will be panellist at the European Commission’s Digital Agenda Assembly again rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers of the tech world.

Previous Tech All Star Winners include Irish company Trustev which offers real time, online verification using social fingerprinting technology (see MEMO/13/557) and Cognicor a Spanish start-up offering an automated complaint resolution service (see MEMO/12/472).

StatupEurope is the European Commission action plan to strengthen the business environment for web and ICT entrepreneurs in Europe and contributing to innovation, growth and jobs. It is a Digital Agenda initiative supported by @NeelieKroesEU to help innovative tech companies start in Europe and stay in Europe.

Find out more here
– techallstars.eu @TechAllStars
– @StartUpEU, #StartUpEurope
– About Startup Europe
– Neelie Kroes’ website

Contacts
Email: comm-kroes@ec.europa.eu Tel: +32.229.57361 Twitter: @RyanHeathEU

Read the press release here.