The 30th of June has marked the end of the acceleration for STARTUP3 innovators!

Nonetheless, this does not mean an end to the project’s activities. The startups are now market-ready and well-equipped with all things meaning business. After engaging in the mentorship and workshops aimed at gaining and strengthening tech, business, funding, marketing and legal skills of STARTUP3 innovators, special attention was directed at providing opportunities to meet corporates, investors and other potential clients and fine-tune their respective pitches to perfection.

As part of these activities, in the scope of the last meeting with STARTUP3 innovators a pitching session with Sophia Business Angels (SBA) was organised. The Sophia Business Angels (SBA), based in Sophia Antipolis (one of the leading technology parks in France and Europe) are dedicated to mentoring, developing, and investing in promising startups that will deliver significant financial returns for the group and entire innovation ecosystem.

STARTUP3 innovators had the opportunity to pitch their solutions before Patrick Kedziora of SBA who is a serial entrepreneur, founder and mentor whose superpower is to “get stuff done.” After rounds of pitches, his verdict came in:

This time not only their ideas were put to test but also lessons learned, and concrete progress made during the acceleration process. In particular, the innovators had to reflect on the funding and the clients they have obtained throughout the duration of the project as well as the overall progress on the story development around their products and teams.

Why was this important? It is not only the “idea validation” of a particular investor or business angel but rather the opportunity to regularly fine-tune the pitch until it is the one that hits the right nerve with the observer and potential client/investor. As matchmaking is one of the services STARTUP3 offers, it is one of the goals of the acceleration programme that pitch is directed towards the right audience while effectively communicating the true essence of the solution rather than a generic well-practised speech.

Each of the startups has a unique story and vision. We are proud to have provided the support in their disruption of the deep tech ecosystem. In the following months make sure to stay tuned for more news on their progress and new endeavours!