Around Europe in four days: StartupBus Europe 2016 is back

StartupBus Europe 2016 is one of three annual competitions of StartupBus. Seven Buses lined up in seven different countries – including Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom – have been organised for this year’s StartupBus Europe. Each bus has about 25 carefully selected strangers of software developers, designers and “hustlers”. Startups from all over Europe can board a bus of their choice regardless of their origin. All buses depart at the same time however drive through different cities around Europe. From Switzerland, the StartupBus will depart from Zurich, through Luzern, Paris, Lille, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hasselt and finally Cologne the final destination.

While on the road, Startups will pitch their ideas, build and launch a new startup teams based on the most popular ideas on the bus within 72 hours with a team of strangers while crossing the continent on a bus driving 80 km/h. Once a team settles on a name, they are entered into the StartupBus Game. This game allows people that are not on a StartupBus to participate in the bootcamp and buy and sell shares of the startups born on the buses. Teams have to be fast because the bus is crossing the continent and stops in cities where they have to pitch their idea. After those 72 hours they will present their product in the semi-finals at Corda INCubator in Hasselt, Belgium and in the finals at the invite-only Pirate Summit in Cologne, Germany.

Arnaud Mesureur, 2014 alumnus remarks, “My network grew drastically, not only quantity wise but also in quality. I also consider being selected for the finals as a great achievement. And I now feel part of an awesome community. More than ever, I feel like we can change the world.”

Application for the StartupBus Europe 2016 is open. Interested startups will be subjected to a fee of EUR 399 for booked before 31 July and EUR 499 as last minute fee. The fee will cover the four-day trip, coaching, international network events, and the Pirates Summit.

1.000 attendees, 650 founders, 200 investors, 80 pitches, 70+ countries and 60 speakers
Pirates Summit is a two day summit and Europe’s largest invitation-only conference for early-stage startups, investors and corporate executives. Over 1000 carefully selected attendees, including 200 investors, 650 founders including 120 buspreneurs, will participate. The summit will host individuals from over 70 countries. 80 pitches and 60 speakers will present their startups and speeches respectively to the audience.

On the first day, 10 startups of StartupBus will get the chance to pitch their startup on stage. On the second day the buspreneurs become part of a global network of thousands of StartupBus alumni that have gone on to change the world. All buses will then depart to their home countries.

(Picture: StartupBus Homepage)

(RAN)