IMD Startup Competition

The 2011 IMD Startup Competition - 14th Annual IMD Startup Competition: Every year IMD Executive MBA participants work closely with hi-tech, hi-growth startups on the idea-to-wealth-creation path. These are "live" case studies that take participants out of the classroom and into promising young companies. The students are immersed in the startup environment and get a chance to help these young companies refine their business plans and more importantly, to understand the mindset of the entrepreneur.

 

IMD is looking for early-stage companies that have a solid chance of market success, have a team that is curious and willing to open themselves up to a small group of management "students," can provide a good learning opportunity for our participants and whose timing fits with the IMD programs.

 

A team of IMD Faculty with extensive experience of entrepreneurial activities will do the selection of projects with advisory support from Switzerland's CTI/KTI Startup organization and VentureStart.

 

Even though there are virtually no costs to the startup for this support, we require a strong commitment to support the project and to dedicate time to moving the projects forward with the participants.

 

Up to five of the startups will be chosen to work with the Executive MBA class, a group of 50 highly experienced managers (average age: 38 years old), who, in small teams, will analyze and challenge their business plans, teams and company strategies.

 

One member of each startup is required to join the EMBAs in Silicon Valley, California for six days in September 2012. They will participate for free in the Silicon Valley module of the EMBA but must pay their own travel and lodging. They will be integrated into the class for this module.

 

In Silicon Valley the business plans will be pitched to a small group of Silicon Valley venture capitalists and/or angel investors. The IMD EMBAs will do the pitches, but the entrepreneurs are invited to talk with the potential investors after the pitches.

 

Some of the previous winners of this competition that have worked with the Executive MBA class over the past 13 years include: Dartfish, GlycArt Biotechnology, SourcingParts.com, Exalos, Fastcom, Shockfish, Flisom, Med-Discovery, EpiSpeed, Kooaba, Dacuda, Lemoptix, Novashunt, Diagnoplex, Koemei, Abionic, Stemergie Biotechnologie and id Quantique.

 

Click here to submit your application before November 1, 2011.