Startup Sauna returned to Budapest on Monday to scout for local startups. The event started at noon with the pitches of the participating 16 startups. Based on their presentations, the best 10 startups were selected to attend the 1-on-1 coaching sessions. During the afternoon session the teams got the chance to received feedback and advice from international coaches, such as Juha Ruohonen, the former Head Coach of Startup Sauna, Aape Pohjavirta, Member of the Board of the Finnish Mobile Association, and Ilkka Kivimäki, Startup Sauna’s head coach.
By the end of the day the Coaches selected the winner, or in this case winners, since two startups received the opportunity to get into the Startup Sauna accelerator programme later this year in Helsinki, and maybe even to present at Slush, the biggest startup event in Northern Europe. The two winners of the event are FruitFlan and RoboPhone.
Here are the 16 startups who were pitching on stage at the event:
- Adatkocka - Keeps small companies' data safe from loss and NSA as well.
- DokList - DokList is a medical services search, comparison and booking platform.
- Feedstripes - The online media in one filterable news feed.
- FruitFlan - Visual decision support tool for online publishers.
- Loki - Geolocated chatrooms all around the world!
- Neticle - Neticle summarizes a keyword's online opinions into one simple indicator.
- Noisefreaks - Unified platform for the music scene.
- OnlineTanterem - Online Education Platform on your Website.
- RoboPhone - An autonomous robot for playful learning, using your iPhone as its brain.
- Smartfront - Innovative web-based business solutions.
- Sopreso - Interactive presentation tool, audience response system for the masses.
- Synetiq - Crowdsourced neuromarketing platform for everyone.
- Tep - Tep motivates people to do sports by rewards and gamification.
- Traffi Hunter - Drivers swiss army knife with safety drive.
- Vanmit.hu - Compare globally, exchange locally.
- Zmenu.net - Pinterest-style international takeaway delivery platform.
Startup Sauna is an excellent initiative with proven track record of creating a bridge between local startups and Northern Europe, as well as Silicon Valley. It is an opportunity for Hungarian entrepreneurs to go global by reaching experienced mentors, connections, funding and other valuable resources.
Startup Sauna, founded in 2010, is a non-profit organization for startups and aspiring entrepreneurs in Northern and Eastern Europe and Russia. Their aim is to attract investors and talent into the region, and then pushing them back to make an impact in their own countries. Ninety companies have graduated from the program since 2010, with more than USD 25 million of funding raised.
