How to Web, one of the biggest tech conferences in Central and Eastern Europe is returning on November 20-21 with its 5th edition. Early stage startups in the CEE looking for investments, mentoring opportunities and networking can now be a part of this year’s Startup Spotlight competition and orientation program with $20,000 cash prizes for the best 32 teams in the region.
Aimed at those startups who’ve been running under two years and have received less than €100,000 in funding, Startup Spotlight is an intensive program for CEE startups that are working on tech products. It will take place in between November 19 and 22 in Bucharest, Romania, and it will bring together startups from the region that are building tech products with disruptive potential.
The program offers workshops and dedicated mentoring sessions with experienced mentors and renowned professionals from all around the world, connecting with investors, early stage investment funds and accelerator representatives (such as 500 Startups, TechStars, Seedcamp, Startupbootcamp, Early Bird Ventures, 3TS Capital, Connect Ventures among many others).
This year, all the Startup Spotlight finalists will have a chance to pitch on the conference’s main stage, in front of an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, accelerator representatives and tech specialists from all over the region.
The eligibility criteria to the competition are simple & clear, the organisers even dedicated a blogpost detailing them. The jury will evaluate by looking at the team fit and experience, market size and potential, market validation, initial traction, as well as the overall feasibility of the product.
Latest stats show that year over year, 35% of the startups that attended Startup Spotlight managed to close important deals as a result of participating in this program. (Check out the Startup Spotlight Report for 2013.)
If you’re interested in finding out more about Startup Spotlight, visit their website where you can also apply for the program until Monday, October 20.
