Time remaining for your application
0Days0Hours0Minutes0Seconds
Up2B Firecamp
Who you are
- Entrepreneurs seeking for financing and scaling
- From the field of IT, digital or high-tech
- With a B2B business model
Program Period
23rd – 27th July 2018
Program Language
English
Program Location
Mannheim, Heidelberg and Walldorf
What you can expect
A week full of high-class mentoring, individual feedback, professional pitch training, exchange with more than 20 experts and other entrepreneurs (12 teams) and networking with corporates and investors.
- Targeted and selective optimization of relevant business fields
- One-on-one consulting with experts
- Corporate speed dating with multinational companies
- Contact to investors
- Fireside evenings
- Pitching event with award ceremony
- Attractive prizes to win
- Free participation including meals
The program
Five whole days.
Monday starts with a warm welcome and a cosy get-together. You will meet the other participants and the firecamp team for a drink and listen to an inspiring keynote speech. Our special guest will be Josh Fechter, a Silicon Valley based growth hacking expert.
Tuesday and Wednesday are mentoring days. Every day you will go through three individual sessions with outstanding mentors. The areas of mentoring are “Sales, Marketing, Product, Finance and Investments, Business Model and Legal”.
Thursday is about your perfect pitch. You will be trained by professionals. They will guide you through the structure of your pitches, your radiance and convincing speaking techniques.
Friday starts with a joint corporate speed dating session. Several multinational IT and high-tech companies want to get to know you and your startup. Benefit from the opportunity to build up your B2B network.
After that the time has come for the final pitches and decisions. The program ends with an exclusive pitch event in front of 30+ investors.
Win attractive prizes and the interest of investors!
People you will meet
Marcus Erken
Marcus is a founding partner of Sunfish Partners, a Berlin based corporate that invests in early-stage startups in the “world of data” (machine learning, blockchain, IoT).
Marcus is also a lecturer in the field of entrepreneurship and supports the WHU Incubator. He studied at WHU Vallendar, RWTH Aachen, and Harvard University.
Klaus Wächter
Klaus Wächter has been successfully active as a consultant and mentor in the startup scene. He is an expert in the field of sales. He has been a shareholder of EYEVIDO since the beginning of 2016 and has since been responsible for managing the sales department. Moreover, Klaus Wächter is the chairman of the Business Angels Rheinland-Pfalz.
Tim-Hendrik Meyer
Tim is Co-Founder and COO/CPO of Quandoo. Since 2012 he is in charge of the international sales and operations department heading the international expansion into 14 geographies.
Colin Bennett
Colin has spent the last 20 years training business people in communication. Since 2000 Colin has been running a range of highly successful seminars for presentations skills. These seminars combine practical work on structure, rhetoric and delivery based on the principles of audience psychology.
Sophie Horstmann
Sophie is member of the management of LAFAM Holding GmbH, which invests in startups with an innovative business model. She supports startups in financing, sales and business development issues.
Josef Schell
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Head of Digital Platforms & New Markets with a focus on the design, creation and implementation of future-oriented, digitally oriented business models.
Florian Schulze
Florian is a data driven tech marketer from Germany. Most recently, Florian headed up Marketing & Business Development for San Francisco based analytics company Compass (acquired by Sage). At Compass, he grew the business accounts to >10,000 and initiated numerous partnerships.
Andrius Juozapaitis
Head of Innovation Management, Lietuvos energija, UAB
Andrius is responsible for the innovation management, open innovation and corporate venture capital activities of Lithuanian Energy. Andrius also works with early-stage start-ups and teams and acts as an advisor to start-ups on business model, product-market fit and fundraising activities.
Alexander Rennig
Alexander is an Investment Analyst at ALSTIN Capital, which focuses on dynamic start-up companies in sectors such as FinTech, InsurTech, PropTech. He worked in several Investment companies around Europe like AXA Strategic Ventures.
Marion Nöldgen
Marion Nöldgen opened the Berlin office for Videobeat Networks in 2017 and is responsible for setting up and developing the global sales approach, international role out and key account management.
Austeja Subaciute
Austeja is a strategic marketing consultant focused on developing and implementing marketing strategies in IT, pharmaceutical, FMCG, insurance, fashion and retail markets for both local and international companies.
Dr. Thomas Prexl
Thomas is head of the Startup Support Bureau at the Heidelberg Technology Park where he has been actively promoting a support structure for scientific and technological startups and spin-offs in Heidelberg. He is a a vivid advisor to entrepreneurs and startups, focusing on marketing, business planning and pitch presentations.
Jonathan Glick
Jonathan is an Tel Aviv based Entrepreneur and the MD of Techbrücke, the bridge between German Mittelstand and Israeli high tech startups. Prior to that he served as the deputy consul general of Israel. Today he’s also an advisor to the major of the City of Mannheim on innovation.
Raymond J. Chow
Daimler AG
Raymond J. Chow is Senior Manager for Business Innovation at Daimler. He has initiated Daimler´s innovation platform STARTUP AUTOBAHN. The project aims to establish the Stuttgart region as a leading ecosystem for mobility startups.
Kai Haller
SAP
Former entrepreneur and co-founder of Appvisory.com. German market leader for Mobile Application Management (MAM) and Mobile Security. 15+ years experience in the internet, media, mobile and software industries, with a special focus on Mobility, Enterprise Software, Cloud Services, Business Models and Security.
Thomas Steckenborn
Thomas Steckenborn is the CEO and founder of CEMA AG, which he has built up since 1990 one of the 50 largest IT system houses in Germany with 10 locations nationwide and an IT service center.
Rouven Siegemund
Osborne Clarke
Rouven advises national and international companies on all areas of corporate law, focusing on M&A transactions, venture capital financing and startups.
Felix Hilgert
Osborne Clarke
Felix advises on IT and e-commerce law, on software contracts of all kinds and on all aspects of interactive entertainment.
Corporate Partner
Firecamp 2017 Review
“That was the most intense coaching week of my life. I took a lot of things with me and now I even go home as a winner. The program is unique in its intensity in the startup scene. I can recommend every startup to apply for the next Firecamp”
“The Firecamp is the most inspiring and intensive format for the further development of innovative startup ideas i have seen in Germany so far. This week is so motivating for the founders, startup teams and mentors and ensures the exchange of valuable knowledge and experiences in professional fields. For local startups who are serious about their growth, the Firecamp is an absolute must and a highlight!”
“Please repeat that format! It’s the best format you can find in the Rhine-Neckar region.”
“We made further progress this week than the whole last year.”
“Programs like the Firecamp are just what you need to move Germany towards more innovation. For founders, it’s important not to waste too much time analyzing a problem. Instead, they have to make decisions and talk to as many people as possible to quickly find out if their idea can convince the market. That’s what we did this week.”
“Well, it’s called ‘firecamp’ for a reason. If it would be a walk in the park, we would call it ‘a walk in the park’. So grab your ideas and your toothbrush and move on.”
“The level of mentors, coaches and corporates were impressive and the content and program helped us incredibly to further shape and tailor our business. I was able to connect to many likeminded people for further networking. The organization of the program was flawless!”
“The firecamp week was a hands-on tough week, with an outcome that we would have never expected from the camp! Brilliant mentors, brilliant contacts, great organization!”
“Firecamp is the best possible preparation for the first investment round. Deep-dives with high-class-experts bring your startup to the next level.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who can apply?
Startups from the field of IT, digital and high-tech. If you have a clear focus on Business-to-Business (B2B) it´s even better! We take your B2B focus as an advantage.
When is the application deadline?
On the 4th February 2018, 23:59. We can not consider further applications after the deadline.
I am the only founder in the company. Can I apply?
Yes, you can! A team is not necessary to apply for the Firecamp.
We have not founded the company yet. Can we also apply?
Yes, we consider startups no matter if they have founded a company already or not.
When do you decide if our team can participate in the Firecamp?
The Firecamp organization team will decide on Wednesday, 6th February latest if you are among the participants. On 5th and 6th February there might be the possibility to contact you via Skype or Phone if we have some question regarding your startup and your team.
Is it necessary to be on site every day for the whole team?
At least of you has be present during the whole week. No show is an exclusion criteria.
We only have a business idea and want to apply for the Firecamp.
The focus of Firecamp is to support startups that want to scale and to get funded. For very early-stage startups we offer our program “Breakthrough” twice a year. No matter you can apply. If your startup is too early-stage for Firecamp, we will inform you.
Do we have to pay for the participation or give shares of our company?
No, the program is for free!
What is the program language?
English! All presentations and your pitches as well as your application have to be in english, since we expect also international participants. Some of our experts and mentors as well as investors are international too.
We do have further questions. Who can we contact?
Please contact Paul Becker, Startup Support Manager at Heidelberg Technology Park:
paul.becker@heidelberg.de
Phone: + 49 178 1918168
Organization
Network and Media Partner
