Recruitment for the third edition of MIT Enterprise Forum CEE,  the accelerator for startups from the Central and Eastern Europe region, has just started

From January 16, 2020, you can apply for the 3rd edition of the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE – an acceleration program for young entrepreneurs from Poland and other 14 countries of Central and Eastern Europe who would like to make their American Dream come true.

The aim of the accelerator is to create a business space for scaling startups, providing B2B, B2C and B2B2C innovators with solutions to help develop and scale their business to foreign markets of the Central and Eastern Europe and the American market. Applications can be submitted until March 1, 2020 via www.mitefcee.org.

WHAT THE ACCELERATOR HAS TO OFFER

The paramount goal of MIT Enterprise Forum CEE is to support innovative science and tech startups from both Poland and Central and Eastern Europe in the development of their business models and introduce them to potential investors, business partners and future clients in Poland, Central and Eastern Europe and the United States.

MIT Enterprise Forum CEE acceleration is implemented under the auspices of the prestigious scientific center and the American unicorn forge – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The qualification to the MIT accelerated program itself is a milestone in the development of any enterprise thinking about expansion or entering the US market.

Startups that qualify to the third edition of the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE program will gain access to a team of over 120 Polish and international market experts, unique know-how straight from the MIT University, passed on the basis of the 24 steps of disciplined entrepreneurship model created by Bill Aulet, a professor at MIT, as well as the technical and technological background of the program partners.

What’s more, each of the entrepreneurs has a chance to win pilot implementation of their project, financed up to PLN 200,000. The stake is high!.

In 2020, two more brands joined the program partners. The main partner of the program, next to MCX and the Adamed Group, is Coca-Cola – seeking innovation in the areas of marketing and new technologies (MarTech), and sustainable development (Sustainability). The list of partners supporting the program has extended by Saber – particularly interested in the areas of Travel & Logistics. The addition of Coca-Cola and Saber has completed the already extensive portfolio of companies and organizations supporting startups during the 3-month acceleration process.

TOP STARTUPS

Finally, up to 25 startups will be invited to the 3rd edition of the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE program. Entrepreneurs will cooperate with Polish and international experts and mentors for several months on verifying their business models, acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for further development of their companies as well as a network of business contacts. All of this is meant to help them get a foothold in the market, effectively commercialize their solutions and acquire subsequent rounds of financing.

“The MIT ENTERPRISE FORUM CEE acceleration program has been focused on unconventional solutions for years, initially only on the Polish market, and for the last three editions, also in the CEE region. We try to find the most innovative technologies among applicants that have the greatest potential for global development. Thanks to many years of experience in working with the best Polish startups, as well as the support of experts who have been involved in supporting the American startup ecosystem for years, we offer participants unique support at the level of accelerators from the USA” says Łukasz Owczarek, Head of Acceleration at MIT Enterprise Forum CEE.

THE USA – A DREAM OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

MIT Enterprise Forum CEE is the only accelerator in this part of Europe which organizes a trip to a weekly bootcamp in Boston for the 5 most promising startups from each edition of the program. It is an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience about how businesses develop on the difficult American market. Participation in the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE accelerator bootcamp is also an opportunity to present your technologies to investors and potential US customers. A training visit to Boston is also time to get to know one of the world’s largest innovation ecosystems.

ADDITIONAL PLN 100,000 FOR A SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL SOLUTION

For the third time, the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE program will be expanded to include the international CVC Young Innovator Awards for startups that qualify to the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE program and meet the requirements of the competition. The prize will be awarded for an innovative project presented by a young entrepreneur (under 30 years of age), which, in addition to its technological potential, is characterized by high social utility. The winner will receive PLN 100,000..

“MIT Enterprise Forum CEE impresses with the quality of preparation and selection of partners throughout the CEE region. It is an honour and satisfaction that the CVC Young competition can once again be a part of it, supporting startups built up by young entrepreneurs and scientists. A great example of people that we want to distinguish and support is Miron Tokarski, the founder of Genomtec and winner of the previous edition of the CVC Young Innovator Awards. The startup from Wroclaw is developing a groundbreaking mobile laboratory for the genetic diagnosis of viruses and bacteria, and is on track to achieve international success.” says Krzysztof Krawczyk from CVC Capital Partners

PARTNERS

The main partners of the program include three organizations. Adamed – a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, which was founded on the basis of Polish scientific thought and own patents. The Coca-Cola system companies in Poland – the leader of the non-alcoholic beverages market, and MCX – the core of a strong group of specialized companies, including, among others, companies in the field of ICT solutions and renewable energy.

Supporting partners include CVC Capital Partners, HubHub, Nationale-Nederlanden, Sabre, Sollers Consulting and PZU. The implementation of the program is supported by a grant awarded to Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development under Measure of the 2.5 SGOP Acceleration Programs.