The Startup Exchange Program, a mentor driven exchange programme designed to scale-up startups, is back (Update – March 2023: The website seems to be out of use, and we therefore deactivated the original link). The SXP programme selects the most resourceful, creative, and disruptive startups to move to a European tech hub for 4 to 6 weeks, supported by a local incubator and co-working space.
In 2013, SXP teamed up with eight incubators and co-working spaces to provide free working space and guidance and mentorship for the startups. One of them is STARTER, an incubator located in Gdansk, Poland. STARTER guarantees fast and easy access not only to all business centers, networking places, universities campuses, but also to public transport and neighbouring towns.
At the moment, more than 80 startups are residing under the STARTER’s roof, being mostly ICT-focused projects at a very early stage of development. In addition to getting a comfy working space, each resident can take part in the multiple events organised by the incubator each month, including meetings with inspiring people, hackathons, bar camps, ‘Geek Girls Carrots’ meetings, startup contests, thematic startup sprints, workshops, trainings, and more.
Małgorzata Jasnoch, the CEO of STARTER, stated:“Our doors are open for every foreign team to come to STARTER incubator. We will put as much effort as it possible to help you reach your business goals and make you feel like home as well. We are also highly proud that this part of Poland becomes a small copy of Silicon Valley. More and more ICT businesses are picking STARTER to settle in and we find it very motivating.”
Over the course of the programme, the startups will have the chance to take their technology to a local market and bridge connections with corporations, startups, venture capitalists, and serial entrepreneurs.
Whats more, to improve the value proposition of the programme, around eight high-class entrepreneurs, including Alex Barrera (CEO at Press42), Pascal Finette (Director, Office of the Chair at Mozilla), Kasper Hulthin (Co-Founder of Podio), Peter Kovacs (Talent Scout at Prezi), Sandra Sick (Consultant for Marketing Strategy and Execution), Andreas Klinger (Co-Founder of LOOKK), Luis Franco (VP of International Operations at SurveyMonkey) and David Bizer (HackFwd’s Chief Talent Geek). These mentors will advise the startups on growth strategies, HR challenges and internationalisation.
Inês Silva, Founder of the Startup Exchange Program, said: “This is an unique opportunity for startups ready to scale their operations globally. We’ll be working with startups from all over the world, interested in coming to a European tech hub and for 6 weeks connect with the local startup ecosystem, develop partnerships and set operations in that market”.
Enrollment is open until 9 March, the results will be announced announcements on 18 March, and the programme will run from 29 April until 15 June. Apply now!
By the way: If you’re a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out our Startup Sourcing Service!