Tech startups accelerated - AxiCom and Startupbootcamp join forces!

AxiCom has been appointed as the official communications partner for Startupbootcamp Europe, the first European start-up accelerator programme. The technology PR firm and the business accelerator initiative have joined forces to help start-ups from across Europe to turn their ideas into reality by providing financial advice, infrastructure support and facilitating venture capital funding.

Startupbootcamp is a highly selective three month programme that operates using a mentoring system. Teams are given a maximum of €17,000, free office space, free software and access to over 100 mentors (per programme) including serial entrepreneurs, investors and corporate managers. The programme concludes on Investor Day where teams showcase their start-ups to over three hundred of Europe’s most active Business Angels and Venture Capitalists. AxiCom joins the group of mentors and will help the participants of the programme to create and fine-tune their strategic goals, messaging and communications plans.

“We are convinced that there is a huge potential for innovation in Europe, but until now there has been a lack of support,” explains Patrick de Zeeuw, Board member of Startupbootcamp Europe. “Compared to the US and Asia the business climate in Europe is lacking the kind of enthusiasm and structured support tech start-ups are looking for. Ultimately, what is required is a shift in perception and culture. To help bring about this shift we are glad to welcome AxiCom as our exclusive communications partner.”

The first Startupbootcamp edition ran from mid-August to mid-November 2010 in Copenhagen and attracted 10 teams; comprising 32 entrepreneurs from 12 different countries. Since pitching at Investor Day on 16th November 2010, half of the teams have raised external funding totaling over one million Euros with European Business Angels and VCs. The next programme will run in Dublin from mid January to mid April 2012.  Applications for Amsterdam are open now and the deadline is 12th February 2012.

“Europe was clearly lacking an initiative like Startupbootcamp”, comments Julian Tanner, AxiCom’s CEO. “AxiCom has a great track record in building the reputation of tech startups such as Citrix, VMware and VirtualWorks and we know exactly the challenges they face. It is no small wonder that most of these clients have come from the US, seeing the kind of support they receive there. The potential for the same type of success stories has been huge all along but rather limited thus far by a lack of the necessary infrastructure and entrepreneurial initiatives. Startupbootcamp is a great step forward to change this situation and partnering with the initiative was a logical choice for AxiCom.”