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The field of innovative mobility and transportation is thriving in Europe, with more and more startups focussing on different aspects of this industry. It is still, however, extremely important to support the best of them and make sure they can expand across Europe, argue the founders of the European Startup Prize for Mobility.
The award is a public-private initiative co-founded by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee Chairwoman, Karima Delli, Boston Consulting Group and Via ID. This year, the third edition of the prize is looking for the most promising startups in the mobility industry and offers not only recognition and visibility, but also a tangible support programme.
The accelerator
In addition to the actual award that the 10 winners will receive in June 2020, the European Startup Prize for Mobility provides a six-month-long acceleration programme focussed on European expansion. The best mobility startups also get mentoring from Boston Consulting Group.
Since the prize is funded and supported by EU institutions, the winners will also be exposed to a number of further EU funding opportunities. This connection makes the programme unique and adds an insane amount of value for mobility teams making their way through the regulatory hurdles.
During the six months of the programme, the 10 winning startups will get an opportunity to present to ecosystem stakeholders in several European tech hubs, starting at the Vivatech 2020 conference in Paris. There will be plenty of networking opportunities with transportation companies and institutions, public authorities, investors, etc.
The prize has also partnered with TomTom, one of Europe's largest mobility companies, to give the 50 startups selected in the first stage free API access. The 10 winners can expect extra benefits from this partnership as well.
What's also important is that all applicants for the prize will become part of a network of over 1,000 mobility teams that have participated in the selection over the past two years. Later in 2020, all of them will have a chance to come together for workshops, hackathons, and networking events.
Requirements and timeline
Any mobility startup incorporated in the EU or one of the countries that participate in the EU programme Horizon 2020 is eligible to apply for the prize. The participation is absolutely free, and applications are open until April 30 — so you've got just a few weeks to make your move!
After the applications close, the jury will start working to select the best startups based on nine selection criteria:
- Innovation: How innovative/game-changing is this product/service?
- Market: How does the traction look for this startup?
- Execution: How would you assess the execution speed of the company since its incorporation?
- Team: How strong does the managing team look?
- Climate: How does it contribute to reducing the carbon footprint in the transports’ sector?
- Environmental impact: How does it tackle other environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollutions, use of natural resources, etc.?
- Social inclusion: How does it reduce the costs for its users (B2B, B2C and B2G)?
- Territorial inclusion: How does the service/product contribute to reconnect remote areas, which are suffering from a lack of mobility solutions?
- Europe: How much will this startup benefit from this European program?
In early May, the jury will announce the top 50 contenders who will gather in Paris on June 11 to pitch on stage. In that last part of the selection, 10 winners will be chosen.
Would your startup benefit from a programme like this? Don't waste any time and send your application today!
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