Seedcamp Logo Ref. www.seedcamp.com
For those in ths start-up world that haven’t heard of Seedcamp, then get familiar. It is an organisation that accelerates start-ups within Europe. It is a fund, incubator and event organiser, and we can say from experience that the validation, network and (for some) funding that Seedcamp can provide will really accelerate your start-up.
The next upcoming Seedcamp event (which is close to the hearts of the Zoombu team) is mini-Seedcamp in London. This one day event is a taster of what is to come in the main Seedcamp week in September and it is just as jam-packed with mentoring and networking.
The deadline for applications for mini-Seedcamp in London is midnight on 6th April, and in light of this, we thought we’d share our insights and ‘top tips’ on what we think the Seedcamp judges are looking for in a start-up.
- A really good product, or at least some sort of prototype, ideally with real people using it and providing feedback
- A strong team, but not necessarily big, team. Co-founders and in house development expertise is preferred over a good business person with an outsourced development team
- A clear monetisation strategy for your product, which is (ideally) not purely based on advertising
- Evidence that you have researched the size of your market, its growth rate (if market exists already) and a rough idea of the potential revenue per user
- Knowledge of who else is competing in your space and why what you are doing is different. It’s good to have some idea how you will market to these users and tell them about your differentiation
If you do get a place, we found it useful to research the mentors ahead of time and work out what you want to ask key people. Even if you don’t get to meet people in formal sessions, grab them for a quick chat in the breaks.
Network your heart out! Image ref: www.seedcamp.com
Final Zoombu tip: rehearse your ‘2 minute pitch’! Practice really does make (almost) perfect, and this is your best opportunity to have people sit up and listen.
Good luck!
-Posted by Rachel
