Globally scaling up has become more challenging than ever. Tomorrow Street, a joint venture between Vodafone and Technoport, has taken on this challenge by creating a unique space for scaleups to thrive, using Luxembourg as a strategic hub.
Tomorrow Street, a unique innovation hub based in Luxembourg, has carved a distinctive niche in the global scaleup ecosystem. A collaborative venture between Vodafone and Technoport, Tomorrow Street focuses on identifying and accelerating high-growth scaleups that can bring transformative solutions to Vodafone’s business operations. In early 2023, the organization launched its Scaleup X programme, which has since become a key platform to bridge the gap between innovative scaleups and Vodafone’s extensive network.
By connecting promising tech companies with Vodafone’s vast global network, Tomorrow Street accelerates growth while driving innovation in areas ranging from data analytics to infrastructure management.
Tomorrow Street was originally founded to support the growth of high-potential companies by leveraging Vodafone’s resources and Luxembourg’s strategic positioning within Europe.
By 2023, the programme evolved into an agile and time-bound approach. “We decided to design a six-month programme that would combine everything we’ve learned over the years, allowing us to engage more efficiently with scaleups while aligning with Vodafone’s strategic needs,” said Neil Cocker, Director and Senior Partner at Tomorrow Street.
Unlocking Luxembourg’s unique strengths
Luxembourg’s small size is often seen as a limitation, but Tomorrow Street views it as a powerful asset. The country’s interconnected ecosystem fosters close collaboration between stakeholders, enabling faster knowledge sharing and partnership formation. “The proximity in Luxembourg is a strength, unlike larger ecosystems where companies can feel isolated, here, people leverage each other’s networks effectively,” said Cocker.
Since its founding in 2017, Tomorrow Street has proven its ability to identify and nurture high-potential scaleups by forming strategic partnerships. One standout success story is Quantexa, a London-based company specializing in contextual data analysis. Quantexa’s technology cross-references diverse datasets, uncovering hidden patterns that reveal risks such as financial fraud. Vodafone uses Quantexa’s technology to protect its customers and understand risk in a dynamic manner.
At the time of joining Tomorrow Street in 2019, Quantexa was valued at around $100m. Today, they are a unicorn, valued at over $1bi with over $370m in investment, showcasing how Tomorrow Street’s support can help accelerate growth.
Another success story is Sitetracker, a California based company addressing the telecom industry’s complex infrastructure challenges. Traditionally, telecom operators managed the deployment of thousands of base stations using outdated tools like Excel spreadsheets, a cumbersome process prone to inefficiencies. Sitetracker’s cloud platform centralizes this data, enabling telcos to manage thousands of sites more effectively, tracking everything from maintenance visits to project statuses. Since joining forces with Tomorrow Street in 2018, Sitetracker has significantly grown its business in Europe with Vodafone and other telcos and has 6 employees based in Luxembourg.
“We often say we’re building the plane while it’s in the air.”
Neil Cocker, Director and Senior Partner at Tomorrow Street
The structure of Tomorrow Street’s Scaleup X programme
Tomorrow Street’s Scaleup X programme is built on a four-phase model designed to accelerate the partnership process between Vodafone and innovative scaleups. “We scout globally, from Seoul to Silicon Valley, leveraging search engines and working closely with VCs and government entities to find companies that fit Vodafone’s needs,” said Cocker.
The initial phase involves engaging with Vodafone’s internal teams to identify themes of interest in innovation. At the start of 2023, a key theme that emerged was generative AI, which had rapidly gained prominence following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. Tomorrow Street brought three GenAI scaleups into the 2023 cohort, working in areas such as customer experience, enterprise internal search, and process automation.
The second phase focuses on scouting promising scaleups globally. This is done through a mix of databases, introductions from venture capitalists, and connections with government bodies like the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office (LTIO). Over 300 companies were evaluated in 2024, culminating in a rigorous selection process. “Working with Tomorrow Street and joining the Scaleup X programme has opened many more doors to innovative Vodafone teams that could benefit from our offering,” said Vesela Bodurova, from UserLane.
Once a cohort is selected, the third phase involves a collaborative coaching process. Scaleups educate Tomorrow Street’s team on their technologies, while Tomorrow Street provides insights into Vodafone’s priorities and processes. This mutual coaching sets the stage for an effective introduction to subject matter experts at Vodafone.
The final phase is about creating tangible business opportunities. In September each year, curated introductions are made between scaleups and key Vodafone stakeholders, leading up to two flagship events, a smaller, more intimate gathering in Luxembourg and a larger showcase in London. “The face-to-face engagement, especially after the pandemic, has proven to be a game-changer, it’s where we see the real sparks of collaboration between scaleups and Vodafone teams,” said Cocker.
The success of Scaleup X has taught the team the importance of taking calculated risks. By promoting a collaborative and resilient team environment, Tomorrow Street has managed to achieve significant milestones, even when venturing into uncharted territory. “We often say we’re building the plane while it’s in the air,” said Cocker.
A focus on scaleups
While Tomorrow Street is committed to supporting scaleups, they deliberately avoid working with early-stage startups. “The long sales cycles and high resource demands in telco can overwhelm smaller teams,” said Cocker. As a result, Tomorrow Street focuses on companies that are already at a post-Series A level, typically with over 50 employees, ensuring they have the maturity and resources to handle the demands of a global telecom giant like Vodafone.
This strategic approach has informed the structure of programmes like Scaleup X , which has become a flagship initiative for Tomorrow Street. The programme has been a success, connecting companies with Vodafone’s network and helping them achieve tangible business growth.
Additionally, Tomorrow Street is considering deeper engagement in other tech hubs, such as Canada and the US East Coast, where innovation is thriving outside of the well-trodden paths of Silicon Valley. This diversification aligns with their goal of attracting more companies to establish European headquarters in Luxembourg, thereby enriching the local tech ecosystem.
Often, scaleups are initially focused on cities like London, Dublin, or Amsterdam. But once they experience Luxembourg […] it often becomes a serious contender in their expansion plans.”
Neil Cocker, Director and Senior Partner at Tomorrow Street
Success metrics and impact
The ultimate goal of Scaleup X is to integrate high-performing scaleups into Tomorrow Street’s programme, which involves establishing a physical presence in Luxembourg. The scaleups not only get access to Vodafone’s extensive network but also benefit from Luxembourg’s central location, business-friendly regulations, and English-speaking environment.
The 2023 cohort of Scaleup X has already demonstrated significant measurable impact. Notably, 14 procurement processes have been initiated for participating companies, while 8 proofs of concept (PoCs) have been successfully conducted. Furthermore, three long-term Tomorrow Street partnerships have been signed and two more are nearing finalization, surpassing initial expectations of two or three, showcasing the program’s effectiveness in accelerating business opportunities for scaleups.
This momentum translates to substantial opportunities for scaleups to embed themselves within Vodafone’s global supply chain. Once a scaleup reaches a critical revenue threshold, often after securing their first significant purchase order, they are obliged to set up an entity in Luxembourg.
Building Long-term relationships
One of the key factors behind the programme’s success is its emphasis on building strong relationships. Bringing scaleups to Luxembourg has proven to be an eye-opener for many companies unfamiliar with the region. “Often, scaleups are initially focused on cities like London, Dublin, or Amsterdam. But once they experience Luxembourg, with its accessible business environment and proximity to major European markets, it often becomes a serious contender in their expansion plans,” said Cocker.
The events in Luxembourg and London are not just networking opportunities but are strategically designed to immerse scaleups in Vodafone and Luxembourg’s tech ecosystems. The Luxembourg event, in particular, focuses on the procurement teams who hold the keys to Vodafone’s global contracts. “Since we officially joined, we headed to the London summit this week. We met Vodafone experts, decision makers, and senior stakeholders in person. It was a very meaningful moment in our journey with Scaleup X,” said Jessica Kim, CMO at QueryPie.
“We cannot overstate the value of working with Tomorrow Street. For us, this access and opportunity has created a wave of momentum and enthusiasm for our solution that we could not have anticipated. It is a privilege to learn from the many teams at Vodafone working tirelessly to improve user experience for their customers,” said Nadejda Papernaia, founder & CEO at AB Handshake.
Tomorrow Street’s Scaleup X programme has proven to be an effective accelerator for scaling innovative companies while fulfilling Vodafone’s interest in cutting edge solutions. By combining structured timelines, global scouting, and a blend of remote and face-to-face interactions, Scaleup X has managed to create a win-win-win scenario for Luxembourg, Vodafone and the participating scaleups.
