Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of the Economy and managed by Luxinnovation, Fit 4 Start has reached its first level of maturity. The acceleration programme, organized biannually, is entering its 10th edition. Designed to enable Luxembourg and international startups to refine their market positioning, it has quickly been recognized as a reference event for the local ecosystem.
by: Silicon Luxembourg
photo: Marie De Decker
featured: Fit 4 Start’s participant
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A month ago, Luxinnovation’s acceleration programme opened its 10th call for applications (see our article “Fit 4 Start opens call for ICT and SpaceTech startups“). For this edition, Fit 4 Start aims to incubate startups from the information and communication technologies (ICT) and space technology sectors.
It offers intensive and personalized coaching with globally recognized experts over the four months. Access to the programme also means a grant of €50,000 and access to a free working space in one of the two partner incubators, Technoport and Luxembourg City Incubator.
An additional grant of €100,000 is offered by the Ministry of the Economy to startups that have successfully completed the Fit 4 Start programme and raised at least €50,000 in private capital.
A New Year full of resolutions! ✔️Apply now & watch your #business scale up from #Luxembourg ????
Take advantage of 16 weeks of expert #coaching, #financing opportunities & more! Applications for #ICT and #space #startups open until 20 January ????.
????????????????https://t.co/2PNOrjBeIi pic.twitter.com/gNDI9KrjGX— Startup Luxembourg (@StartupLu) January 2, 2020
78 startups have graduated since 2015
A pre-selection is carried out on the basis of the applications received. The startups then meet for a pitching session in Luxembourg City from which the best projects are selected. This event, known as the Pitching & Graduation Day, has become the main pitching event in Luxembourg.
Over the years, the number of young companies selected to join Fit 4 Start has increased steadily. The very first class included 3 startups. In this 9th edition, it has grown to 20 and from three different sectors: ICT, health and space technologies.
Since 2015, Fit 4 Start has accelerated 78 Luxembourgish and international startups. For its 10th edition, 70 startups will be pre-selected in order to participate in the Selection & Graduation Day, which will be held on 26 March 2020. 10 from ICT and 5 from the space sectors will then be chosen by an international jury of specialists to be part of this 10th edition.
As of its 9th edition, the Luxembourg Space Agency is a partner of the event and will bring its expertise and in-depth knowledge of the space sector to better guide startups interested in space technology.
Applications can be submitted online until 12 A.M. (Luxembourg time) 20 January 2020 at www.fit4start.com. Pre-selected candidates will be informed on 3 February 2020.
