Stage is Set for Startup Europe Comes to Silicon Valley 2017

BRUSSELS, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

For the third year running, EIT Digital and Mind the Bridge are co-organising Startup Europe comes to Silicon Valley (SEC2SV)- the premier programme for future European startup unicorns to engage with key US industry players.

This annual event brings together EU policy makers and 15 of the fastest growing European scaleups to meet Silicon Valley stakeholders during a highly interactive week of local presentations and meetings.

Taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area each September, the event provides a unique networking space for breakthrough European companies to explore sales, funding and collaboration opportunities. The two-way exchange provides European businesses with the contacts and insights they need to scale up on the other side of the Atlantic and at the same time keeps Silicon Valley abreast of the increasingly dynamic European startup ecosystem.

European scaleups can apply until May 31^st. To be considered, scaleups must have had at least 10 employees three years ago as well as demonstrable growth of over 20% year-over-year in revenue, employees, or user-base. To find out more or to apply please see here.

Speaking about co-organising this event with Mind the Bridge, EIT Digital's CEO Willem Jonker said:

"We're delighted to be working with Mind the Bridge for the third year in a row to deliver what has become a focal point for the entrepreneurial communities across two continents. For us it's about encouraging mobility - our job is to create the right opportunities to help European scaleups grow and break into new markets including the USA. There can be no better example for this purpose than SEC2SV."

Marco Marinucci, CEO and founder of Mind the Bridge said:

"The current wave of development of digital technologies has the potential to disrupt industries that are at the very core of our economies and democracies. Platforms like SEC2SV, now at its 3rd edition, can become the middle ground where these discussions can take place early in the game. An open discussion with policy makers is absolutely necessary and we're ready to welcome all the major players in September."

About EIT Digital 

EIT Digital is the leading European open innovation organisation. Our mission is to foster digital technology innovation and entrepreneurial talent for economic growth and quality of life in Europe. We bring together entrepreneurs from a partnership of over 130 top European corporations, SMEs, startups, universities and research institutes.

EIT Digital invests in strategic areas to accelerate the market uptake of research-based digital technologies and to bring entrepreneurial talent and leadership to Europe. Our innovation and education activities are organised in and around our co-location centres, where students, researchers, engineers, business developers and entrepreneurs come together to drive the digitalisation of society.

EIT Digital is a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Since 2010, EIT Digital is consistently mobilising talents, ideas, technologies, investments and business across Europe and beyond to stimulate disruptive digital innovation. The headquarters is in Brussels with co-location centres in Berlin, Budapest, Eindhoven, London, Helsinki, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm and Trento, as well as a hub in Silicon Valley.

About Mind the Bridge 

Mind the Bridge is a global organization dedicated to promoting and supporting successful entrepreneurial ecosystems across the world. As an innovation advisory firm sitting at the intersection between startups and corporations, it has facilitated the bridging of the gap from global startup ecosystems to its home in Silicon Valley. In 2014, Mind the Bridge was selected by the European Commission to lead the Startup Europe Partnership, and today the company serves global corporations' appetite for innovation around the world.

Edna Ayme-Yahil
Head of Communications EIT Digital
T: +33-6-44-09-19-28
E:edna.ayme@eitdigital.eu