CEMS
STARTUP CHALLENGE
At the fifth edition of the CEMS Startup Challenge 8 startup teams receive expert coaching on their their startup (idea) and pitch it in front of a panel of corporate partners, VCs and founders at the Demo Day on November 9, 2021.
WATCH LIVESTREAM RECORDINGConcept Stage
GEIL
XENIA
Zaefiro
Early Stage
ThePaac
Stryza
Contactify

Johanna Junkermann
Analyst at btov

Felix Bensberg
Investment Manager at Talent Venture Group

Aram Attar
Founder at The VCfactory

Karolina Brücknerova & Niklas Vogt
(Senior) Consultants at E.ON

Henry Hooper
Founder at Metarina

Nico Valenti Gatto
Director at B4i

Thomas Zimmermann
Founder at Farmy

Eva Arh
Principal at 3VC (formerly capital300)
Receive feedback from seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and previous participants - all CEMSies.

Aram Attar
Founder
The VC Factory

Bart van Mill
Co-Founder and founder
Oh My Baby and Vengaleads

Emma Gavala
Product Marketing Manager in Hospitality Tech and Glamping/Alternative Tourism Consultant
Triptease LTD and Gavala & Co LTD

Josep Segarra
Investment manager
Quadia

Marco Cesare Solinas
Analyst
Blue Future Partners

Sascha Guenther
Principal
Vorwerk Ventures

Receive mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs

Pitch in front of investors, corporate partners and CEMSies

Prizes for the winning teams & 0.25 ECTS for all participating students
Teams should be composed of 2-5 people with at least one member from CEMS. Both CEMS students and alumni can participate.
We will feature two competition categories to include entrepreneurs at different stages. Depending on which stage you apply for, you need to hand in different deliverables.

CONCEPT STAGE
Student and/or alumni teams that want to develop entrepreneurial ideas. These teams and ideas are created for the sake of the CSC.
DELIVERABLES
(1) One page executive summary of your startup idea with relevant information included
(2) Thorough illustration of the startup idea based on the business model canvas (BMC template or slide deck)
(3) short pitch video (optional)

EARLY STAGE
Student and/or alumni teams that are already running a startup. These business ideas have been thought through, and teams will often already have first clients or a minimum viable product on the market.
DELIVERABLES
We know that many of you are first time entrepreneurs. use the following criteria as a guide for building your first pitch deck.
TEAM
Personal and professional diversity, clear responsibilities, passion, motivation, know-how
PRODUCT / SERVICE
Feasibility, innovativeness, problem-solution fit, sustainable value creation
MARKET & COMPETITION
Market size and dynamics, positioning, USP, sustainable competitive advantage
BUSINESS MODEL
Value proposition, customers, resources, cost & revenue structure
ROADMAP
Milestones, go-to-market strategy
The fourth edition of the CEMS Startup Challenge took place on November 11, 2020. At the final pitching event, slected CEMS student and alumni teams had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of corporate partners, VCs and founders.
WATCH THE RECORDINGConcept Stage
E-Agent
jobspace
SodaBottle
Synkros DNA
Early Stage
Holloid
saenguin
ZEAM
You are an experienced entrepreneur, investor or innovator?
Get in touch! We would love to have you on board and provide valuable feedback to the participants.
BECOME A MENTORThe CEMS Startup Challenge is organized by CEMS Entrepreneurs, a group of CEMS students and alumni that are passionate about promoting entrepreneurship within CEMS and making the value of the CEMS network available to founders.
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