More than 2,000 start-ups apply for GenerationS
The GenerationS start-up accelerator, the largest in Russia and Eastern Europe, organized by RVC, collected more than 2,000 projects from all over Russia. Currently, the accepting of applications from entrepreneurs continues within the framework of the regional GenerationS tour, which will cover 30 cities. Applications for participating in the accelerator will be accepted until 15 October.
Now, the final stage of GenerationS is about to be reached by the teams from more than 100 Russian cities. Leaders by the number of applications have become Irkutsk (209 applications), Moscow (186 applications), Tomsk (163 applications), Novosibirsk (137 applications) and Grozniy (101 applications).
Among the corporate tracks of GenerationS, the greatest interest of entrepreneurs in 2016 was aroused by the tracks of Creative Industries (e.g. new media, urban solutions, fashion, design, entertainment), LifeScience (new drugs, diagnostic systems, digital medicine), TechNet (implementation of intelligent manufacturing and systems, additive technology) and AgroBioTech & Food (improving the efficiency of agriculture, the creation of "new food", bioconversion).
Most participants of GenerationS-2016 (44%) are pre-stage development projects, another 27% - seed stage projects. The remaining applications are presented by mature projects at the stage of prototype, expansion and growth. Prior to submitting applications for GenerationS, most teams have been trained in regional practical consulting sessions (RPCS) of acceleration programs and start-up schools in regions.
"Every year, more than 4,000 technology start-ups take part in educational programs, competitions and awards, organized and supported by RVC. This year, we bring a regional GenerationS tour in 30 cities of Russia and the CIS countries, supporting more than 30 regional programs for the development of start-ups and conduct intensive RSPK sessions in other regions not covered by our activities. We are doing this in order to reach out to every start-up, every developer, regardless of the geography of the project and its stages. As part of GenerationS, this year, we have identified the flow of acceleration projects and pre-seed stage, to bring them to the next level and the next year to prepare for working with corporations, says Gulnara Bikkulova, Deputy Director General, RVC and the GenerationS ideologist. — Only one month remains until the end of enrolment in the main start-up accelerator of the country, so we invite all entrepreneurs, who have not yet had time to register their projects on the website of GenerationS, to do so until 15 October."
GenerationS was officially launched in July 2016 on eight corporate tracks: Mining&Metals, AgroBioTech&Food, SmartCity, Сreative Industries, LifeScience, TechNet, Power&Еnergy, Finance&Banking Technologies. Among the partners of GenerationS are the largest Russian companies, leaders in their field: Moscow Exchange, Raiffeisenbank, GC Morton and Russian technical company, QIWI, Northern Biopharmaceutical Cluster, Krastsvetmet JSC, ALROSA, GC EFKO, Sher Oston, Irkutsk Electric Grid Company JSC, R&D Saturn PJSC. The corporate staff will be directly involved in the selection, examination and acceleration of start-ups participating in the GenerationS.
The global partner of GenerationS-2016 is Vilnius Tech Park (Lithuania), which will provide its assistance to the accelerator participants in bringing the projects to international markets. The development partner, Innovation Assistance Fund, will allocate grants to the best projects of GenerationS under the EGGHEAD and START programs. Open University Skolkovo (OtUS), Production Company Amedia, ALROSA, Rostelecom PJSC, VTB24, and BCS also joined GenerationS-2016 as partners.
Main stages of GenerationS-2016:
- From June 7 to October 15, 2016 technology related projects will be accepted for participation in GenerationS at www.generation-startup.ru, having previously selected the stage of development of the project and one of the industry's directions
- In November 2016, Moscow will hold a BootCamp for the best teams, which passed through the absentia selection. Projects are in for a three-day coaching and pitch-session selection to become corporate accelerators.
- From November 2016 to February 2017, for projects of later stages the GenerationS corporate acceleration programs will take place, containing: a series of workshops and master classes carried out by industry experts, visits to the production facilities of the partner corporations, meetings with successful industry entrepreneurs and investors, work with mentors, individual consultations and practical exercises.
- In February 2017, at the end of each accelerator, a Demo Day will be held, at which the projects will be presented to the investment committee and the scientific and technical council of the partner corporations, where a decision on further work with each particular project-graduate of the accelerator will be made.
- In March 2017 the Superfinal of GenerationS will be held, in which the Members of the Board of Trustees will select the winners.
- From November 2016 to July 2017, the early stage projects will take part in the Preaccelerator: several offline and online events aimed to raise the quality of the projects and guide the projects to the next stage of development.
