ISTANBUL, July 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
- Celebrating its First Year Anniversary, StartersHub Supports and Funds Technology Based Startups Helping Them Become Global Success Stories
- StartersHub has Funded 23 Startups to Date and is Expanding its Portfolio to 50 Startups by the end of the Year
- For its 2016 Chort, Startupbootcamp Istanbul Recently Selected 10 Startups From 8 countries From Among 830 Applications From 223 Cities
StartersHub supports technology based startups from Europe, Middle East, North Africa and CIS regions with everything they need under one umbrella: hands-on mentorship, business building expertise, services, local and global networks, strategic partnerships and an inspiring 1,000 square meter co-working space at the heart of the business district of Istanbul.
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Through its Startupbootcamp Istanbul accelerator program, Game Garage and upcoming IOT/Big Data program, StartersHub targets startups beyond the idea stage and have a scalable business model with a vision to expand globally.
Acting as a world-class entrepreneurship platform, StartersHub has received more than 2,500 applications to date from five continents. For its 2016 cohort, Startupbootcamp Istanbul selected 10 startups* from 8 countries among 830 applications from 223 cities.
In addition to seed investments at the start of the programs, StartersHub makes follow-on investments from its fund, of up to $250,000 per successful alumni whilst attracting co-investors from the ecosystem, doubling or tripling the round size.
Ebru Dorman, StartersHub Chairwoman and CEO of MV Holding, the main shareholder of the fund, commented "When StartersHub takes a team under its wings, it makes a long-term commitment whilst guiding the entrepreneurs throughout their journeys. We are extremely proud of the multinational diversity of the program participants, very pleased with what has been achieved in the first year and looking forward to continued success."
StartersHub has also become a meeting place for the ecosystem, hosting more than 80 community events with players including Microsoft, Entrepreneurship Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Week, Startup Europe Week, Google Launchpad, Google Game Development Summit, TEDx, IBM Innovation Space and various angel networks.
A Shining Portfolio
StartersHub portfolio companies that already shine out include:
Zeplin - collaboration platform between designers and developers;
Monument - personal photo and video management device with artificial intelligence;
Segmentify - SaaS solution for e-commerce & content providers to increase visitor traction and conversion through smart recommendations;
Visionteractive - social media integrated smart devices creating digital experiences in the physical world utilizing custom robotics and devices;
Tag2Sense - real-time tracking for logistics;
Sixa - full computer in an app operating from the cloud via a client app; and
Eventbaxx - the digital event and goodie-bag for the event and entertainment industry.
Monument, who recently pre-sold $820,000 worth of devices on Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns stated, "It was an amazing experience to join the StartersHub family. Within the scope of the program, we got the chance to reach out to potential target customers before launching and identified a very important competitive differentiator for our product. Accordingly, this pushed us to re-shape and pivot our product and business model."
Eventbaxx who joined the program from Berlin commented on their experience by stating, "This accelerator program helped us extend our vision in a very short period of time. Thanks to the feedbacks, we structured and projected our long-term goals and business plan early on. We learned and gained more in the first five days of the program than in the last two months before the program. After the program ended, StartersHub's support has incrementally continued every single day. Consequently, it can be said that 'Eventbaxx was born in Germany and grew up in Turkey'."
StartersHub aims to invest in 30 new startups until the end of this year and reach up to 50 startup in total. Unlike other ecosystem programs, Startupbootcamp Istanbul organizes FastTrack events in various locations around the world. Until now, the team has visited Dubai, Tbilisi, Doha, Beirut, Sofia, Warsaw, Paris, Berlin, Budapest and Vienna in addition to local FastTracks in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Eskisehir. In the future, StartersHub aims to reach out to other accelerator programs and technoparks.
Startupbootcamp Istanbul 2016 Cohort
Airpost, Kyrgyzstan
World's first hydrogen fuel cell powered autonomous drone system for mail and cargo delivery; 3 times faster and cost efficient.
Botler, United Arab Emirates
Messaging based intelligent digital personal assistant using Human Assisted Artificial Intelligence to conveniently access on-demand services such as travel, entertainment, food & beverage and e-commerce.
Composy, Bulgaria
Algorithmic music composer to enrich any digital content with unique and affordable background audio.
ECG for Everybody, Serbia
IOT based healthcare device to remotely monitor the heart for early diagnosis and post hospital treatment screening.
Human Electric, Greece
IOT based parking guidance and occupancy management solution to find nearest parking and to retrieve a vehicle in large car parks.
Moodnode, Poland
Plug and play IOT based solution to intelligently manage your home lighting for personalization and energy efficiency.
Slothes, Turkey
Slothes is a smart clothing company that merges textiles with embedded technology to create functional products for fitness, safety and outdoor activities.
Testributor, Greece
Continuous Integration platform allowing software developers to utilize their local machines to run automated testing procedures faster and more conveniently.
Umut Biotechnology, Turkey
Population and ethnicity specific genetic risk assessment test using DNA biomarkers for breast cancer.
VRex, Georgia
Virtual Reality content platform offering 360 degree tours of destinations and hotels to help millions of tourists make more informed travel decisions and plans.
About StartersHub:
Acting as a catalyst for the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, StartersHub is a world-class platform offering startups everything they need under one umbrella, including extensive know-how and network, multi-stage funding, services, strategic partnerships, hands-on mentorship and an inspiring workplace with its 1,000 square meter facility at the heart of the business district in Istanbul. MV Holding and Gedik Yatirim are the main investors of StartersHub which empowers startups from Europe, Middle East, North Africa (EMENA) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions.
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