Seed Camp

FAQs

How can I get funding?

You can learn about the application criteria and how teams will be selected to receive funding here. The application system handles applications for Seedcamp Week and mini events. Dates of upcoming events are listed in our calendar.

What happens after Seedcamp Week?

At the end of the Seedcamp Week, we will select 5 teams out of the 20 to receive an investment of up to €50K per team. The winning teams will be invited to stay in London for a further 3-month period to work on building their business idea and product further. We announce the winners on the Friday of Seedcamp week and we get working ASAP. Even if a team doesn’t win, we stay as close to teams as possible and invite them to as many events as possible during the following 3 months.

What happens after a Mini Seedcamp?

Seedcamp may invest through the Mini Seedcamps or the teams may be invited to apply for Seedcamp Week in September held in London, whereby 20 teams are selected from around the EMEA to attend and compete for seed funding and garner world-class connections for startups.

What is the selection process?

For both Seedcamp Week and our Mini Seedcamps, a team of experienced VCs will review the initial on-line applications. 20 teams will then be selected and invited to attend the event. As we are short-listing towards the 20 teams, we may request a phone or in-person interview with the teams.

What do you mean by network of mentors?

We believe that beyond funding, critical to a company’s success is an active and vibrant market in which a company operates. There are many indirect and direct players in the market that companies work with and through to build successful businesses. We call this the network of mentors, ranging from serial entrepreneurs and technology experts to lawyers, VCs, and marketing experts. Follow this link to see a list of our mentors.

How much funding do companies receive and for what stake?

The winning companies will receive up to €50K per team to support living and operational expenses in London for three months, in exchange for a small minority stake (5%-10%) in the company. This is a straightforward common equity stake and we will not require any additional preferential terms or rights. We strongly believe that companies must be nurtured at the early stages and not burdened with onerous rights and terms.

Who is behind this?

Seedcamp is founded by a group of experienced angel and VC investors across Europe. Unlike similar individual projects in other countries, this group of people has come together across Europe to seed fund the greatest next generation of startup teams. Follow this link to see a list of our investors.

Who are these mentors?

When we refer to mentors, we are talking about experts across various areas of technology and business that are integral for the development of a startup technology company. These mentors believe in the vision of working together to improve entrepreneurship in Europe. These founders, lawyers, product experts, accountants, recruiters will bring such immensely valuable experience to Seedcamp that we know all the invited teams will be excited to partake. Follow this link to see our mentors.

What is a mentoring session?

A core element of a Seedcamp are the intense mentoring sessions which bring together the startup teams with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, product experts and developers to give advice and support based on their expertise.

To find out more details of how they are run have a look at our guide for mentors and teams for Seedcamp Week

Do I have to stay in London for the 3 months after winning Seedcamp Week?

We strongly encourage teams to stay in London and are providing the investment sum of up to €50K towards this. We will emulate the environment you will experience during Seedcamp week for the course of the 3 months. As such, the best way to take advantage of interacting with the various experts and having the benefit of your co-winners (the 4 other young start-ups) will best be realized by staying on in London.

Where will we live in London?

Seedcamp will support the investees with an introduction into various parties that can provide temporary housing/office space for the 3-month period. In many instances teams find it easier to work and live in the same place. We believe teams should make the decisions on where they live as per their own interests and circumstances.

What happens after 3 months?

During the 3 months you will work and function as an independent company. This is your baby and we expect you to run ahead full force with it. We will organize additional networking events for you during the 3 months. At Week 6 there will be a Demo Day where you will have a chance to demo your progress to the other groups and some select Seedcamp Founder investors. At Week 11 we will organize an Investor Day where you can pitch your company for the next stage of funding and development. We expect that by this time you will have built a strong network for yourself and your company and will be healthy and happy Seedcamp graduates.

To continue to bring together the investment community and as many successful start-ups as possible, in addition to Investor Day, we also organize a Broad Investor Day to bring together 3 months later, the 20 finalists and a broad set of angel and VC investors. We saw fantastic progress with both the winning and the finalist teams. Again, these milestones are seen as very important guidance for teams.

What else does Seedcamp provide?

Additional support that Seedcamp provides includes relationships with preferred partners. We are working closely with specific vendors across website development and hosting, legal company set-up and much more.

I am very excited. How do I apply?

We are glad you are so excited. Please go into the application system to apply. Also, have a look at the Application Criteria for more information. We have built an online application process to facilitate a better and faster application experience.

When is the application deadline?

Application deadlines vary for Seedcamp Week and Mini Seedcamps. For Seedcamp Week, deadlines are normally in early August. For a particular Mini Seedcamp, check it’s micro site details. Applications received after a deadline will not be reviewed.

Where is Seedcamp located?

Seedcamp is based in London. We host Seedcamp Week in London as we wanted to hold this event in a vibrant and thriving technology community.

Are you looking for investors or mentors?

We appreciate the support of both potential investors and mentors. If you are interested in either, please reach out to us at info@seedcamp.com

Is this only open to European people?

This event is open to entrepreneurial teams within and outside Europe. The key criteria are that the teams be committed to building their business in Europe as a starting point.

If I already have funding or am incorporated, can I apply?

We recommend that you do not incorporate if you have not already done so. That said please do apply even if you have already formed a company.

Do I need a prototype?

We believe it is important that ideas have been through a whetting process by entrepreneurs. As such, we strongly advise you to apply if you have a prototype that you have started to build or already built. We are definitely interested in big ideas and we want to see some of how you put idea into practice.

Do I have to be full time?

We understand that you may be working on other things right now. We do expect that if you are selected as a company to receive investment, then you will work on your business full time.

How are you different from Y Combinator and TechStars?

Y Combinator and TechStars have provided a great example to Seedcamp in their progress to date. Seedcamp is very different in some important ways:

• We are a collective rather than an individual initiative by members of the VC community, serial entrepreneurs, mentors, and angel investors
• We incorporate the challenges specific to European entrepreneurs in starting up businesses

When will the next Seedcamp happen?

The next Seedcamp Week will take place 21-25th September 2009. More information will be available in the summer.

Mini Seedcamps take place between January and June each year, 2009s dates can be found here.