Blockchain Partnership Program

Deadline: Feb 10, 2020  
CALL EXPIRED

1. Background and Introduction

BlockStart is a European partnership program looking for startups and SMEs – from all over the EU and H2020 associated countries – working with blockchain and other DLTs. The main objective of BlockStart is to facilitate goal-oriented, business-focused, and mutually beneficial partnerships between DLT/blockchain solution providers and end-users SMEs.

To this end, BlockStart is launching its first out of three Open Calls for applications, with the focus being on the following sectors: fintech, ICT and retail. A total of €265.000 will be allocated for the direct benefit of these SMEs (both providers and end-users) through this Open Call.

BlockStart is a 3-stage intensive mentor-led program. It starts with the Ideation Kick-off, after which the most successful blockchain/DLT solution providers are admitted to a 4 months Prototype phase aimed at supporting the product/market fit. Finally, during the Pilot phase (2 months), startups/SMEs working with blockchain and other DLTs will have a unique opportunity to validate their solutions, pilot their innovations with end-users and work toward product/market fit.

The maximum amount of funding that each DLT developer may receive is €20.000; while an SME adopter may receive €4.500.

The submission for the Open Call #1 opens on the 16th of December 2019 and closes on the 10th of February 2020 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time).

BlockStart program is run by a team of 3 partners, Bright Pixel, CIVITTA and F6S, and is funded by the EU H2020 programme for Research and Innovation under Grant Agreement 828853.

2. Who is this program for?

The accepted applicants for BlockStart Open Call #1 have to be innovators or technological startups/SMEs developing a use-case for an end-user SME based on blockchain and other DLTs. Applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

• ●  registered as a company that complies with the Commission Recommendation for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) 2003/361/EC*;

• ●  located in EU and H2020 associated countries;

• ●  able to develop solutions to the following sectors: fintech, ICT and retail.

*Important notice: When there is not a constituted SME, the applicants could be an individual or a group legally established in a H2020 eligible country, with a written commitment to set up a legal SME if selected to the “Ideation Kick-off” phase.

3. What can you get from us?

BlockStart is a 3-stage intensive mentor led programme that provides blockchain/DLT solution providers with the best resources to create and grow their businesses, wherever they are in the EU or associated countries.

Startups/SMEs accepted into BlockStart will have access to a variety of perks, including:

• ●  equity-free funding (up to €20.000 for blockchain/ DLT solution providers; up to €4.500 for SME adopters);

• ●  piloting opportunities to help developers explore new value streams for market ready blockchain-tech;

• ●  support from BlockStart team and network of fellow participants, intermediaries and advisors;

• ●  Individualized coaching/mentorship from Bright Pixel, CIVITTA and F6S teams;

• ●  Networking with industry leaders, technology pitching and showcase opportunities at blockchain events and industry conferences.

4. How is the program structured?

In accordance with a “Company Builder” approach, BlockStart will run a “partnership” programme – Engage>Prototype>Pilot – for developers to find a product/market fit.

BlockStart is specifically designed for all companies that intend to scale and develop DLT/blockchain solutions for the sectors selected for Open Call #1: fintech, ICT and retail.

One of the main goals of the programme is to connect DLT/blockchain startups with pioneering SME adopters that, after having accompanied the process during the Prototype phase, will be more ready to test these solutions in live conditions in the Pilot phase. Funding is granted to both SMEs and DLT developers for business development, technological adaptation and cross-border collaboration. The figure below shows the overall scheme of the process:

Figure 1 - BlockStart Partnership Program - overview

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INNOSUP-03-2018 Annex 1: Open Call Text Each stage comprises a set of activities that qualify for financial support. All the funds disbursed will be based on concrete results and not administrative justifications.

5. Who are we?

The BlockStart Consortium is run by a team of 3 partners:

Bright Pixel

Bright Pixel (www.brpx.com) was founded in April 2016 with the goal of investing in technology-based projects. It is a venture builder studio and an early-stage investment vehicle, with two interlinked areas of activity:

- An experienced team of developers, designers, product and business developers, dedicated to supporting early-stage technology-based projects.

- A team dedicated to the investment in startups, with several means through which it supports and invests in early-stage technology projects. Among them, an €8 million fund, recently launched to invest in startups with operations based in Portugal.

CIVITTA

CIVITTA (www.civitta.com) is a leading independent management consultancy in Emerging Europe. With over 300 consultants and experts across 23 offices in 15 countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and the UK), covers a wide range of services, including management consulting, grants and project management, market research and customer data analytics, entrepreneurship support and startups, public policy and development. Its flexible approach and international mindset have ensured successful cooperation with clients in 40+ countries, resulting in 10.000+ completed projects.

F6S

F6S Network Limited (www.f6s.com) is a European SME that is the largest social network for startups in the world. With over 3.000.000 profiles for the startup community and more than 1.100.000 tech- startups, it currently supports the majority of the startup ecosystem through deal flow/applications, jobs listings, free services, communication forms, technology transfer infrastructure and other areas. As a leading platform for application management for commercial, corporate, government, university and other accelerator programs, F6S helps more than 17.000 such initiatives worldwide. Every year F6S processes more than 700.000 applications and delivers about EUR 2 billion to startups/SMEs.

6. Application form and support to applicants

For the application form and detailed guidance for applicants, please download the files available at the www.blockstart.eu website. The BlockStart consortium will organise webinars and be present at events from November 2019 until February 2020, to connect with interested applicants. Please check BlockStart F6S page & follow our social accounts if you want to stay tuned with this program.

INNOSUP-03-2018 Annex 1: Open Call Text The BlockStart consortium will provide information to the applicants only via www.f6s.com/blockstart, so that all information (questions and answers) will be accessible to all potential applicants. No binding information will be provided via any other means (e.g. telephone or email). More info at: www.blockstart.eu/open-calls
Apply via: www.f6s.com/blockstart

FAQ: www.f6s.com/blockstart
Online Q&A: www.f6s.com/blockstart
Support team: hello@blockstart.eu
Personal Data Protection Policy available at: www.blockstart.eu/data-protection/