Deadline: June 17, 2016 | Apply here
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Prize: €100K Grand Prize
Eligibility: global early-stage startups
Location: Paris, France

Hello Tomorrow is an international non-profit run by science-entrepreneurs for science-entrepreneurs. They are now launching the third edition of their  global competition for early-stage startups and projects.

Hello Tomorrow Challenge 2016

Hello Tomorrow is a global non-profit headquartered in Paris that aims to accelerate science & tech innovation by empowering startups with cash prizes and connections with investors and industrial firms. It was created in 2011 by Xavier Duportet & Arnaud de la Tour. Hello Tomorrow is supported by the French public and private sectors, but remains an independent organization governed by entrepreneurs.

The Hello Tomorrow Challenge is a global startup competition for the most promising science-technology projects and startups that aim to solve the world’s pressing issues. To date, our 60 early-stage graduates have raised more than $90 million and 57 of them are still operational.

The application period is between April 19th and June 17th. The grand finale is being held in Paris on October 13th and 14th, during the Hello Tomorrow Summit.

The Hello Tomorrow Summit is the first global event dedicated to science & tech founders in 10 different sectors. It brings together a curated selection of high profile entrepreneurs on an invite-only basis (including winners from the Challenge), top investors (Accel, Index, Y Combinator, 500 startups, etc.), Hello Tomorrow Partners and other executives (NASA, IBM, Google[x], etc.), scientists and media.

The Summit gathers the best minds in each sector. It is fertile ground for discussing your struggles as science-innovators, sharing best practices about regulatory issues, getting validation and recognition from peers, and meeting your future CEO or PhD employee like many have in the past.

Benefits

• Equity Free Funding : €100K GRAND PRIZE And €15K per track winner as well as the opportunity to pitch and interact with more than 200 sector-specific investors
• Visibility on a global scale: Maximize your exposure through international media coverage and be part of our ranking of early-stage SciTech startups in each continent
• Build connections at the GLOBAL SUMMIT: Founders of the top 100 startups get 2 tickets to our invite-only Summit in Paris along with 2,000 peers, investors, executives and journalists.

Eligibility

Early-stage startups or projects that have currently raised less than €400k, have a core piece of technology and are working on a product that can have great impact on the industry and society. Projects must have a POC or a scientific validation of their claim to apply. Projects don’t have to be incorporated to apply to the competition but they should have clear development plans and goals. In case a non-incorporated project wins the competition, no funds will be transferred until the company is incorporated. For startups already funded, subscribe here to apply for an invitation to the Global Summit.

Selection criteria

• Technological innovation
• Leadership & team
• Economic viability
• Potential impact on business and society

Prizes

The grand prize winner of the Challenge is awarded €100k. Track finalists will be awarded €15k. The Top 500 startups (100 from each continent) are invited to the Hello Tomorrow Summit to interact with sector-specific and invite-only investors, top executives and fellow founders. They will be featured in the Hello Tomorrow Global Startup Ranking for early stage science & tech startups published in collaboration with our global media partner in more than 100 countries.

Startups that have raised more than €400k are not eligible to enter the Challenge but can apply to attend the Hello Tomorrow Summit or get invited if recommended by their peers as one of the most promising ventures in Science & Tech.

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