participating, sponsoring & partnering -...

www.balkanunlimited.org

Balkan Venture Forum 2012 18 - 19 April 2012, Skopje, Macedonia


Participating, Sponsoring & Partnering


Executive summary The Balkan Venture Forum (BKVF) is an Investment Forum aimed to show-cast Balkan’s best entrepreneurs to an audience of Balkan and top-tier international venture capital corporate investors and strategic partners. Approx. 30 companies from the Balkans will be selected to participate in the Pitching Competition in front of 30 to 40 international investors and advisors. The BKVF will be promoted as the European Venture Contest Semi Final. The top 25% companies from the BKVF will be invited to the final event, the European Venture Summit. The BALKAN VENTURE FORUM will entail:

• Discussion sessions on investment trends and market opportunities • Presentation of companies to investors • One2one meetings between entrepreneurs and investors • Emphasis on innovative technologies for global growth • World-class speakers and high-quality workshops • Invitations only; 150 highest quality investors, experts and entrepreneurs

Venue TBA

Balkan Venture Forum 2012

http://www.e-unlimited.com/eurecanevc

http://www.e-unlimited.com/evs

http://www.e-unlimited.com/evs


Balkan Unlimited is a regional non-profit foundation with goals to: • Support innovation and entrepreneurship in the Balkans • Promote economical and cultural connections in the Balkans • Support social innovation With its unique and fundamental regional focus, actively integrating with the leading global development trends, Balkan Unlimited accelerates the regional progress in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship. Our Vision “Innovation and positive human values are the foundation of a knowledge-based society. We build on those aspects to integrate the Balkans in the progressive global trends.” Our Mission “Through experience and analysis of the innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system in the Balkans, to detect the common issues and emerging trends and provide support together with international partners.”

Balkan Unlimited – Host of Balkan Venture Forum


Founded in 1998 in Brussels, Europe Unlimited provides critical business resources to innovative technology entrepreneurs, corporations, investors and researchers, allowing them to successfully build and maintain a healthy economy. Our Vision “Dynamic entrepreneurship is the main force of innovation, economic growth and sustainability throughout Europe.” Our Mission “Through independent and neutral networking entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, researchers and advisors we help Europe’s dynamic technology innovators become world leaders in their field.”

Europe Unlimited – Main organizing partner


Crimson Capital Corp. (Crimson) is a leading international development firm that specializes in private sector development, access to finance, export and investment promotion, privatization, PPPs, and legal, regulatory and policy reform. Established in 1991 to provide privatization and restructuring expertise to emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Crimson has gone global, delivering dynamic development assistance across five continents. Currently, Crimson has offices in USA, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Peru. Crimson’s work in developing countries has resulted in over $7 billion in foreign direct investment, export and trade transactions, debt and equity financing, sectoral development (including agriculture), Public Private Partnerships (PPP), and privatization. Crimson has co-organized numerous high profile conferences and business events in the region, including the Economist Investment Roundtable with the Government of Macedonia (Macedonia 2005), Kosovo Business and Investment Summit (Kosovo 2008), Information and Communication Technology B2B Matchmaking Event (Macedonia 2010), among many others.

Crimson Capital – Main regional organizing partner


Patron of Balkan Venture Forum 2012

President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov His Excellency, Dr. Ivanov is a leading expert on civil society, being the first to introduce its systematic research in Macedonian academia. He has been a consultant to leading think-tanks and researchers. Ivanov is the co-founder of the first Macedonian political science journal “Political Opinion”, and the founder and Honorary President of the Macedonian Political Science Association. He is also one of the principal founders of the Institute for Democracy, a leading Macedonian think-tank which has helped shape the political landscape in Macedonia. As a sincere and active supporter of innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr. Ivanov continues his leadership by endorsing the Balkan Venture Forum 2012. “Timely recognized and supported innovative entrepreneur ideas are essential prerequisite for the increase of the competitiveness of companies and their equitable participation in the regional, European and world markets.”


The Truly Leading and Independent Venture Industry Platform in Europe • Helped SMEs raise more than €1.5 billion

• Promoted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs

• Managed over 100 events

• Gathered over 8,500 key industry players

• Serves the entire community in Europe:

• Venture Capital, Family Offices • Corporations • National governments & regions • European Commission • R&D centres

Leading Platform by Europe Unlimited


• 25+ pitching events per annum ; online qualifying events • A combination of geographical and vertical (industry) events across Europe • Includes the best 150 out of 1000+ companies in CleanTech/ICT/Life Sciences • Annually, best companies compete: Qualifiers - Semi-finals - Finals per industry for €90,000 prize • The European Venture Club, the largest European Platform for investors in early-stage technology companies with high growth potential • Coaching & Development • Experts networking

Scope of the Platform


• Investors - Increase your deal flow – Access to alternative LPs and potential co-investors

• Entrepreneurs - Pitch your company to an audience representing over $10 billion in funds. Increase your investment readiness

• Corporate Venture Arms - Meet innovators at an early stage, reach out to venture capital and peer investors for partnering and investment opportunities

• Partners - Connect with Europe’s main innovation initiative and gain access to the largest Pan European active database of start-ups

• Delegates - Network efficiently with the reference players in the industry - Capture the emerging businesses and trends

Value Proposition


Venture Firms Corporates

Part of Europe Unlimited community

http://www.kreoscapital.com/index.htm

http://www.partechvc.com/

http://www.intel.com/index.htm?iid=home+hdr_logo

http://www.orange.co.uk/?linkfrom=Today&link=header_logo

http://www.philips.com/global/index.html

http://www.sony.com/

http://www.st.com/stonline/index.htm

http://www.teliasonera.com/


Regional Partners Industry Partners Professional Partners Media Research & Institutes

Sociedade de Capital de Risco, SA

Part of Europe Unlimited community


Experts & Investors Presenters : 1000+ Applications

2010 Participants in Europe Unlimited events


2011-2012 Agenda at Europe Unlimited

Geography [horizontal] French Venture Forum Q4 2011 Iberian Venture Forum Q4 2011 Nordic Venture Forum Q4 2011 Benelux Venture Forum Q1 2012 Balkan Venture Forum Q1 2012 Central Europe Venture Forum Q2 2012 Swiss Venture Forum Q2 2012 German Venture Forum Q3 2012 Qualifiers [online & offline] Regional Programs all across Europe (proactive and on-demand)

Industry [vertical] ESA Investment Forum Q4 2011 Tech Media Europe Q1 2012 Clean Tech Invest Q2 2012 Health Invest Q3 2012 European Finals European Venture Summit Nov 2011 European Venture Contest Final Jury Dec 2011 European Venture Club 1 quarterly event hosted by Members Focus on Growth/Expansion


Balkan Venture Forum 2012 – agenda day 1(tentative)

Day 1 - 18 Apr

Time Main stage Matchmaking meetings Innovation Fair

08:00 Registration& Coffee breakfast

09:00 Welcome and forum goals - Aleksandar Tasev / William Stevens. 3 x Parallel Coaching Session I

09:15 Opening speech - president of Macedonia Dr. Ivanov.

09:15 Keynote speech

- Entrepreneur or VC - TBA

09:35 The BU vision: With joint innovation and entrepreneurship, what is next for the

Balkan region? - Aleksandar Tasev (co-founder)

09:50 Reverse Pitching

3 x Parallel Coaching Session II

- Investors present their program, their focus and unique advantages for companies

(10x4min) [tentative list: Seedcamp, RSG Capital, SEAF, GECAD, Vertex Ventures, Point

9 Capital, Wellington Partners, HackFwd, 7L Capital]

10:30 Coffee Break

11:00 Investment potential in the Balkans

- Michael Gold (Crimson Capital)

- Dimitar Bogov (Governor of Macedonian National Bank)

- Jure Mikuz (RSG Capital)

TBA

11:40 Creating an eco-system for commercialization of innovations

- Dr.Sid Burback, director of Global Commercialization Group, IC2 Institute, University of

Texas Austin

12:20 Lunch break

13:50 Systematic Inventive Thinking - Innovation method by SIT

- Omri Linder, director at SIT Gateway, will present the method that has helped 500

companies world-wide to boost their business through innovation

14:30 Startup contest session (6 x 15min)

16:00 Coffee Break


18:00 End of afternoon conference - Free time, Informal sightseeing, networking

19:30 Gala dinner

22:00 Cocktail party


Balkan Venture Forum 2012 – agenda day 2(tentative)

Day 2 - 19 Apr

Time Main stage Matchmaking meetings Innovation Fair

08:00 Registration& Coffee breakfast


10:30 Coffee Break

11:00 Startup contect session(6 x 15min)

12:30 Lunch Break

13:30 How will the European Commission support innovation and entrepreneurship in

the Balkans?

- Hans Rijckenberg - moderator

- William Stevens

- Gabriela Kostovska (MIR, SINTEF, FP7 evaluator)

- European Commission rep. TBA

14:15 How can startups protect and monetize intellectual property?

- Dr. Bratislav Stankovic

- TBA

15:00 Coffee Break

15:30 Successful startup strategies in Europe

- Dr. Clarisse Behar Molad

- Jure Mikuz (RSG Capital)

- Philipp Moehring (Seedcamp)

TBA

- Winning startup at 2011 European Venture Summit

16:15 Bootstrapping your startup - lessons learned

Manuel Koelman - Talential, MeeCV, Embrander, SociallyPay

Aleksandar Tasev - Akota ING, Internet Trgovija, Balkan Unlimited

TBA

TBA

17:00 Coffee Break

17:30 Startup contest feedback and advice

17:45 Startup contest award ceremony


Speakers and workshops

“Technology commercialization potential in the Balkans” – by Mr. Sid Burback Mr. Sid Burback serves as Director of the Global Commercialization Group (GCG) at The University of Texas at Austin, IC2 Institute in Austin, Texas, USA where he leads the organization’s global initiatives which are fundamentally based on more than thirty years of leadership in research, understanding and application of technology commercialization and technology-based venture creation.

“Systematic Inventive Thinking” – by Omri Linder, SIT A workshop demonstrating the world-leading SIT innovation method used by hundreds of top global companies to reinvent their business.

“Investment potential in the Balkans” – The panel aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Balkan’s potential for foreign investments, innovation and entrepreneurship. It will be lead by the people who shape the financial, scientific and business climate in the region.

“How can startups protect and monetize intellectual property?” – by prof. Dr. Bratislav Stankovic The workshop will provide details on the practical protection of intellectual property, trade marks, patents, etc. Common mistakes will be revealed and tips will be provided. The main speaker Dr. Stankovic is a JD in patent law and has prepared hundreds of patents for Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, a leading US patent firm.

Parallel to the networking and investment opportunities, the Balkan Venture Forum 2012 provides top regional insight and information on investment topics, including:


Participation

Become a Delegate As a delegate, you will attend the expert panels, workshops, pitching sessions, and the Innovation fair. Gold delegates additionally receive an invitation to the VIP gala dinner and may attend One2One matchmaking meetings with innovators, investors or advisors. Innovation Fair Exhibitors Innovators, business clusters and financing institutions have the opportunity to promote themselves before high-level international and regional attendees. Networking will take place in the same space as the innovation fair, to create a comfortable and effective environment. Promotional slides from all exhibitors will also be displayed on the main projector pane. Places are allocated base on first-come-first-served. Innovation fair participation includes booth rental and one free delegate pass. Event fees are:

Startups – 500 € Clusters, chambers, government agencies – 1000 € Financial sector, investors – 1000 € Universities – 1000 €

Registration fee Delegate Gold Delegate

Early registration fee (before 15 Feb) 200 € 375 €

Standard registration fee 300 € 500 €


Partnering / Sponsoring the Balkan Venture Forum

Partnering or Sponsoring offers you: Business Opportunities

• Access a unique database of high-tech, start-up profiles

• Position as a reviewer or jury member (limited availability)

• Opportunity to host pre-event workshop

Networking

• Opportunity to network with targeted group of senior investors and advisors

• Pre-arranged One2One meetings with delegates and presenters

Visibility

• Regional exposure

• Industry recognition as strong supporter of innovation & entrepreneurship


[email protected]

+389 2 3224 711 +389 2 3224 784

Thank you for your attention!

To ensure your participation or become a sponsor, please contact us at:

participating, sponsoring & partnering -...

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