Creating a two-sided market is hard. Investors want to see quality dealflow while entrepreneurs want to know enough capital could be available if their pitch is right.
Platforms, such as Leading Edge Only, Innova360 and GCV Connect powered by Proseeder, identify corporate challenges, while a host of firms help the venture building process internally for big companies and investment banks and brokers pitch deals to investors.
Now, Eureka, the European Union’s network for research, development and innovation, is trying to help facilitate this and has agreed with six local corporations to introduce startups to their corporate venturing teams.
The six are Agbar (part of the Suez Group), AVL List, Enel, Metsä Group, Solvay and Telefonica-Wayra.
The Eureka network of research and innovation agencies covers 45* countries – beyond the 27 formally in the EU – and provides coaching and support to startups looking for venture capital.
Eureka’s corporate activities include:
- Prospecting and selecting SMEs aligned with the individual corporate’s business;
- Online events to connect the corporate with companies in its sector, entitled ‘how to build successful partnerships’ and ‘current challenges’; and
- One-to-one matchmaking between the corporate and selected companies.
Ulrich Schuh, chairman of the Eureka network, said: “Eureka welcomes these six corporates into its family with open arms.”
*Eureka is hosting a free introductory webinar on 10 February at 10 CET and apply to be a participant if you are from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK:
https://euproject.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_08oiBWS9s0hUp3o
