Category: startups
Today I’m excited to announce a partnership with StartupDelta, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and other partners from the Dutch entrepreneurial ecosystem, on the startupdelta.org digital platform. It connects 10+ innovation hubs in the Netherlands, which together form one of the largest and best-connected startup ecosystems in Europe, built by our developers at IBM Groningen on IBM Bluemix.
From today, startups from all over the world have easy access to everything the Netherlands has to offer.
This StartupDelta announcement is an addition to IBM’s partnership with local government teams like Digital.NYC, Tech.London, Tech.Berlin and more! The goal is to encourage the local ecosystem in their mission and to accelerate entrepreneurs growth in the market.
With StartupDelta, the Netherlands will attract entrepreneurs and investors, build an all-inclusive community, and offer the tools and services startups need to start strong and scale up in the Netherlands. Through this partnership, visitors to StartupDelta.org may access comprehensive information about startups, news, jobs, workspaces, events, meetups and much more.
This is an exciting event, as it’s the first time we’re seeing an entire country band together with such ambition in the tech realm. The Netherlands seeks to become the “west coast of Europe for awesome startups,” and we at IBM want to help them achieve that goal! While this is our first time partnering with a countrywide community, it confirms our strategy to help build and take part in entrepreneurial communities in leading cities and areas around the world.
Startups from all over the world will have easy access to everything the Netherlands has to offer. To that end, we’ve brought our best tools and services to the table, from our premier development platform, IBM Bluemix, to our IBM Global Entrepreneur Program for Cloud, which provides up to $120 in cloud credit to startups. And who can forget about our amazing Innovation Space located in B.Amsterdam, one of the largest startup communities in Amsterdam.
So welcome, startups, investors, and everyone in-between, to StartupDelta.org!
I love attending the TieCon conferece every year. It is the world’s largest Enterpreneur Conference with over 4300 attendees, 35% women, and this year 20% women speakers.
The TieCon 50 are the top 50 Entrepreneurs who this year each received up to $120K of the IBM Cloud! The results for these chosen few are amazing .. with over the past years over 114 successful exits!
They focused on 8 tracks:
- Internet of Things
- Data Economy
- Cloud & Security
- Healthcare
- Entrepreneurship
- Oil and Gas
- Online Education
- Youth
I wanted to share many of the great moments from our Global Entrepreneurs!
Kick Sim:
GT Systems – a TieCon Power 50 Entrepreneur!
Airosense:
And the interest in the IBM Cloud was a long long line! Thanks to all the entrepreneurs for your interest! We will do our best to help you be successful!
I love to learn and share those learnings so here are 5 things I took away:
- Validate the good idea. Over 50% of new apps and products fail. Those that success have been vetted and tested. The advice they gave was to have as many people as possible provide you feedback as quickly as you can. That could be through Kickstarter or just creating an MVP!
- Either be or hire a Tech Geek! The VCs validated that every company today is competitive through technology (well, just about!). The discussion was that every company is a tech company so either the founder or her right hand person needs to be steeped in the knowledge of technology.
- Network. Networking is crucial to a successful startup. All the VCs said that they bet on the person first, the idea second. In order for them to bet on you, they need to know you and trust you! Take the time to get to know those who might fund you!
- Have a business plan. This factoid amazed me. Over 50% of those companies that come into a VC come in with a great product but no business model. Make sure you think through both the offering and the way that you make money.
- Dream big and have confidence. A lot of success is trying again and again and not being afraid of hearing no Facing rejection can be tough, but ensure you have the confidence to wirhstand it. One entrepreneur said he was turned down for funding over 20 times before he was funded, and is now a successful serial entrepreneur. Be passionate about what you bring to the table.
I really had a great time at TiEcon this past week. What an event! From my Internet of Things keynote to the Watson presence and BlueMix workshop, the largest entrepreneur conference in the world was packed with a phenomenal array of business and thought leaders from across the planet!
I had the pleasure of doing an influence roundtable up in Boston with key people who influence the Entrepreneur and Start-Up Space in the Greater Boston area.
Mass innovation nights are so innovative that I wanted to share how this effort helps shape the ecosystem in this region that focuses on Healthcare, Energy, and Bio innovations.
Women-led businesses receive only 13% of VC deals, and that’s up 20% YTY, according to Pitchbook, a venture-capital research firm. This is good momentum! And for me, this is means 2014 will continue to be a breakout year for women in technology too.
I’m also thrilled to help spark this breakout by hosting IBM Global Entrepreneur Week, February 3-7th. I’m honored to be the first woman to host this premier event. Register to join us!
http://vshow.on24.com/vshow/EntrepreneurWeek/registration/5787#
This one-of-a-kind event will feature virtual and in-person opportunities to learn from and network with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academic leaders, IBM executives and IBM Business Partners. There’s no better place to connect with other female entrepreneurs and find out what it takes to build and maintain a successful startup … and there’s no better time to register!
Spread the word with all of your fellow female entrepreneurs using the promo below on all of your social networks. Then join us on February 3 during our Online Bash at 10:30 AM EST to hear from leading women on how to survive this competitive marketplace.
I hope to virtually see you there! Register NOW!
http://vshow.on24.com/vshow/EntrepreneurWeek/registration/5787#
