Fit for Start
 | |
| Legal Status | State-sponsored technology startup incubator |
|---|---|
| Established | 2015 |
| Location | 5 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette |
| Programme Director | Antoine Hron |
| Languages | French, German, English and Luxembourgish |
| URL | www.luxinnovation.lu |
Fit for Start (stylised as Fit 4 Start) is the Luxembourg's national incubator for early-stage startups in the field of Information and Communications Technology, operating under the supervision of Luxinnovation. The selected applicants are provided with 16 weeks of coaching and training in the Lean Startup methodology, a free co-working space in the Technoport facilities and a grant of €50.000. The program takes place twice a year.[1]
Launch
The programme has been launched in 2015 with a pilot edition composed of 2 Start-Ups:[2] Houser and Sport50. After the success of this first edition, 5 new Start-Ups joined the program in spring 2016.[3]
Selection processes
In order to apply to Fit for Start, the applicant has to be less than one year old and has to be composed of at least two people.
A first paper application review will be made, then pre-selected candidates will pitch their project in front of a jury. At the end of the process, only 5 companies will be selected to participate the programme, provided they can justify a €10.000 contribution from the founders and having offices in Luxembourg.[4]
During the programme
During the programme, the Start-Ups will attend lectures about the Lean Startup process. The main objective of the programme is to help the early-stage startups networking with clients, validate there is indeed a need for their services and finally help outline a minimum viable product. Coaches and the jury members will provide this help, following the staturp's progress and work accomplished.[5] They also share their contacts and introduce the trainees to the business ecosystem. The programme takes place inside the Technoport building in Belval (Esch-sur-Alzette), a co-working environment where entrepreneurs gather.
Incubated start-ups
Edition 2015:[6]
- Houser
- Sport50
Spring Edition, 2016:[7]
- Connected Rope
- Evvos
- Klap
- Nomoko
- Yotako
Autumn Edition, 2016:[8]
- Adapti.me
- Aiva Technologies
- StarWear
- PassBolt
- Yollty
The next round of startup incubation is scheduled for Spring Edition 2017.[9]
References
- ↑ "Le programme Fit4Start lance son premier appel à candidatures - Luxembourg". Luxembourg.public.lu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "A Case of the Chicken and the Egg" (PDF). En.luxinnivation.lu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ Delano Newspaper, May 2016
- ↑ "Luxinnovation, National agency for innovation and research / Luxembourg / Fit for Start / Support for innovative start-ups / Services /". En.luxinnovation.lu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "Luxinnovation, Agence Nationale pour la Recherche et l'innovation / Luxembourg / Fit4Start : lancement d'un nouveau programme d'aide étatique pour start-up ICT / Archives / Actualités /". Luxinnovation.lu (in French). 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "Helping Start-Ups get shipshade" (PDF). En.luxinnivation.lu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "Une pépinière de talents". PaperJam. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "100% success rate for first open Fit 4 Start edition". LuxInnovation. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ↑ "Luxinnovation, National agency for innovation and research / Luxembourg / Support for innovative start-ups / Services /". En.luxinnovation.lu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.