How Startupbootcamp Grew to Become the World’s Largest Network of Innovation Programs [+Infographic]
In 2010, Startupbootcamp was founded with a simple goal in mind — to support the world’s best innovators through all stages of their growth.
We have spent years fine-tuning our approach by supporting 700+ companies and over 200 corporate partners, testing new models to make innovation accessible to all and launching close to thirty offices. We have gained an unparalleled view of the innovation landscape and have been lucky to have a front-row seat as innovation has truly gone global.
In 2017, we iterated on the ‘typical’ accelerator model and launched Startupbootcamp Scale, a new program for growth-stage companies looking to expand internationally, raise funding and increase revenues. We not only successfully executed the first program in Mexico City, but expanded into three new markets and built a framework for growth, backed by many value-add partners.
This year we launched eight new programs, entered three new markets — San Francisco, Egypt, and Qatar and for the first time, we added SportsTech as a new vertical to our portfolio.
We facilitated a record number of over 300 private startup-corporate sessions by matching the technology interest areas, pain points, and business objectives of our corporate partners to the specific startups we believe they will be interested in piloting, investing in, and even acquiring.
We rank among the top 10 accelerators based on the number of exits with 27 successful IPOs (read Forbes’s article) and we are one of the top 3 seed-stage investors in female-led businesses (read Crunchbase’s report) — 30% of our startups have at least one female founder!
Introducing SBC Impact Report — 2018 Highlights
The report offers an exclusive look inside the evolution of Startupbootcamp, including the organization’s newly released 2018 impact figures, and information gathered through thousands of startup applications and company success stories. It shows how we grew to become the world’s largest network of innovation programs with 30+ offices over six continents.
Looking Ahead
- Expanding our global reach into new markets
In 2018 and beyond, Startupbootcamp will expand from a solid EMEA core to strategically important hubs that benefit all our programs and startups. We are adding new locations to our global footprint traveling from as far west as Paris and Milan to farther east in Cairo, Taipei, and Shanghai. With this massive reach brings game-changing opportunities all programs can leverage.
- 2018 A record-breaking year for IPOs and ICOs
2018 has seen the strongest IPO and ICO activity with six successful exits and three ICOs — WePower, SafeGuard, and PolicyPal. We expect more exits to occur within the next three years and we will invest in providing serious hands-on value to the best companies in our portfolio as they scale globally. - Supercharging our Diversity Targets
One of our aims has always been to support gender — and ethnically diverse teams at any stages in their growth to go from ideation to startup to growth and scaling. In 2018, 30% of the teams who have gone through our programs were led by a female founder — a 7% increase than in 2017. At the end of the day, we want to invest in people, not just in their businesses. In the upcoming years, we are committed to supporting even more under-represented founders who want to make a difference in their community.
Together with OneTech, a new programme launched by Capital Enterprise and JP Morgan Chase Foundation, we have started reviewing and improving our processes to target different communities to increase the diversity of the companies we work with.
- Embracing “Tech for Good”
We believe that it has never been easier to use digital technology to tackle some of the world’s toughest social and environmental challenges. While some are still considering the challenges and barriers, new startups are thinking ‘solutions’ to the benefit of millions of people.
This year we partnered for the first time with SAP to tackle one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — Clean Water and Sanitation. We enter the new year by presenting the outcomes of this collaboration at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
We are also thrilled to announce that in 2019 we will be running our first innovation program focused on financial inclusion in Cairo, Egypt. 67% of the Egypt population do not have a bank account while family and friends remain the key source of borrowing money with only 9% of the population relying on financial institutions.
With Startupbootcamp FinTech Cairo we aim to make financial services accessible at affordable costs to all individuals and businesses and to boost the ecosystem in the region.
Gifts and Inspiration from Our Alumni Network
With the holidays fast approaching, we thought we’d make it easier for you to find a unique gift for everyone on your list. From up-cycled fashion items to indoor farming devices and user-centered design workshops, we’ve got you covered. The best part? All of these products are from the Startupbootcamp alumni network! Happy Shopping!
Originally published at www.startupbootcamp.org on December 13, 2018.
This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by +399,714 people.
Subscribe to receive our top stories here.
