Local start-ups urged to register for International Startup Festival

ANZA Technology Network is encouraging Australian start-ups to register for the International Startup Festival, which will see one new venture walk away with an investment of at least $50,000.

The International Startup Festival, to be held in Montreal from July 11-13, is a three-day event that aims to bring together entrepreneurs and investors from around the world.

The event has a heavy focus on new sectors such as mobility, gaming and social networking in addition to clean technology, education and healthcare.

It will feature start-up pitches – including live elevator pitches in an actual elevator – plus keynote speakers and seminars on every stage of the start-up lifecycle.

This year’s theme is “Startups that Matter”, designed to reflect the fact that start-ups are an increasingly important part of the economy.

ANZA Technology Network – which helps Australian start-ups crack the US and Chinese markets – is encouraging Australian start-ups to register to attend the event.

“Be among four select Australian and New Zealand companies to demo your product in front of thousands of global attendees,” ANZA said in an email.

“Gain insight and access to the vast North American market, and attend sessions led by Dave McClure of 500 Startups and Chris Shipley of the Guidewire Group.”

The event will be structured along two main tracks taking place on two stages.

They are Startup Stage A: “Lean, Hungry and Innovating”, and Growing Stage B: “Fat, Funded and Growing”.

On both stages, participants will have the opportunity to listen and interact with the likes of experienced entrepreneurs, seed and later stage investors, and advisors.

According to festival co-founder Phil Telio, this year’s event will see one start-up walk away with an investment of at least $50,000.

“The award won’t be limited to one of the start-ups selected to pitch on a main stage. Any start-up present and badged for the event will be eligible to win,” Telio said in a blog.

Telio said the prize will be an investment in a start-up, in the form of an “entrepreneur-friendly convertible debenture”.

“We will be sure to create ample opportunities for any badged start-up to get in front of one or more of [the] judges,” Telio said.

“But ultimately, the event will imitate real life, and start-ups that want the $50,000 (or more) will bear the responsibility of seeking out these decision-makers.”

There are also other, quirkier prizes for start-ups, including Grandmother’s Pick, whereby a panel of seven grandmothers will select their favourite start-up.

There’s also a new award called Teenager’s Pick, which will see a cohort of teenage judges hand out an award.

Other more mainstream prizes include top elevator pitch, judge’s pick, best demo table and the audience choice award.