ROCKSTART LAUNCHES ROCKSTART ACCELERATOR 2012

Accelerator for innovative startups takes off spring next year


Summary
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 12 JULY, 2011 – Rockstart, the global brand for startups, announced the Rockstart Accelerator during its manifesto presentation 'Step Forward, Start' at Startup Weekend Amsterdam. Rockstart Accelerator gives intensive support to entrepreneurs for the successful start to their businesses during the first 100 days.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 12 JULY, 2011 – With the presentation of the 'Step Forward, Start' manifesto Rockstart has announced the Rockstart Accelerator during Startup Weekend Amsterdam. The Accelerator is a program designed to intensively support innovative entrepreneurs with the successful launch of their business during a period of a 100 days. 

The Rockstart Accelerator helps startups with specific knowledge, networks, contacts and funds to bring a business idea to the market faster and well-prepared. The first 10 startups in the Rockstart Accelerator program will start in spring 2012 in Amsterdam and the program will be filled by an international mentor group of 75 professionals and entrepreneurs. Applications for startups start this fall.

Better survival rates
During the Accelerator program 10 startups will be receiving intensive support for 100 days, while on track to Investor Day where they can present their businesses to investors. These investors can, in turn, pitch to the startups. In the US this model was examined by comparable initiatives like TechStars and Y Combinator. Startups that join accelerator programs generally have better survival rates. 

Team
The Rockstart Accelerator is being coordinated by an experienced team, consisting of Don Ritzen (NL), James Digby (UK), Christian Rex Sørensen (DK), Gregor Noltes (NL) and Bjorn Brekel (NL). This team was also responsible for the successful Startup Weekends in Amsterdam and Eindhoven in 2010 and 2011. 

Rockstart, 'The Global Brand for Startups', was established this year by Dutch entrepreneur Oscar Kneppers, founder of Dutch media companies Emerce and Bright. The 'Step Forward, Start' manifesto can be viewed as of today at http://www.rockstart.com 


---------------
More information on Rockstart and on the Rockstart Accelerator:
don@rockstart.com (+31 65 4697517) or gregor@rockstart.com (+31 64 2695410)
Twitter: @rockstart_acc

About Rockstart

Rockstart is an early stage investor that empowers purpose-driven founders across three domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies.

Rockstart invests in early-stage startups from each of the three funds and provides access to capital, market, and expertise by connecting founders with co-investors, mentors, partners, corporates, and the wider Rockstart network.

Rockstart has invested in more than 350 startups and its alumni value to date is more than €1.6bn. Rockstart is an international team of 45+ professionals dedicated to empowering purpose-driven founders to become scalable and drive positive change on a global scale. Rockstart has notable exits such asWercker, Dan.com, Hubs.Com, Bouw7, iClinic, and s and Brincr. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogota.

Contact details

Receive Rockstart news on your RSS reader.

Or subscribe through Atom URL manually