We just read a new report stating Europe has more startup accelerators than any other region of the world … even the United States.
We’ve also noticed a trend in mega-startup events, led by the European Union and the Netherlands with Startup Fest Europe last month.
The question becomes, how do entrepreneurs decide which to attend … because some are extremely expensive.
The one event we would kill to attend this year is Viva Technology Paris simply because it has everything. (We can’t go because of visa issues. But that’s another story for another time.)
Not only does VTP have everything, but if you listen to Cisco Chairman John Chambers in the video below, you realize this could be the breakout event for France as French officials try to reposition Paris as the digital center of Europe.
In the video, Chambers says VTP could be “the showcase to show how far France has come as far as being the startup community for all of Europe.”
Quite an endorsement from a guy at the top of the Silicon Valley food chain.
With only 10 days till it begins 30 June, Viva Technology Paris officials predict there will be more than 5,000 startups “spread out across the world’s largest collaborative workspace (15,000 m2) and 15 industry-focused labs to connect startups with businesses, thought leaders and executives via designated pitch areas and demo stages.”
Startups can go meet potential investors, with the event advertising 100 VCs in attendance.
Or they can hear some of the biggest names in tech including:
• Eric Schmidt, chairman of Alphabet/Google ((though we include the caveat that he just told Startup Fest Europe that they sucked.)
• Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
• Chambers, who’s full title is executive chairman of the San Jose-based networking software/hardware giant.
• Dave Marcus, VP of messaging products for Facebook
• S. Y. Lau, CEO of Tencent, the Shenzhen-based company that’s making a move on Helsinki-based SuperCell. (Another guy we’d love to hear.)
Fintech startups can take on the various challenges from some of the largest tech companies, banks, insurance, fintech and financial firms in the world and a shot at getting a strategic partnership.
And you might get a preview of the future from one of 15 labs on topics such health tech, sport gaming and entertainment, media, retail, luxury and financial services.
This is from the Media Conference:
• DOES MEDIA INVEST ENOUGH IN TECHNOLOGY?
Google, Philippe Colombet, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Digital Publishing, France Spain Netherlands and Russia
Prisma Media, Rolf Heinz, President
The Washington Post, Shaleish Prakash, Chief Product & Technology Officer
Wibbitz, Zohar Dayan, Co-Founder & CEO
• TV IN THE AGE OF MULTIPLE SCREENS
TF1, Olivier Abecassis, VP Innovation & Digital
Arte France, Bruno Patino, Director for TV Programs & Digital Content
Djoss, Mahoumadou Yacoubou, Head of Growth
• WILL THE JOURNALIST OF THE FUTURE BE A ROBOT?
Syllabs, Claude de Loupy, Co-Founder & CEO
The Washington Post, Joey Marburger, Director of Product
This is from the Retail Conference:
• WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TOMORROW’S ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE?
Retency, Isabelle Bordry, Co-Founder
Oak Labs, Healey Cypher, Co-Founder & CEO
• FOR WHOM WILL THE MARKETPLACE STILL MATTER?
Mirakl, Kelly Gow, Strategic Alliance Manager
Menlook, Marc Menasé, CEO and Founder
Priceminister, Olivier Mathiot, CEO
• IS E-COMMERCE DEAD? LONG LIVE CONNECTED RETAIL!
Carrefour France, Hervé Parizot, Executive Director, eCommerce & Data
Philips Lighting, Gerben van der Lugt, Business Leader
Think and Go, Vincent Berge, CEO
Critizr, Thibaut Carlier, Co-founder and CTO
And this is just one tiny corner of what VTP is putting on.
About Viva Technology:
Viva Technology’s unique mission is to bring the world’s most innovative startups together with the major global players in digital transformation. For three days starting 30 June, an expected 30,000 entrepreneurs, corporate executives, venture capitalists and other investors will join us in a purpose-built environment in Paris. The goal: to provide a real-time platform for collaboration and a high-level stage for discussions around the impact technology has on both businesses and society.
VTP sponsors include Google, BNP Paribas, AXA Insurance and Ernst& Young, or – as they liked to be called now – EY.
See you there … in our dreams.
