Europe Unlimited has launched the 5th European Venture Contest. The Contest aims to find the most innovative start-up companies with the greatest potential to enhance the competitiveness and growth of Europe, independent of industry sector. The 2009 edition will involve 10 European locations across Europe in  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland , Portugal, Spain and the UK. The winner receives recognition as one of the most innovative companies at an international level. Many of the previous finalists have since successfully raised capital and expanded their business.

Europe Unlimited is now inviting all innovative European technology start-ups and high-growth companies that are ready for a competitive pan-European business and innovation contest in order to gain access to active venture capital investors and reap widespread visibility to technology corporations.  Applicants should be private companies that contribute cutting-edge innovation in technology and services and have international growth aspirations. Over the past years, more than 2,000 companies applied to participate in the European Venture Contest, of which 566 were identified in a stringent selection process as candidates to present to venture capital and corporate investors.

In 2008, the mean financing sought by innovative technology companies was just around €4m per company, slightly up from 2007 with some €3.5m, for an average of 30% in equity. At €6.8m life science and biotechnology companies were in general looking for more funding, corresponding to costly and complex product development, compared to ICT and clean-technology companies, which on average sought around €3m.

The Winners of the European Venture Contest 2008 were:

Overall winner: InMold Biosystems (DK)
Runner-ups: RPR Technologies (NO); Trovit (ES)
Public Award for the Best Elevator Pitch: NUUBO (ES)

At the European Venture Contest a jury of international investors will assess commercial potential, team experience, competitive position, product merit and technological development, interest in investments or associations. The have so far included successful and serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate investors. For details of European Venture Contest 2009 and previous years, please check our website at

The European Venture Contest is designed to help innovative technology companies face funding and strategic challenges across the fragmented European market. Participants receive detailed feedback on their strategic strength, while being able to grow their professional network to include some of Europe's most active early stage investors.  The European Venture Contest 2009 will evaluate and award world-class innovative companies. The Contest acts as an accelerator to the growth of young innovative companies by providing access to top-level international partners, advisors and investors.

Please visit our website for more information.

The long awaited Google venture capital fund, Google Ventures, is now open for business. The Fund is led by managing partners Bill Maris and Rich Miner.

The fund’s FAQ says they’ll invest in just about any type of startup (”consumer Internet, software, hardware, clean-tech, bio-tech, health care and others”) and they’re willing to invest just about any amount you might need (”from seed funding to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the stage of the opportunity and the company’s need for capital”). It’s not exactly what you’d call a tight investment focus, but hey, it’s not like they need to worry about keeping limited partners happy so they can raise the next fund.

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