Are you ready for the Soft-Landing Missions?
Soft-Landing gives startups, scaleups and ecosystem builders (local leaders, influencers, changemakers) the chance to dive into a foreign environment and see how to grow internationally. Missions are usually a week long, however startups also have the opportunity to extend their stay to one month (and receive scaling support) at our European destinations.
The destinations for the second round of Soft-Landing mission are Berlin (Germany), Paris (France), Zoetermeer (The Netherlands), Vilnius (Lithuania), with more missions coming up for Boston, New York and Silicon Valley (USA). These locations have been selected as they offer thriving, dynamic and diverse environments for startups, scaleups and ecosystem builders to explore and discover.
Who are the new ‘Soft-Landers’?
After a competitive selection process, more than 50+ startups and scaleups and 100+ ecosystem builders have been selected for the second round of missions. The new ‘Soft-Landers’ come from a wide variety of backgrounds and from all over Europe. Their technical skills and global ambitions mean that they will reap the benefits of these missions abroad.
The experience for startups/scaleups and ecosystem builders is slightly different, with startups/scaleups embarking on a five-day trip, and the ecosystem builders joining the group for three to five days.
Berlin
Week 13 May, 2019
The Soft-Landing mission to Berlin ecosystem was a supercharged experience with full-on learning opportunities as well power-packed with great Startup ecosystem builders from across the world to interact!
Our partner organisation GTEC is organising our mission to Berlin, in Europe’s most sought-after startup hub. Berlin is home to over 40,000 startups, 50+ accelerators and is famous for its laid back and creative work environments. You can read more about this cool European ecosystem on our Berlin page.
Mor Eini of GTEC says, “We are very excited to have 15 startups from all over Europe in Berlin for 5 days full of meetings, networking, events with international corporation and a lot of fun!”
Startups and scaleups
Automate Loan | FinTech |
Certifydoc | Legal Service |
RADA building | Engeneering |
amazingspaces.world | Proptech |
AssetLog | Proptech |
INVIERTIS | PropTech |
Enerbrain | Energy |
Spectral Augmented Industries | Information Technology and Services |
urbest | Proptech |
Builtrix | Energy |
WITIVIO | Computer Software |
FlatnYou | PropTech |
ATLANT Blockchain Real Estate Platform | PropTech |
dserve | FinTech |
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Paris
Week 13 May, 2019
It was an amazing experience of exploring the Parisian startup ecosystem, one of the most prospering ecosystems in Europe. We not only met the major players in Parisian hub but also networked a lot with ecosystem builders from all over Europe.
Our partner organisation IMT Starter is organising our mission to Paris, a major European business hub. Paris has the world’s 3rd highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and is a popular location for foreign companies to establish themselves (+15,000 in the Paris region!). You can read more about this up-and-coming European ecosystem on our Paris page.
Niraj Karmacharya of IMT Starter says of the mission “IMT Starter is excited to invite players of startup ecosystem from all over the world and connect them with each other. This is only possible because of Soft-Landing Project!”
Startups and scaleups:
ARize | AR |
The Virtual Mind, inc | AI, Robotics |
Monugram | Travel |
Meep App | SaaS |
SYSTAGfiles | App |
eParkio | SaaS |
Vorwärts | E-commerce |
Dynamic AI56 | AI, deeptech |
P.aid (PEOPLE aid for BRANDS) | App |
Ecosystem builders:
Marel Minok | Erste Group |
Rapolas Rucinskas | Be&Do |
Stefan Bodi | Technical University of Cluj-Napoca |
Leitha Matz | Zuper GmbH |
Diana Rusu | Spherik Accelerator |
Egle Ciuoderiene | Sneaky Box |
Tricia Levasseur | Freelancer |
Croce Mauro | PoliHub |
Gintare Ambrozaityte | KTU Startup Space |
Inbal Kolodziejska | Doya Medical |
Bert Farell | Zoosh Ventures |
Maria Gross | GTEC |
Andra Bagdonite | Startup Division |
Maurice Beckand Vervwee | Crosspring B.V. |
Vilnius
Week 27 May, 2019
It was an amazing experience, where we got feedback for our projects, built networking with startups and learnt about new posibilities within FinTech.
Our partner organisation Startup Division is organising our mission to Vilnius, a booming FinTech scene. Vilnius is ranked 3rd in Europe for ease of doing business and has 500+ startups active in its ecosystem. You can read more about this up-and-coming European ecosystem on our Vilnius page.
Jurga Mecinskiene from Startup Division says: “We are organizing a true fintech fiesta, bringing local startups and fintech innovators from all over the world to Lithuania to discover its bustling fintech scene. Our participants will meet regulators, international unicorns and local fintech businesses and learn eveyrthing they need to know about licensing, legal environment, other startups’ experience.”
Startups and scaleups:
Sofitto | Blockchain |
Nect | Fintech |
Ecosystem builders:
Karl Gedda-Mudrov | Vilnius |
Michael Brooijmans | Vilnius |
Ionut Tata | Vilnius |
Netherlands
Week 3 June, 2019
Softlanding programme in the Netherlands was a game changer, a paradigma shift for us. Even after the 2nd mentoring sessison, we altered our business plan for a leaner, better and faster startup. Quality of the participants were exceptional.
Our partner organisation Crosspring is organising our mission to the Netherlands, a booming innovation hub. The Dutch are the 5th happiest people on earth, making business a breeze, and has a close cluster of innovation hubs and top universities. You can read more about this growing European startup ecosystem on our Netherlands page.
Crosspring is looking forward to receiving another amazing group of FinTech experts from all over Europe! The first Soft-Landing mission in the Netherlands this year will be hosted during the Amsterdam FinTech week, taking place from 3 to 7 June. Amazing sessions will be hosted by our partners in Rotterdam and Amsterdam to give a complete overview of the Dutch FinTech landscape. Thanks to our partners CIC, ECE, Baker McKenzie, Nauta Dutilh, Holland FinTech, RVO, Startup Delta, Startup Amsterdam, HPE growth capital, Briddge, InnovationQuarter, Symbid and more, we are able to provide our delegation with the best Softlanding program the Netherlands has to offer. Let’s connect and grow EU FinTech to greater hights!
Startups and scaleups
MarkID | Fintech |
Direct Pay | Fintech |
Datai.o | Fintech |
Neuro.Fintech | Fintech |
Bundle.Network | Fintech |
Fennec Group | Fintech |
Credital | Fintech |
Ecosystem builders
Indré Surgelyte | |
Matus Steis | |
Jesús Lozano | |
Antonia Imre | |
Sarune Smalakyte | |
Mariia Pohodicheva | |
Valentin Alexiev | |
Viktorija Braziunaite | The Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) |
Boston
Week 24 June, 2019
The mission was a great platform to exchange ideas with companies from US and Europe. The organization team was super and did a great job planning everything. Highly recommended programme.
Our partner organisation Startup Division is organising our mission to Boston, the #1 startup city, with +4000 active startups to work and network with. You can read more about the US startup ecosystem on our United States page.
Jurga Mecinskiene from Startup Division says: “Boston is the #1 US startup city with 4000+ startups and internationally renowned innovations in medtech, cleantech, robotics, and other deep tech industries. Our mission to Boston will give a chance for 30 innovation managers from all across Europe to understand how Harvard, Techstars, Venture Cafe, Phillips, and other global players are driving and commercializing innovation and bring those lessons back to their home ecosystems.”
Ecosystem builders
Greta Radzeviciute | Kalista Ventures |
Emilie Verbunt | DutchBasecamp |
Jorg Kop | UtrechtInc |
Mirko Lukács | Utrecht Holdings |
Annika Schroeder | German Startups Association |
Arthur Hendriks | FUND IT |
Samantha Michaux | Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum |
Marc Verbiest | North Brabant at the Dutch Consulate-General in Munich |
Rene van Stiphout | – |
Vytas Kalinauskas | Panevežys City Municipality |
Tino Scholman | De Haas Executive Services |
Ricardas Valanciauskas | Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) |
Tautvydas Pipiras | Lithuanian Innovation Centre |
Mari-Ann Meigo | Tallinn Business Incubators Foundation |
Ruben Habraken | Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship |
Vlad Gliga | Rubik Hub |
Jennifer Austin | Risky Business |
Julian Speckmaier | Deloitte Consulting |
Daniel Szemerey |
Health Venture Lab, powered by GE Healthcare
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Donat Pajer | Hiventures |
Iurii-Volodymyr Blavt | Civitta Ukraine |
Mateusz Nowak | Mazovia Capital |
Diana Lace | Overkill Ventures |
Olla Jongerius | Founder, TCCT, BerLearn |
Yana Lipcheva | Unknown Group |
Johann Gross | Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship |
Laura Ludwig | Museum of Values |
Maja Trajkova | CEED Hub Skopje |
Kristine Jansone | Reach for Change |
Kazys Pupinis | Klaipeda ID |
Don’t forget you can follow the real-time journey of our ‘Soft-Landers’ on social media!