This is your chance to explore a new startup market in 2019!

The Soft-Landing open calls are now open!

Join us for our 2019 missions, as we travel to Berlin, Paris, Zoetermeer, Vilnius and the United States for a jam-packed, intensive week of tailored scaling support, finding new clients, navigating local legal and tax challenges, and expanding your network.

After a year of Soft-Landing missions, in which 208 startups and ecosystem builders made over 6,000 new connections, we are back with an even more lean, fast and savvy plan for you and your business in 2019.

In our last missions, 1 in 2 startups scaled or adjusted their scaling strategies as a direct result of the programme, 1 in 3 found potential investors and new clients, and one startup even locked down investment during the mission itself.

If you’re a startup, scaleup, startup mentor, accelerator/incubator representative, tech/startup journalist or investor looking for your next project, then choose your destination below and apply before our spots run out!

 

Zoetermeer, the Netherlands

“Soft-Landing Zoetermeer was a game-changer, a paradigm shift for us.”

If you’re thinking of expanding your business to the Netherlands, then this mission is for you.

Last year, our FinTech participants had the chance to meet with mentors (getting direct feedback on their concept, idea and business model), hear success stories of local startups, visit Rotterdam by water taxi to hear about FinTech regulations, and learn about government support to stimulate growth for startups (you read more in our blog).One of our startups, NeoFinance, even found investment as a direct result of the mission.

What can you get from our April 2019 mission:

  • Learn how to scale your business in The Netherlands, the second most innovative country in the world.
  • Spend one week at the Dutch FinTech ecosystem and get connected to the most relevant players in the market.
  • Get to know all the advantages of being in The Netherlands, one of the most developed startup ecosystems of the world.

Apply by 15 April to join our 1-week mission to Zoetermeer!

 

Berlin

“ A real deep-dive into the thinking and behaviour on the ground in Berlin.”

Berlin is known as one of the startup capitals of Europe. Last year, we organised three successful missions to Berlin, in which our participants had the chance to hear from the most important players in the Berlin ecosystem, get honest feedback on their pitches, visit local hubs, take part in the TechOpenAir conference and learn how to survive the legal ‘jungle’ of scaling up in Germany.

What can you get from our mission in May 2019?

  • Meet key players in the German ecosystem: investors, Government representatives, VCs and many more
  • Visit corporate innovation hubs and get to know local success stories
  • Participate in the PropTech innovation award

(APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)

 

 

Paris

“The Paris mission was an incredible crash-course on the exciting French startup ecosystem.”

Our last missions to Paris gave you the chance to connect with French investors and funding agencies, visit the French government initiative La French Tech which welcomes startups to the French market, network with local startup players, and hear local success stories.

What can you get from our mission in May 2019?

  • Visit important local Parisian hubs, like Viva Technology, Station F, La French Tech
  • Discover major European businesses, the world’s 3rd highest concentration of fortune 500 headquarters.
  • Explore a well-developed venture capital industry (€5.5B were invested in more than 1,000 companies)

(APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)

 

 

Vilnius

“The Soft-Landing mission to Vilnius gave me the opportunity to understand and connect to its most important ecosystem players.”

Our previous missions have focused on blockchain, but our new focus for 2019 is FinTech. This highly specialised programme is all about why Lithuania is the place to be for all things FinTech! Our agenda is jam-packed with tailored talks, visits and workshops to support you as you learn about scaling in this new market.

What can you get from our mission in May 2019?

  • Understand why a tiny country is attracting FinTech startups from all over the world
  • Learn why Revolut, Google and other huge players are choosing LT for banking licenses
  • Get practical tips on legal, tax, marketing issues tailored for FinTech startups
  • Meet FinTech giants and emerging startups and drill them for details of their journey

(APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)

 

 

United States

Silicon Valley, Boston and New York – coming soon! Check back here for more information.

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for updates on the application process!

#SoftLandingEU

Facebook: @SoftLandingEU

Twitter: @softlanding_eu

LinkedIn: Soft-Landing