Rockstart, ‘The Global Brand for Startups’, established this year by Dutch entrepreneur Oscar Kneppers, is to run an accelerator programme which will start in spring of next year in Amsterdam.
The Rockstart Accelerator aims to help start-ups with specific knowledge, networks, contacts and funds bring a business idea to the market faster and well-prepared.
The first 10 start-ups in the Rockstart Accelerator programme will be filled by an international mentor group of 75 professionals and entrepreneurs.
The start-ups will get 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 start-ups.
In the US, this model was used by comparable initiatives such as TechStars and Y Combinator. Start-ups that join accelerator programmes generally have better survival rates, according to Rockstart.
The Rockstart Accelerator is being co-ordinated by an experienced team, responsible for the Startup Weekends in Amsterdam and Eindhoven in 2010 and 2011 – Gregor Noltes and Bjorn Brekel and Don Ritzen from The Netherlands, James Digby from the UK, and Christian Rex Sørensen from Denmark.
Applications start this autumn and more information can be found here.
