NEXT Berlin is looking for the next big idea. Like in the past years we will roll out a Start-Up Pitch at NEXT14. Start-ups from all across Europe will present their ideas live on stage at the premier conference for the digital economy on May 5-6 in Berlin – and your chance to be part of it begins today. Please find the application form for your start-up here.

As organisers of NEXT14, digital agency SinnerSchrader and the dfv Media Group are inviting international innovators to the Start-Up Pitch in the Berliner Congress Center. The winner will receive international attention, guaranteed contact with investors and a substantial prize package.

For the Start-Up Pitch NEXT14 also teams up with Startupbootcamp, an accelerator for global start-ups based in Berlin, to find the best European start-up idea. In addition, NEXT Berlin is partnering with the Heureka start-up conference, which also takes place as part of Berlin Web Week. Two pre-finalists from the NEXT Start-Up Pitch will receive wild cards from the jury for Heureka’s Investor Speed Pitching event. Media partners are HORIZONT (dfv Media Group), t3n, Wired UK, The Next Web, Venture Village, Gründerszene, rudebaguette and foundum.

Applications for the international pitch commence today at nextberlin.eu/startups and will end on 26 March 2014. Afterwards people can vote online to take their favourite applicants through to the next round. Voting takes place from 26 March and runs until 13 April. From the top candidates, the finalists will be selected by an expert jury composed of renowned entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and representatives from the media, among them Max Claussen (Earlybird), Philipp Möhring (AngelList), Matt Cooper (oDesk), Shira Abel (Hunter & Bard), Alex Farcet (Start-up Bootcamp), Ayelet Noff (Blonde 2.0) and Alex Hofmann (Gründerszene).

The finalists have the opportunity to put forward their visions and business models live at the NEXT Start-Up Pitch. „For us, taking part in the event was victory in itself“, according to last year‘s winner Wolfgang Hafenscher of LineMetrics, after winning the Pitch in 2013. „We were impressed most of all by the highly qualified speakers. The feedback we received from them was very inspiring.“

So you are still asking yourself, why you should participate?

Pitches are an extremely valuable experience, as they provide immediate personalized feedback from a team of high profile professionals. They are a great opportunity to connect with potential investors and mentors and other participating teams. And in case of NEXT14, participating in the Start-up Pitch will guarantee you a lot of international attention and valuable contacts! Since 2011, NEXT Berlin Start-up Pitch finalists have raised more than 15 Million Euros of funding with the pitch at NEXT Berlin kickstarting many careers.

So join in! We are looking forward to receiving your application.

These are the conditions of entry to the NEXT14 Start-Up Pitch:

– The business idea is a solution to an actual user problem and has significant market potential.
– The business is based in Europe.
– The company was set up within the past three years.
– It has not yet been in receipt of series A funding, and is in the beta phase.

In addition, start-ups have the opportunity at NEXT14 to present their companies to important decision-makers and investors. From one‘s own stand (available at a special rate) through to a full workshop, there are lots of possibilities! Further information can be found here.