Leading California tech start-up competition touches down in UK

Leading US tech pitching competition Vator Splash has announced it is coming to London’s Canary Wharf in November, allowing digital entrepreneurs to compete for a package of support worth £20,000.

The event, which will take place in the Level39 building on 7^th November, aims to uncover the best tech and digital start-ups with high potential for growth and support them with a tailored package of mentoring, funding and legal services.

Started in San Francisco in 2010, Vator Splash has built a reputation for identifying tech start-up talent, helping to launch businesses such as online learning platform Udemy, health marketplace PokitDok and online therapy portal Breakthrough Behavioural.

Since launch businesses backed by the scheme have collectively raised $100m in follow-on funding.

The November 7 event will run from 2.30 to 7pm, with 10 shortlisted businesses delivering pitches to a panel of experienced tech investors including Jon Bradford of TechStars, Passion Capital’s Stefan Glaenzer, Ben Holmes of Index Ventures and Richard Muirhead of Firestartr.co.

One business will be selected to receive a support package worth £20,000, which includes free two-hour consultations with chartered accountants Blick Rothenberg and tech-focused law firm Taylor Wessing and free cloud hosting services from hosting company Rackspace.

The winning business will also have the opportunity to raise further funding through a three-hour ‘sit down’ meeting with a panel of top VCs, including representatives from DFJ Esprit, Wellington Partners and Passion Capital.

The event’s organisers say London was chosen as Vator Splash’s first non-US location because of initiatives such as Tech City securing its reputation as Europe’s digital capital.

Bambi Francisco, founder and chief executive of Vator Splash, said: “Vator Splash has an established presence in the US and in the last three years, our events coupled with our social network – which has grown to more than 100,000 start-up and investor members – has provided a springboard to some notable start-up success stories.

“As Europe’s Digital Capital, London was the obvious choice for our first event outside of the US. With the city’s start-up scene developing rapidly, we want to be part of the growth and the solution to help entrepreneurs get themselves discovered.”

Entrepreneurs can apply for the free-to-enter event by clicking here. Eligible businesses must be less than three years old with under €1m current funding. The deadline for applications is 19:00 on 25^th October 2013.