THE SPOT: Prestige, financial support on the line in Start-up Battle

It’s one day to go to THE SPOT! Among the many out-of-the-box experiences planned for this international sport and innovation event, one in particular promises to get the adrenaline pumping: The Start-up Battle. Forty-two start-ups specialising in blockchain, virtual reality, data analytics, connected venue, fan engagement, performance & health and other fields have thrown their hats into the ring for a chance to be crowned champion and walk away with CHF 5,000 and newfound fame and prestige.

The second edition of THE SPOT will take place on 28 and 29 May 2019 at the SwissTech Convention Center, located on the EPFL Campus in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Start-up Battle will begin Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. with four groups of 10 to 12 companies competing in separate preliminary rounds. Four influential Award Partners - Asics Tenkan-Ten Growth Catalyst, Eurovision Sport, Swiss Timing and UEFA - will each oversee one round of the Battle. The winners of each preliminary round will be awarded CHF 1,000 and a place in the final the next day (29 May, 04:05 p.m.), with a further CHF 4,000 going to the overall winner.

The jury members for each round will be made up of experts from the academic, business and sports world. Each start-up will be given three minutes to make their pitches, followed by a two minute Q&A session with the jury.

At the end of the final round, the audience will be given the opportunity to vote by phone for its favourite start-up.

Other prizes up for grabs include the "ASICS TenKan-Ten Growth Catalyst award" with the winning start-up to receive a wildcard to their selection days; and the "Swiss Coup de Cœur" offered by the extended organising committee to the most promising Swiss start-up at the competition. The value of the Swiss Coup de Cœur is CHF 2,000.

A novelty this year will be an additional discovery competition on 29 May, inviting 16 early stage start-ups to present their innovative ideas to an expert audience.

Check out all the competitors by consulting the Delegate App and thespot2019.org.

In total, THE SPOT will welcome 80 start-ups, with a number of them showcasing their products at the Marketplace.

In addition to the Start-up Battle, participants at THE SPOT will also have the opportunity to:

Connect with pioneers in innovation during the conference and subsequent Q&A sessions.

Present and discover new products and solutionsat the Marketplace and the Demo Zone, with the stands changing every day.

Network at countless opportunities, including fun and social events, which make THE SPOT a place where new cross-sector partnerships and projects are born.

For THE SPOT, the SwissTech Convention Center will be transformed into an open space with a dynamic atmosphere, where participants will be exposed to a wide range of content and experiences all happening at the same time. In a modern and industrial setting, delegates will be able to draw inspiration from many innovative people, ideas, products and best practices.

For more information, check out www.thespot2019.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram! Join the conversation by using #TheSpot2019.

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