Today, we are excited to officially announce our partnership with GSMA Foundry. This collaboration marks a significant stride towards driving innovation and fostering growth within the industry. It will include a number of activities to further align and consolidate innovation between 4YFN and GSMA Foundry. One key aspect of this collaboration is the spotlight on the 4YFN 2023 Award Winners, who will be featured as showcase projects within the GSMA Foundry!
This strategic move not only highlights ground-breaking startups but also supports the bridging of start-ups and scale-ups, creating a seamless continuum for emerging companies from 4YFN to the wider Mobile World Congress (MWC) event. Similarly, starting at 4YFN will lead to development, growth and industry exposure within the GSMA Foundry as start-ups raise their profile at MWC.
Together, we couldn’t be more excited to work together to develop new opportunities, driving growth and innovation!
Make sure you check out our 4YFN 2023 Awards Winners here.
This competition serves as the pinnacle of recognition for startups at MWC Barcelona 2024, ensuring international exposure. As part of their prize package, the 2023 finalists were granted the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments through the GSMA Foundry platform.
Hear from two of our finalists below!
Payflow
Congratulations once again for being one of our 4YFN23 finalists! Can you share a standout moment or experience from the event that had a significant impact on your startup's journey? How did it influence your subsequent actions or strategies?
“Thank you immensely! Participating in the entire startup competition, and particularly emerging victorious, was undoubtedly the highlight of our experience at the last edition of 4YFN. Engaging with exceptional startups, along with the various smaller events and activities woven into the schedule—private pitches, meetings, networking—proved immensely advantageous for our company. The substantial press coverage and heightened brand awareness following the event significantly bolstered our Marketing and Sales Team, contributing to sustained growth.”
4YFN23 was a platform filled with innovation and networking opportunities. Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup's growth and success?
“4YFN is unquestionably the ultimate destination for every startup, and our three-year journey with this event culminated in our latest participation, where we proudly clinched the coveted 4YFN Startup of the Year Award. Beyond the recognition, it was a pivotal moment for us to connect with fellow professionals in the ecosystem, both current collaborators and potential investors. Furthermore, the event served as a catalyst for team building within our company, as a substantial number of our employees actively contributed to the preparation and success of our participation in the competition.”
Participating in 4YFN is a significant achievement. In what ways has your journey with 4YFN helped you gain more visibility, recognition, or resources for your startup? What advice would you give to the 4YFN24 finalists to maximize their experience?
“Our involvement in 4YFN has proven to be extremely advantageous for us, especially in terms of boosting our marketing and sales efforts. The exposure and reputation garnered from the event have significantly bolstered our growth in these areas and are poised to be a pivotal factor in our upcoming investment round. For a startup like us, such recognitions hold immense value as they elevate our brand and product in the forefront of people's minds, substantially expanding our reach.
The positive effects are still evident today, and we remain deeply thankful for the chance to have taken part in 4YFN and the subsequent advantages it has bestowed upon Payflow post-win.
Our counsel for fellow startups is unequivocal: embrace the opportunities, apply to relevant competitions, amass valuable experience, master your pitch, elevate your brand and company to new heights, and, above all, savor the journey. The trophies lining our offices in Spain, accumulated over the past three years, stand as a tangible testament to the triumphs resulting from the relentless daily efforts of our dedicated team. They serve not only as a daily reminder of our success but also as a perpetual wellspring of inspiration, something we take immense pride in.”
Microverse
Can you share a standout moment or experience from the event that had a significant impact on your startup's journey? How did it influence your subsequent actions or strategies?
“Pitching on stage with the standout 4YFN award candidates influenced our subsequent actions because, in preparing our narrative, we had to laser focus on our users and goals. This gave us more clarity on what we needed to focus on and what we needed to drop.”
Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup's growth and success?
“We strengthened our connection to the startup ecosystem at MWC Barcelona. For example, with the founder of Norrsken, who was in the process of setting up Norrsken House Barcelona for impact-focused startups. Thanks to that connection, Ariel joined the Norrsken Club Advisory Board.
We also approached exhibitor companies to discuss building potential hiring partnerships for our students. These conversations gave us more insights into the market.”
In what ways has your journey with 4YFN helped you gain more visibility, recognition, or resources for your startup?
“We've generated more brand assets and name recognition from the event and being finalists, which will be useful for future partnerships, user acquisition, and fundraising efforts.
The networking opportunities also gave us access to investors and founders at a similar stage as us. We now have a wider network of people and knowledge to tap into, even to just share experiences.”
What advice would you give to the 4YFN24 finalists to maximize their experience?
“Prepare in advance with a clear objective and identify the people you want to connect with to make the most of networking opportunities. Whenever possible, reach out before the events and use these opportunities to build more rapport. Also, when presenting, keep your slides simple to avoid confusing yourself or the audience. Audio-visuals are great, but too much complexity can create headaches when presenting, and you will need a backup plan if technology fails you!"
Deaftawk
Can you share a standout moment or experience from the event that had a significant impact on your startup's journey? How did it influence your subsequent actions or strategies?
Being in the top five in a 4YFN was one standout moment for DeafTawk as it got us due recognition and visibility in the market. This increased exposure has led to more opportunities, partnerships, and connections in the industry. It motivated us and inspired us to continue pursuing our goals and contribute to a positive mindset.
Could you tell us about a valuable connection or partnership that stemmed from the event? How has this collaboration contributed to your startup's growth and success?
Yes, 4YFN23 was a game-changer for us. Through the event, we forged key connections with mobile network operators and joined forces with a Canadian accelerator. This partnership has been instrumental in launching and growing our presence in the Canadian market, offering us invaluable insights and support for tailored success. The event's networking opportunities have significantly contributed to our startup's growth and achievements.
In what ways has your journey with 4YFN helped you gain more visibility, recognition, or resources for your startup?
It is a huge landmark in our professional journey as we were acknowledged by experts and peers in the field, which enhanced our credibility and trust among potential users, customers, or partners. This has in turn led to attracting the attention of potential investors who are keen to invest and mentor beginner startups such as DeafTawk. One major takeaway from this event is establishing promising investor connections and increasing the likelihood of securing funding. Our advice to the 4YFN24 finalists is to make use of the event and leverage connections and contacts to let others become aware of the innovation that helps solve a specific problem and attract the attention of partners and investors.