“Acelera Startups” is Telefónica Open Future's acceleration programme together with Wayra, aimed at startup founders and their employees, SMEs and self-employed people with a technological project.
Telefónica Open Future, Telefónica's initiative to promote regional entrepreneurship, seeks to accelerate more than 800 startups, digital SMEs or technology projects of self-employed people. Those that enter the acceleration plan will form part of Telefónica's open innovation ecosystem, with the possibility of being invested in the future by Wayra, the company's open innovation initiative to invest in startups.
Telefónica Open Future seeks to support projects in different geographical locations in Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia and Castilla y León, where startups, SMEs or freelancers with technological projects in any sector can participate. Entrepreneurs in the digital industry and mobility sectors can also join this initiative, regardless of their geographical location in Spain.
The aim is to find the best early-stage projects to be part of the Startup Acceleration Programme, launched by the School of Industrial Organisation (EOI), together with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, promoted by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan - Funded by the European Union - Next GenerationEU.
The programme has already started, but registrations are still being received. It consists of free personalised training for five months with the expertise of Telefónica mentors, bringing them closer to their businesses and their customers, and also having direct contact with real investors. Entrepreneurs who wish to sign up can do so through this form from today until August 2023.
Inés Oliveira, Global Head of Telefónica Open Future, said: "Our goal at Telefónica is clear: to give an opportunity to anyone who has a disruptive project and wants to develop it with the best network of mentors and experts at Telefónica, and in the future, to be invested in by Wayra".
Companies that are part of the programme will benefit from masterclasses and individual mentoring on topics such as agile methodologies, team management, financing and pitching oriented to the management team. Also, their employees will be able to access specific training in digital tools, sales or business languages. In addition, they will be able to access Telefónica's Open Innovation capabilities, which include the possibility of being invested by Wayra, developing business with Telefónica and achieving visibility in the media. They will also have the possibility of accessing other international markets such as England, Germany or Latin America, where they are present.
From 26th to 29th February, come to the Wayra stand and find out all the details of this programme!