Franz Fayot and Sasha Baillie officialise the launch of startupluxembourg.com at the "Towards the next level" event

On Monday 5 July 2021, the Minister of the Economy, Franz Fayot, and the CEO of Luxinnovation, Sasha Baillie, officially launched the platform www.startupluxembourg.com to further improve the visibility of the Luxembourg ecosystem internationally, while facilitating networking. The event, organised at Luxexpo the Box, was also the occasion to present the start-ups selected for the 11th edition of Fit 4 Start and to award the graduates of the previous edition.

  1. ©Sophie Margue/Luxinnovation

    Franz Fayot during his speech
  2. ©Sophie Margue/Luxinnovation.

    The graduates of the 10th edition of Fit 4 Start, all physically present at the event
  3. ©Sophie Margue/Luxinnovation

    Sasha Baillie, CEO Luxinnovation
  4. ©Sophie Margue/Luxinnovation

    Franz Fayot during his speech

 

Launched in 2019, Startup Luxembourg is the brand for the ecosystem focusing on young innovative companies in Luxembourg. It aims, through its web platform and social networks, to promote this ecosystem internationally and to facilitate networking and business opportunities.

Supported by the Ministry of the Economy and managed by Luxinnovation, the public initiative Startup Luxembourg serves all players in the ecosystem (start-ups, incubators, research institutes, public organisations,....). Startup Luxembourg is also the brand under which Luxembourg is represented at international events dedicated to young innovative companies.

"The Luxembourg start-up ecosystem has grown considerably in recent years, both in terms of the number of start-ups and in terms of programmes and support measures," said the Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot.

"Our ecosystem has reached a certain level of maturity and it is now the right time to focus our efforts on promoting it beyond our borders," added Sasha Baillie, the CEO of Luxinnovation. The Startup Luxembourg brand now has 17,000 followers on its three social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter) and has already represented Luxembourg several times at international trade fairs such as Viva Technology in Paris and the Web Summit in Lisbon.

 A reflection of the Luxembourg start-up ecosystem

The main objective of the www.startupluxembourg.com platform, which was officially launched today, is to highlight the ecosystem and its players, as well as to bring together all the latest news about start-ups in Luxembourg. At the international level, it serves as a lever to highlight all the advantages that the country can offer to young innovative companies. It also enables direct contact with incubators, start-ups and institutional players.

At the national level, the platform also aims to facilitate networking and business opportunities. Based on a very advanced design and user experience, the site aims to best reflect the specificities of the Luxembourg ecosystem. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a prime location from which to access the European market, with an open and international economy by nature, easy and quick access to private and public decision makers, a digital agenda clearly outlined by the government and a unique quality of life.

Fit 4 Start in the spotlight

The event was also an opportunity to revisit the Fit 4 Start programme, the 11th edition of which was announced in early June.

Launched by the Ministry of the Economy and managed by Luxinnovation in collaboration with Technoport, Luxembourg City Incubator and Luxembourg Space Agency, the Fit 4 Start programme helps young innovative companies to launch from Luxembourg, transforming innovative ideas and project leaders' strong will to succeed into companies with a strong growth potential. Initially open only to start-ups in the ICT sector, Fit 4 Start now also targets companies active in health and space technologies.

The 15 start-ups selected at the beginning of June for the 11th edition pitched their solutions in person or online. These 15 start-ups will benefit from six months of specialised support, as well as individual funding of €50,000 from the Ministry of the Economy, with the possibility of receiving an additional €100,000 if they successfully complete the programme and manage to raise private capital.

A round table discussion with former participants looked back on the main developments that have contributed to the reputation of Fit 4 Start. In 10 editions over a period of 5 years, the programme has seen more than 1,800 start-ups apply and 78 follow the different coaching sessions. The event ended with the graduation of the 16 successful applicants from the 10th edition.

 The start-ups selected for the 11th edition of Fit 4 Start 

ICT

  • AiVidens (B)
  • Cascade Lab Sàrl (L)
  • ChemChain (L)
  • Divizend (D)
  • Kodehyve (L)
  • LetzMath (L)
  • No Big Deal (L)
  • The Kindness Group (L)
  • The Privacy Office Luxembourg S.A. (L)
  • to Stories (L)

 

SPACE

  • Blackswan Technologies (LT)
  • Clutch Space Systems Limited (UK)
  • Mission Space (LV)
  • Novo Space, Co. (USA)
  • Plus Ultra Space Outposts SL (ES)

 

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy / Luxinnovation

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