Global Business Development

excelerator for

cee tech startups

 

Who we are

We are a European technology accelerator and business development company focusing on taking European technologies to the global market, primarily to the USA. Digital Natives, the founders of iCatapult have been involved in the growing European startup environment in the past 5 years. Among other successes Digital Natives created successful startup projects in recent years, such as Mixgar.com, which won the prestigious IDCEE in 2011 and was featured in Techcrunch and Wired. Through these and other experiences we know exactly the kind of challenges and opportunities up-and-coming technologies face. We know that going global is a complex process which starts with the people involved in the venture.

The iCatapult process places emphasis on the practical preparation of the team behind the technology. We understand that people add the most value to the success of a new technology and it is the human element that makes the biggest difference. We are lean in our selection process so we always seek early feedback from the global market to provide proof of feasibility and advance market validation. This remains an ongoing process throughout the team preparation phase.

Most importantly, we continue where most accelerator stop the process. iCatapult sticks with the technologies and teams after the preparation, providing invaluable help to the new technology by opening doors in markets and business segments.

Our technology focus

Technologies shape the future of the world. Our target technologies are already existing (prototype) internet new tech and mobile technologies which fit into major trends of the new tech world. Our extensive international reach in various markets and segments can be best put to use for such technologies.

There are two criteria for our selection process:

  1. Global technology ideas and concepts. The ideal technology has a working prototype which addresses the world markets and/or addresses a global need felt by massive number of people. We will also consider technologies which compliment an existing technology platform and are adaptable in a viral fashion.
  2. The technology has to provide value either by impressive traction or by being able to show path to revenue. It has to scale fast and be deployable on multiple operating platforms.

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Team

Advisory Board

Management

iCatapult's team of experts provide world class practical knowledge to prepare teams for the global market entry.
Péter Krajcsovics

Péter Krajcsovics

  

linkedin.com/in/krajcsovicspeter

Dávid Szilágyi

Dávid Szilágyi

  

linkedin.com/in/dszilagyi

Csongor Biás

Csongor Biás

  

linkedin.com/in/csongorbias

Kristóf Bárdos

Kristóf Bárdos

  

linkedin.com/in/kristofbardos

Marton Anka

Marton Anka

  

Adam Somlai-Fischer

Adam Somlai-Fischer

  

linkedin.com/in/somlaifischer

Andras Forgacs

Andras Forgacs

  

linkedin.com/in/atforgacs

David  S. Rose

David S. Rose

  

linkedin.com/in/davidsrose

Patrick Vlaskovits

Patrick Vlaskovits

  

linkedin.com/in/vlaskovits

iCatapult has a dedicated team with experience in Central European early stage technology assessment as well as practice in various aspects of international business. In addition, iCatapult draws upon the expertise of a number of experts in various disciplines of new tech, internet and mobile technologies.

The iCatapult program is based on active dialog with local and international mentors who provide ongoing industry feedback, technical development advice and product-market fit input.

In many cases mentors are industry experts and serial entrepreneurs whose experience in early development of technologies is invaluable for new entrants on the global market.

What you should do is talk to these guys...if you want to go to the US market, talk to them. cat-b

- Klaus Hommels, early investor of Facebook on iCatapult @Seedcamp Budapest, October 25, 2012.

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Open Library

Our philosophy about technology development is not unique, there are many schools of thought and advocates who provide wide array of materials on the topic. Below you can find some material which best highlight our thinking and the way we consider technologies and products. It is a great learning place, that is why we called it open library. It is good news if you are familiar with most of the footage and material here - it shows that you have navigated here for the right reasons.

Recommended contents

Watch

Read

Listen

Dan Senor, Saul Singer
 
 

Dan Senor, Saul Singer

The Start-up Nation

The Lean Startup
 
 

The Lean Startup

How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

Brad Feld, David Cohen
 
 

Brad Feld, David Cohen

Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist

Randall Stross
 
 

Randall Stross

Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's Most Exclusive School for Startups

TechStars Podcast
 
 

TechStars Podcast

TechStars Podcast

 
 

Destination Global

  

 
 

Eric Ries

Evangelizing for Lean Startup

 
 

Jason Silva

Radical Openness

 
 

This Week in TechStars

  

Brad Feld, David Cohen
 
 

Brad Feld, David Cohen

Do More Faster

Eric Reis
 
 

Eric Reis

The Lean Startup

Steve Blank
 
 

Steve Blank

The Startup Owner's Manual

Patrick Vlaskovits
 
 

Patrick Vlaskovits

The Entrepreneur's Guide to Customer Development

Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur
 
 

Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur

Business Model Generation

On this site iCatapult is propagating video and audio content which is freely available on the public internet and is deemed appropriate for iCatapult's business purposes. iCatapult is not the owner of the reference material.

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iCatapult Program

ICATAPULT GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

In the first part of the iCatapult Global Startup Training (GST) program each selected technology team goes through an extensive 6-week preparation program. This part consists of courses (see right) which prepare the teams for global (USA) market entry as well as their existence in the global startup ecosystem. This includes preparation in lean startup methodology, startup social communication, market intelligence, team analysis and all-around presentation skills. The next course will start in September 2013.

After the successful completion of the program the teams will get a chance to launch their business in New York City (at iCatapult’s New York headquarter) and start to execute the market access and business development plan in cooperation with iCatapult executives. As a part of the program the team is able to work and live in New York City for 2 months while constantly being exposed to market entry opportunities, clients, investors, etc. depending on the needs of the technology.

Prerequisites: global technology, team, working prototype.
Application deadline: TBA.

ITALIAN PARTNER PROGRAM (TechPeaks)
Startups who do not qualify for the iCatapult program can apply to the 6-months long mentorship based accelerator program of iCatapult’s Italian partner. The fist program starts on May 31, 2013 and last until November 30, 2013. As a part of the program each team will receive 25,000 euros, full coverage of accomodation and meals. At the end of the process there is a Demo Day when each team presents to international experts.

Prerequisites: both teams and individuals may apply with or without business idea/concept.
The application for the next program will be announced in the fall of 2013.

COURSES

  • Being a Global Startup:
    • - norms and tools
  • Presentation Skills:
    • - present and future
  • Application of Lean Customer Discovery
  • Startup Social Communication:
    • - speed, channels, sources
  • Team Dynamics
  • Market intelligence

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Contact

iCatapult is a European company with offices in New York City and in Budapest (affiliate locations scheduled). If you want to show us your technology for consideration or want to join us as an affiliate, drop us a line.

Contact

iCatapult HQ

HQ iCatapult, 175 Varick Street, NY, NY 10012

contact-phone+36 70 708 2230

contact-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

iCatapult Europe

1012 Budapest, Márvány utca 16.

contact-phone+36 30 970 3769

contact-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our partners

NYCEDCVenture Out NYWeWork Logo BWstylecomBridge Budapest