A needs-based, qualitative matchmaking session between startups and Corporate or the Public Sector, which we call the Need Owner. All Need Owner's undergo a thorough 3-hour needs assessment workshop to understand how they work with startups, what their critical innovation needs are, and what a partnership with startups looks like. From there, we scout for the right startups to meet their needs, provide a suggestion list of 20 startups, have a startup selection call with the need owner to review each startup, and select 7 startups for them to meet with. At that point, we call each startup to give the full background of the meeting, invite them to sales training sessions, and facilitate the matchmaking meeting. We facilitate all management of the matchmaking from onboarding to PoC. Startups registered to Ignite are always in contention to be scouted for a meeting, per matchmaking either focused on specific markets, or a theme, or both we will have cohorts of roughly 5-7 startups per corporate (the average matchmaking is 7 need owner's 40 startups). After the meetings, we have a follow-up process providing support for startups to close the partnership.
We can never guarantee a match for a startup as we work with a needs-based methodology. We always aim to find the right startup that will lead to a POC, meaning startups are free to apply, but are not immediately accepted. Projects take 4-6 months from concept to execution.
Matchmaking
Swedish startup participation is funded by Vinnova. Startups not based in Sweden require external funding, and dedicated matchmaking projects for EIC require funding, scoping, and a project plan. The price range depending on the size and medium of the event is €50,000-€125,000 per project. EX A digital matchmaking with 5 Need Owners 25 startups would be on the lower range and an in-person matchmaking with 20 corporates and 80 startups would be on the higher end.