GPD Startup Step Change 2017

General

GPD is going to facilitate an entirely new concept, where startups, universities, accelerators, research groups, innovators, investors as well as glass makers and processors can meet and find each other. It is our aim to accelerate the rate that the startups and new ideas can break onto the market or be implemented.

At the moment we are looking for startups or innovative ideas that will benefit from the cooperation with the participating companies at the GPD. These innovations can be software, a design or a product, a patent or an idea which can be utilized at any level of the glass supply chain.

Startups are invited submit Pitch Decks by the end of February to get early bird registration at reduced rates. Startups, investors and mentors will be screened and accepted by a committee. The registration includes a 4m2 stand, meals (and parties), access to the meeting manager, mentoring sessions and pitching contest.

By means of the startup matchmaking concept, we at GPD want to promote and foster meaningful partnerships between the GPD participants and attending startups. The attendants and startups can book face-to-face meetings ahead of time, via the GPD meeting manager.

GPD Step Change will host pitching competitions, which will showcase the startups to conference attendees, mentors, the press and investors. The pitching sessions will be screened to all participants at the GPD. The winners of the pitching competition will be selected by the attendees of the GPD Step Change.

Finding and identifying early adopters in the glass industry is one of our goals for the Step Change and the press will highlight both the activities of the startups as well as the goals of the investors.

Mentor and Ambassador programs

Retirement does not mean the end of your career! Join our mentoring program for seeking out emerging technologies.

Mentors are glass industry professionals or emerging technology scouts, where the Ambassadors are retired professionals, who share a common goal, in wanting to develop the glass industry and promoting the GPD Step Change within their own networks and interest groups.

Another important aspect of the Ambassador and Mentor programs is to provide an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to tap into the know-how, networks and experience of established glass industry professionals, passing down knowledge from one group to another.

The ambassadors (retired professionals) are invited to join the GPD at a marginal fee.

The goal of the mentoring program is to find, inform and finally invite (on behalf of the GPD) startups as well as emerging technology scouts to join us at GPD Step Change 2017.

Investors

We are looking for Glass industry emerging technologies divisions, investors, venture capital organizations, business angels to make the event become a platform for startup development.

The investors will be selected by portfolio or resume by a committee. It is our wish to find the right investors within the glass industry, as well as business angel networks, venture capital organizations, banks, financial institutions, concerned private individuals etc. New sponsors from within the glass industry to help support GPD Step Change are also needed.