Entrepreneurs can now apply to IBM’s 2015 SmartCamp, the company’s global bootcamp and startup competition.
“IBM SmartCamp is one part mentoring bootcamp, one part networking extravaganza, and one part epic pitch competition between rising startups from around the globe,” the company says on its website.
This year, the company has partnered up with LAUNCH – the Silicon Valley company that owns the short form technology news curator, Launchticker with investment from Jason Calacanis – to host the event.
The SmartCamp is live in 30 cities worldwide and startups can register to cities closest to them to get a chance to participate at the global finals that will hold at the LAUNCH festival in San Francisco. Before the finals, 10 local winners will qualify for the semis where “the most influential leaders teach founders how to scale their businesses.
The global winner will be named IBM Global entrepreneur of the year and secure a spot in LAUNCH’s 3-month incubator in Silicon Valley, which comes with a $25,000 investment.
Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg and Nairobi are African cities where local SmartCamps will hold; with varying application closure dates. Check each cities to check closures and request to register. Lagos was one of the African cities that hosted the event last year with with a digital advertising startup, Vacant Boards, winning the local pitch event – but it is not included this year.
Check here for more information on how startups will progress through different stages of the competition.
Image via SmartCamp
