Investment Readiness Bootcamp launched the second stage of the PARSEC Accelerator

PARSEC has successfully launched the second stage of the accelerator, therefore continuing its support to SMEs fuelling their innovations by Earth Observation.

PARSEC Accelerator offers each of the 15 winners of the second Open Call (#15PARSEC) €100.000 equity-free funding and tailored business support services. The #15PARSEC teams were selected among 60 candidates by an expert jury during a fierce pitching competition back in July, and now represent PARSEC’s 15 most promising EO-fuelled solutions for food, energy, or environment. The PARSEC second stage will end in October 2021 and aims to help the #15PARSEC innovations enter the market.

In kicking off the second stage of the accelerator, October 7 and 8, PARSEC invited its #15PARSEC to a two-day online bootcamp dedicated to starting the Investment Readiness programme.

During this interactive workshop, the teams worked intensively with three mentors and the PARSEC Team to lay the ground for developing strong business and financial plans.

“The Investment Readiness Bootcamp was an intense start for all our #15PARSEC teams. They worked hard for two days and stayed highly motivated and energetic until the end,” said Weronika Borejko, the PARSEC Project Officer at EARSC.

All mentors have also expressed their satisfaction for the outcomes of these rigorous sessions, acknowledging the strength of the PARSEC innovators and noting that the teams managed to make the bootcamp “a great example of the possibility to work actively and intensively in spite of the online format stipulated by the current sanitary circumstances”.

“You have been very actively participating asking questions and challenging us which has made these days also a wonderful experience for us, the trainers,” mentor Israel Griol Barres said to the teams at the concluding session of the bootcamp.

“The Investment Readiness programme provides crucial skills to the teams at this stage, because it serves as a skeleton for the other PARSEC support services. We’re positive that if they keep up with the hard work and high spirits, they will be ready to successfully interact with investors and potential customers, develop sustainable solutions, and ultimately make a successful launch into the market” highlighted Weronika Borejko.

What’s next?

The bootcamp was the first step of the 6-month long Investment Readiness Programme which offers tailored support divided in three blocks, fundamentals, validation and delivery, and is powered by the PARSEC partner AVAESEN. In addition, at the PARSEC Second Stage the #15PARSEC will receive tailored training helping them integrate the power of the PARSEC Business Catalysts in their solutions. They will also benefit from coaching in pitch preparation, export promotion services, a set of online webinars, access to tailored mentoring and multiple pitching opportunities at industry events.

The PARSEC Accelerator aspires to support start-ups and SMEs to create value in existing and new industrial value chains by using EO and to successfully commercialise solid solutions. The #15PARSEC teams will pitch their solutions at the two-day PARSEC coaching and investment forum planned for the second half of 2021.