IMPULSE Programme | The European XR Accelerator
Cycle II, 2023-2024
WHAT IT IS
Ready to gear up for your next challenge?
IMPULSE provides just that: A launch board that will help your project grow.
It focuses on two verticals:
CONTENT CREATION >> For immersive experience creators
ENTERPRENEURSHIP >> For commercial endeavors and academic entrepreneur
WHY – IMPULSE wants your project to hit its target and make ripples
Europe counts some of the best creative studios, research institutions, and is a thriving field for entrepreneurs. Its multicultural XR professionals need the support to help their talent blossom and succeed beyond disciplines and boarders.
IMPULSE fosters actors of the immersive tech scene to shape a strong industry, led by ambitious and talented people.
WHAT – IMPULSE offers a singular, multi-partners’ journey
With believers of immersive contents and technologies, XR4Europe created a partnership called IMPULSE: A multi-stop, multi-events Accelerator Programme that helps projects and businesses at various stages of development and creation via coaching, pitching, and matchmaking opportunities.
Initiated in 2021 and launched in 2022, IMPULSE gives the opportunity for project holders and entrepreneurs to convene at Europe’s leading XR industry conferences & markets.
Depending on your project’s vertical and stage, and upon selection, you will be accepted to follow dedicated sessions or showcase at some of Europe’s most established XR conferences, festivals, and markets:
Content Creation => The Booster at Stereopsia EUROPE, Immersive Tech Week (ITW) by VRDays Foundation, CineMart at IFFR Pro, New Images Festival (NIF)
Entrepreneurship => Laval Virtual, XR4Europe’s Annual Conference at Stereopsia EUROPE, Immersive Tech Week (ITW) by VRDays Foundation
HOW – IMPULSE operates in cycles:
IMPULSE fosters growth by facilitating the matching of high-potential projects with their scaling counterparts.
Content creators can thereby meet producers or distributors, researchers and business creators can be confronted to investors and venture capitalists, or learn how to improve their business plan or grant submissions.
IMPULSE brings you concrete tools & contacts to activate during your project holder’s journey.
CYCLE II
IMPULSE | CONTENT CREATION
NURTURING CREATIVITY
This is a Programme that promotes and supports Content Creators in their quest to finance their projects.
By submitting, you are aware that you may be chosen for any of the below event; They don’t all have the same participation conditions. If you have a preference, please indicate it in the submission form.
Deadline: August 28, 2023
1/ The Booster @Stereopsia EUROPE (Belgium, Oct 18 – 20) => Fee of Euro 400.-
The Booster is an intensive training led by Sylvain Grain to improve pitch and presentation, get the latest insights & trends for XR contents, and learn how to develop and finance XR projects.
Target: max 10 works in development
Decision-makers: Public funding bodies and private stakeholders
Before Stereopsia
3 online masterclasses: 9-11-13/10
During Stereopsia
19/10: Exchange + STEREOPSIA visit for Content Creators
19/10: Networking Night + Pechakucha Pitching Night
Takeaways: Coaching & mentoring, perfect project holder’s pitch, learn how to make an application, where to find grants & funds, what’s the appropriate linguo, and what are the available funding mechanisms.
2/ ITW by VRDays Foundation (the Netherlands, Nov 28 – Dec 1)
Its funding market is hosted in collaboration with IFFR Pro and presents a selection of ~10 XR projects, among which around half stem from IMPULSE.
Target: ~5 works in production (more or less depending on the quality and amount of projects received) from the initial IMPULSE’s call for projects.
Decision-makers: Industry stakeholders, hardware brands, production companies, private funding entities
Takeaways: Pitching round open to the public, bespoke matchmaking with decision-makers, reality-check about the project’s maturity and attractiveness1
3/ CineMart during International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) (the Netherlands, Jan 29 – 31, 2024)
The international co-production market of IFFR (Netherlands) features a curated selection of works from the IMPULSE’s initial call for projects AND from the Wild Card’s call for projects.
Target: Curated line-up of several works in production (more or less depending on the quality and amount of projects received)
Decision-makers: Film industry, production companies, private & public funding bodies
Takeaways: Matchmaking with international industry representatives, vital mentorship, networking opportunities, partnerships, gap-financing.
4/ New Images Festival (France, March 2024)
NIF welcomes the largest crowd of international stakeholders and decision-makers present at an immersive art market.
Target: NIF accepts works both in development and in production. It choses from IFFR Pro Cinemart / Immersive lineup and from the main call & wild card. If there are interesting works for NIF from The Booster, it can also accept a selection.
Takeways: Curated matchmaking, showcasing, partnerships.
IMPULSE | ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BOOSTING SCALABILITY
This Programme prepares entrepreneurs to improve their business proposal, strengthen their products’ value proposition, and learn how to best defend a project and a vision when eventually facing investors.
By submitting, you are aware that each partner event in the Cycle has its own participation conditions. Only Europe-based projects may apply.
Deadline: August 28, 2023
1/ Stereopsia EUROPE (Belgium, Oct 18 – 20)
During Stereopsia
Hybrid session on IP & Open Innovation: Spinoffs and startups will learn about important aspects of Open Innovation linked to tech transfer projects such as Horizon Europe and gather recommendations and information about Intellectual Property (IP).
19/10: Project pitching session in the Pechakucha style (tbc) in front of jury, for selection in the Programme.
20/10: Jury deliberates and shares which projects will continue the IMPULSE Programme Cycle, and will pitch at the 2024 edition of STEREOPSIA, in front of VCs and investors.
Takeaways: Initial Project Pitching, tech transfer knowledge and IP understanding, matchmaking with peers and industry professionals.
2/ ITW by VRDays Foundation (the Netherlands, Nov 28 – Dec 1)
Before ITW
Online: Pitch training, Business Plan writing session, including how to best assess and convey the benchmark and market analysis.
During ITW
IMPULSE Lounge, to casually meet and network, with on-site facilitator.
Evening at ITW’s partner, Venture Café, to connect with and broaden your community of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Track and keynotes dedicated to the Academic Entrepreneur’s journey: From research questions to answers, and from answers to products.
Session on grants’ writing and tech transfer projects’ communication: Best practice learnings from top academic entrepreneurs, who launched successful spinoffs.
Takeaways: Pitch Training from professional hands-on advisors, business plans’ and grants’ writing, networking with the industry and fellow entrepreneurs, from both the industry and academia.
3/ Laval Virtual (France, April 10-14, 2024)
Before Laval Virtual
Laval Virtual selects IMPULSE projects that have, since ITW, developed their first prototype or beta version.
During Laval Virtual
IMPULSE booth offered in the startup corner to showcase selected projects that will meet the industry, potential customers and partners during the event.
Takeaways: Meet the market, fair showcasing experience, pitching improvement, networking with the industry and peers.
4/ Stereopsia EUROPE (Belgium, October 2024)
Pitching in front of VCs and investors: For projects that have evolved and are ready to launch their funding rounds.
PARTICIPATION FEE
A FEE of Euro 400.- is applicable if selected for Stereopsia EUROPE.