Start-up support Innovative entrepreneurs generally want to go where no one has gone before – a challenging, but exciting, path. We accompany them along the way from idea to a budding company, providing road maps, the right contacts and practical tools to move ahead. In 2016, we saw a considerable increase in the demand for our personalised start-up support services. No less than 567 entrepreneurs contacted us to ask for support and information, and we actively worked with 321 business ventures. We offer entrepreneurs tools for structuring their business idea professionally and challenge their business model, business plan and pitch deck – that is, how to convince someone about their business idea in 3 minutes. Our sector experts can perform technical due diligence of products and solutions and use their extensive networks to help start-ups enter target markets, find their first clients or partners and receive their feedback. We also provide support with identifying the right public funding scheme and advise on private fundraising. 10 ICT start-ups stepped up their development thanks to the coaching and early-stage funding provided by our Fit 4 Start programme. We received 230 applications for the two editions of the programme organised in 2016, submitted by entrepreneurs of 25 different nationalities. Ten start-ups were selected for participation, 6 of which actually set up their companies in Luxembourg in conjunction with Fit 4 Start. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of the Economy and the incubator Technoport, the programme offers participants 16 weeks of intensive coaching and a financial injection of €50,000. With support from us and the Ministry of the Economy, 2 Luxembourg start-ups were able to spend several months at the Plug & Play Tech Center. This seed stage investor and global innovation platform is located in one of the most dynamic environments in the world for start-ups, the Silicon Valley. Their time at Plug & Play offered the start-ups an opportunity to break into the US market. Highlighting the benefits and pitfalls of entrepreneurship, showcasing promising start-ups and creating contacts – these are also our priorities. Our events and workshops in 2016 included, for instance, “Pitch Your Start-up”, organised at the ICT Spring conference and fair in collaboration with Docler Holding, a “Start-up Week” organised around events hosted by several of our partners and “Mind&Market”. Our active presence on social media channels contributes to the success of these initiatives. Our LinkedIn group “Start-up Luxembourg” has over 2,900 members, and our Twitter account “@startuplu” enjoys 2,300 followers.