Call for Entrepreneurs The Collider 9th Edition (CEO / Co-founder)

Join the 9th edition of The Collider Call4Entrepreneurs and become a co-founder of a promising deep-tech spin-off from a top-tier European university or research center.

The Collider, tech transfer programme of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, is launching the 9th edition of the Call4Entrepreneurs. We are looking for experienced entrepreneurs to team up with renowned researchers who aim to transform their research into disruptive deep-tech spin-offs.

As an entrepreneur, you will be part of our 3-month programme designed to validate the business potential of the technology being developed by the scientific team. 

During these three months, you will work hand-in-hand with the researchers, leading the creation of a solid business and financial plan while validating a potential co-founder relationship. All this is supported by a structured program where you will have access to mentors, specialists, and industry key opinion leaders. At the end of this process, if the business and the team are validated, the spin-off will be incorporated, and you will become the CEO and co-founder of a new disruptive and IP-protected deep-tech spin-off.

What do we offer?

• Relevant equity as a co-founder.
• Opportunity to obtain a participative loan of up to 50K to finance the first phases of the project.
• Access to an extensive community of experts, mentors, and industrial partners.
• International exposure (4YFN and Mobile World Congress).
• Coworking space in Tech Barcelona Pier 01.

What will be your role?

• Co-create the vision and purpose for the company with the scientific team.
• Explore and validate potential use cases for the technology based on research and market needs.
• Identify potential niche markets and define potential business models.
• Lead the business approach to potential clients, partners, and investors.
• Design and seek out the first pilots with key industry leaders.
• Build a solid financial plan.
• Build a trusting relationship with your potential co-founders and attract the best talent for the spin-off.
• Manage the relationship with the institutions behind the project (university, tech transfer office, research center).
• Last but not least, ensure the survival of your team and company beyond the venture builder program.

This opportunity is for you if:

• You are an entrepreneur with previous experience founding or co-founding tech-based startups with real clients and traction. (Experience founding deep-tech startups will be highly valued)
• You are passionate about deep-tech, especially related to HealthTech, CleanTech, and Industry.
• You have experience in team leadership and fundraising.
• You possess an advanced/native level of English (The program will be fully in English)
• You hold a passport or visa that allows you to work in Spain (On-site activities take place at least once a month)
• You are able to spend three months validating the fit with the team and the business at your own expense before becoming a co-founder.

In addition to the formal requirements and qualifications, we are looking for people with great strategic and business acumen, who are curious, 100% hands-on, resilient, and well-equipped to work and communicate with different profiles, bridging science and business to grow a healthy and solid successful company.

Calendar for this cohort:

• Applications open until December 31st.
• Interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis from November 10th until December 31st.
• Matchmaking Process and Team Confirmation: January / February 2025
• Business Validation Program / Spring Cohort: March - June 2025
• Spin-offs Investment Committee and Incorporation Process: July 2025

About the program: 

Founded in 2017, The Collider program has supported more than 200 scientific projects and created 22 deep-tech spin-offs in 7 editions with a 77% current survival rate, and a portfolio valued at more than 73 million euros. Learn more about The Collider here.