The document advertises the Next Step Challenge, Europe's largest startup competition. It offers a €250,000 first prize and the chance to participate in a 6-month accelerator program. Startups in energy and digital technologies can apply by September 30, 2014. The program includes over 200 hours of coaching, access to test facilities and consumers, office space, and potential follow-on investment. The goal is to help startups test ideas, gain feedback, and fast-track their growth.

1. E u r o p e ’ s l a r g e s t a n d m o s t a m b i t i o u s s t a r t u p c o m p e t i t i o n …
W i t h a 1 s t p r i z e o f € 2 5 0 , 0 0 0
… i s a b o u t t o b e g i n !
Ap p l y b e f o r e S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 !
NEXT STEP CHALLENGE

2. THE NEXT STEP CHALLENGE STORY
Next Step Challenge is the most ambitious entrepreneur
prize and accelerator in Europe. The Challenge offers
startups from all over the world a chance to become part of a
unique business development program and access to state-
of-the art digital infrastructure and smart grid of The Region
of Southern Denmark

3. THE CHALLENGE
The challenge lasts 6 months and takes each company
through an individually designed process to help
transform and mature the business and to unleash their
full potential.
In addition, participants gets a unique chance to win the
grand prize of €250,000.

4. PARTNERS
SE is one of the leading energy and
telecommunication companies in
Denmark.
With a strong vision, a unique
infrastructure and openness to change
the conventional ways of doing business
through innovation, SE takes pride in
helping and investing in new projects
and sustainable business.
Accelerace is the leading accele-rator
and early stage investor in Scandinavia.
The program supports startups that
have a unique product and the
ambitions to go all the way. Accelerace
have already helped more than 300
startups.
Based on a philosophy that successful
entrepreneurship can be taught
Accelerace focuses on active, hands-on
and market driven mentorship.

5. ACTION BASED BUS. DEVELOPMENT
 + 200 hours business training from
experienced coaches.
 Access to world class international
mentors.
 Full-scale test laboratory with 256,000
consumers.
 30.000 € micro financing at arrival +
optional follow up investment.
 Prize money of 250.000€ per round.
 Free office space.
 Free housing.
- And much much more…
Core Elements
Action Based Learning and development
process with focus on key hypothesis,
market testing, learning and fast track
growth.
TEST
FEEDBACK
CONCEPTS
PATTERNS
Approach

6. WHO IS IT FOR?
Next Step Challenge is an
international competition for
startups working within the
fields of next-generation
energy and digital products
and services.
Startups within one of the
following areas can apply.

7. CORE PROGRAM CONTENT
The core of Next Step Challenge is made up of three different content pieces:
Labs, Camps and Coaches.
Coach: Each company gets more than 200 hours of personal business training
from experienced coaches that is dedicated to work with your company.
Camps are developed to inspire as well as teach the most current
entrepreneurship and business development methods and tools.
Labs are intensive workshops during where a skilled group of industry specific
coaches spends three hours reviewing your company’s current business
model, defining your company’s most critical assumptions and your effort to
validate the assumptions.

8. ACCESS TO VALUABLE RESOURCES
Serial entrepreneurs
Business Insights
Industry knowledge
Well connected
International experts
provides insights on
trends and useful
methods & tools
Ash Maurya
Saras Sarasvathy
Ted Zoller
Bill Joos
Aamir Butt
Access to 251.000
households to test and
analyze products
Financing & follow
up investment
Free office space
Free housing
And much more…
EXPERIENCED
COACHES
INTERNATIONAL
TRAINERS
GROWTH
CONDITIIONS

9. Quick info from round 1
NEXT STEP CHALLENGE 2014

10. 8 COMPANIES MADE IT TO THE FINAL

11. SUCCESSFUL AWARD CEREMONY
 +350 participants
 Strong Key Note speakers incl. the
Danish Minister of Finance Bjarne
Corydon & Niels Duedahl, CEO SE
 His Royal Highness the Crown
Prince of Denmark
 8 strong startup pitches
 International Investors
 Strong media attention
#nscaward

12. …AND ONE WINNER

13. “Next Step Challenge has helped us grow and figure out our
business model and market approach. Moreover - being
surrounded by people who are smart, ambitious and
resourceful on a daily basis has been really valuable to us.”
Teleskin – Next Step Challenge Winner 2014

14. Want to know more?
www.nextstepchallenge.com
A pply bef ore Sept ember 30, 2014