Oxygen heads to Tenerife for new tech bootcamp
MIDLANDS-based tech support programme, Oxygen Startups, is set to launch its first overseas bootcamp.
The programme, part of the Oxygen family that includes Launch48, Oxygen Accelerator and Oxygen Investors, is inviting fledgling tech businesses to Tenerife for its annual pre-accelerator week.
Held in London since its 2010 inception, Oxygen Startups’ pre-accelerator connects new businesses hoping to break into the tech sector with board-level advice from some of Europe’s leading industry mentors.
Designed to bridge the gap between hack weekends and the full three-month Oxygen Accelerator programme, the week-long pre-accelerator trip allows individuals and groups to test the water before becoming fully immersed in the start-up experience.
The event takes place at the world’s first eco village in Tenerife from September 7. It will allow the Oxygen team to equip participants with the tools, knowledge and connections to breathe life into their business.
Joining the 70-strong line-up of mentors, either attending or making an appearance via Skype, is Chris Chabot, platform relations manager at Twitter, Nick Holzherr, co-founder of Birmingham-based online recipe and shopping tool Whisk and Russell Sessford, partner at Intellectual Property specialist, Forresters Birmingham.
Simon Jenner, CEO at Oxygen Enterprises, said: “The pre-accelerator is the perfect opportunity for those that want to take the next step on from hackathons and weekend events, to really find out if a tech start-up is for them. We’ll put them through their paces, dissect their ideas, share experiences and give them access to an unrivalled pool of expertise.
“We’ve decided to host this year’s pre-accelerator abroad as we feel a change of scenery can work wonders for generating ideas and – as well as learning a great deal about becoming a start-up – we want our teams to have fun. We’ve traditionally hosted the pre-accelerator in London, but it’s just as cheap to take it to a more a tropical location.”
Sessford said: “I’m looking forward to mentoring on this year’s programme and hope to impart some valuable information on Intellectual Property – an area that is unavoidable for new businesses. The vast and varied line-up of mentors means those joining us for the week will be able to gain insight that would otherwise come at a big cost – something start-ups simply cannot afford.”
Oxygen Startups’ pre-accelerator costs £500 per person, including flights and accommodation. For more information, or to apply visit http://oxygenstartups.com/tenerife-pre-accelerator/.
The programme is sponsored by Forresters, Interoute, elance-Odesk, Tenerife Science & Technology Park (PCTT) and Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER).
