BigBooster Bootcamp in Boston: 10 Finalists Head to the Finish Line

LYON, FRANCE--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2016) - From February 8 to 12, 20 candidates selected within the BigBooster program attended a boot camp in Boston, in partnership with Mass Challenge.

Ten candidates selected at the end of boot camp will participate in the final selection at Biovision in Lyon-France (April 13th and 14th), where 3 winners will be chosen.

Launched in Lyon last April, BigBooster is the first non-profit international acceleration program organized between Lyon and Boston for startups working on cutting-edge innovations in health, digital, environment or sustainable development.

BigBooster's goal is to be the biggest European competition for 'early stage' startups supporting international ambitions within 3 years, with support from iconic experts and industry leaders.

Coached by world-renowned mentors and experts, the 20 candidates developed their US market approach, met with decision makers (large companies, investors, serial entrepreneurs) and pitched in front of a US jury.

The 10 finalists selected are: Diabeloop, Echy, Innavirax, MaaT Pharma, Neolys Diagnostics, Novadiscovery, Smart&Blue, SteadXP, Tilkee, Wair.

For the organizers (la Fondation pour l'Université de Lyon, supported by the city of Lyon, and represented by Anne-Marie Graffin and Karine Dognin-Sauze, respectively): "This first edition has been a real success, diving into the Boston innovation ecosystem has been incredibly inspiring, and high-quality networking has taken place. The 2016 Promotion has been rolling out and contacts are already in place."

The 10 finalists will participate in the final selection at Biovision in April. The 3 winners of this program will receive a total of 100,000 euros in prizes.

The BigBooster program is part of an overall good relations framework between the cities of Boston and Lyon. A memorandum of understanding between the cities was signed this week by Marty Walsh, Mayor of Boston, and Karine Dognin Sauze, Vice-President of the Metropole responsible for innovation, smart cities and digital development.

Project partners:
In practice, this program is supported by: Métropole de Lyon, Région Rhône-Alpes, City of Boston, Mass Challenge, l'Université de Lyon, Axeleo, BPI France, Capgemini, la Banque Postale, EDF, GL Events, Keolis, Klesia, Sanofi, Veolia.
For more information: www.bigbooster.org

Lyon and Boston, world references in biotech, cleantech and digital:

Lyon

• 59,000 people employed in life sciences, 42,000 jobs in the digital sector, 78,000 people working in environmental technologies;
• Renowned competitive clusters: Lyon Biopôle, Axelera, Imaginove etc.;
• 144,500 students, over 13,000 researchers;
• In 2013, nearly 15,000 companies created in the region.

Boston

• 127,000 jobs in the field of health and social care, 82,000 people employed in technical and scientific fields;
• 6th best eco-system for start-ups in the world according to the report, start-up écosystème 2012;
• 3 agencies for the development of key sectors: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center;
• First rate universities such as MIT and Harvard.