Discovering Start-Ups 2011 Judges Announced -- Cambridge Wireless

July 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Budding entrepreneurs and newly-formed companies entering the Cambridge Wireless Discovering Start-Ups challenge will get the chance to pitch their ideas and business plans to a dream line-up of 25 of the world’s leading venture capitalists, angel investors and industry leaders. Cambridge Wireless has announced the latest line-up of judges that includes senior executives from Microsoft, RIM, Nokia, Vodafone Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Innovacom, Broadcom, Orange and ARM.

Supported by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and now in its second year, the Discovering Start-Ups competition aims to find the very best in new cutting-edge technologies. In addition to getting a ‘dream ticket’ to present to a much sought after panel of investors and business experts, the winners will also get a kick-start with cash prizes and free business and consultancy services.

The full line-up of judges announced today is: Max Bautin, IQ Capital Partners; Bruce Beckloff, ARM; Ivan Boyd, BTID Martlesham; Carson Bradbury, European Microelectronics Academy; Nigel Brown, Microlease; Alex Butler, Microsoft Research; Jonathan Coker, MMC Ventures; Clennell Collingwood, TTP Ventures; Bruno Dizengremel, Innovacom ( the VC part of Orange); Steven Edwards, Rohde and Schwarz; Simon Jones, Analysys Mason; Dr. Satoshi Kabasawa, Panasonic; Gerry Kelliher, RIM; Libby Kinsey, NESTA; Francois-Xavier Lecarpentier, Orange FT Group; David Leftley, Vodafone Ventures Europe; Andrew Matthews, Nokia; Paul May, Imperial Innovations; Struan McDougal, Cambridge Capital Group; Amy Mokady, Cambridge Business Angels; and Dr. Chris Winter, New Venture Partners, Frederic Rombaut, MD of Qualcomm Ventures and Lakh Jemmet of Alcatel-Lucent.

“We are delighted that the investment community and wireless industry is giving Discovering Start-Ups 2011 such great support that reflects the quality of last year’s entrants and our reputation for showcasing leading-edge research and innovation,” said Soraya Jones, CEO at Cambridge Wireless, the leading independent wireless business and technology community. “It would be virtually impossible for most start-up companies to get in front of such an impressive line-up of investors and experts. As a direct result of last year’s competition, one of the winners, Cambridge Temperature Concepts (CTC), went on to represent Europe in the finals of the Qualcomm Ventures’ QPrize™ and picked up a prize of 100,000 euros in venture financing.”

Discovering Start-Ups 2011 is open to start-ups and early-stage companies as well as design groups in larger companies looking to exploit new technologies and students or academics in education. The competition is free to enter for companies in the East of England or Cambridge Wireless members nationally. To enter, please go to www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/discoveringstartups

Judging will take place on Finals Day on 8th December 2011 and the winners will be announced that evening at Cambridge Wireless' prestigious Founders' Dinner Awards Ceremony. “The East of England has a strong tradition of converting world leading technology research and innovation into successful international businesses,” said Kevin Coleman, Project Director for Discovering Start-Ups “Now in its second year, the programme provides a great opportunity for us to find the next generation of entrepreneurs and help them to accelerate their growth and success.”

Discovering Start-Ups is also sponsored by Microlease, Neondrum and S-Tech Insurance Services. Other organisations backing the Cambridge Wireless Discovering Start-Ups initiative include: Business Link, Cambridge Network, Cambridge University, CamtechNet, Connected Cambridge, Enterprise Europe Network, Google, IdeaSpace, Innovation Martlesham, Nesta, One Nucleus, St John’s Innovation Centre and Survive & Thrive.

For more information, please visit: www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/discoveringstartups

About Cambridge Wireless
Cambridge Wireless is a leading industry forum and vibrant community with a rapidly expanding network of companies actively involved in the development and application of wireless technologies. In addition to high level networking dinners and events, a strong educational programme and business development activities, Cambridge Wireless runs the annual Future of Wireless International Conference along with the prestigious Discovering Start-Ups programme and competition to support emerging, innovative wireless companies.

Over 15 Special Interest Groups focused on specific technologies and market sectors, also provide opportunities for members to meet, form partnerships to exploit new commercial opportunities, and share knowledge and information about the latest industry trends and hot topics.

Cambridge Wireless has partnerships with other leading industry clusters and organisations around the world to extend its international reach and to keep members up to date with the latest global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk

About the East of England Development Agency
EEDA has a clear mission - to improve the economy of the East of England. So whether it’s helping businesses through the recession, supporting people to be the best they can or breathing new life into places, everything comes back to EEDA’s mission statement. EEDA works across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. EEDA investment decisions have a track record of delivering considerable returns.
A recent independent report found that for every £1 EEDA spent, it generated a mid-point return of £4.75 for the region's economy. Visit www.eeda.org.uk to find out more.

For more press information, please contact:
Peter Rennison or Allie Andrews
PRPR
+ 44 (0)1442 245030
Pr[at]prpr[dot]co.uk / allie[at]prpr[dot]co.uk

Distributed on behalf of Cambridge Wireless by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com)

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