The HiReach Startup Lab is an Accelerator Program for innovative transportation solutions that address transport poverty in Europe. HiReach supports startups that improve the accessibility of urban and rural areas and are adapted to the needs of vulnerable citizens.
Good accessibility helps the European economy to thrive, promotes inclusion and fosters wellbeing. Transport poverty is not only a social problem, but also a market opportunity for new mobility solutions to reduce time and cost, or even trigger new mobility needs.
The program offers start-ups who create mobility solutions for vulnerable groups a unique opportunity to prototype their solution with the support of a dedicated host/mentor company, professional business coaching and visibility/pitch opportunities, and financial support up to 20.000 Euro. The top 5-10 startups will showcase at the ITS European Conference in Lisbon in May 2020m and pitch at the final showcase event in Brussels in September 2020.
You can apply for HiReach until January 8th 2020 here.
This info package provides you with everything you need to know about the program. If you have further questions, please contact Sylvia Pavlova, PrEXCELerator Bulgaria at sylviapavlova@spbusinesslab.com.
PrEXCELerator Bulgaria is Communication Partner of Impact Hub Vienna for Bulgaria on the HiReach program.
HiReach supports innovative transportation startups that can improve mobility in urban, peripheral, rural, remote and deprived areas, while addressing the needs of vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, women, people with reduced mobility, migrants, minorities, as well as people with low income and the unemployed.
HiReach support projects that are in concept stage or with a product prototype or MVP, incorporated or not yet incorporated, tackling a mobility-related problem through an innovative solution including but not limited to: informal ride-sharing and vanpooling services, community transport services, innovative ride-hailing mobility services, on-demand flexible public transport, smart vehicles, smart cities, open-source software, parking, logistics, customized mobility, accessibility, navigation information, data & IoT, smart infrastructures, service design, passenger experience, environment, safety and security in mobility.
Application criteria:
A unique opportunity to prototype your mobility solution with professional and tailored support:
**No equity is taken through this program
Who are the Host Companies?
During the HiReach Startup Lab program, you will have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from a host company. Host companies are organizations (private or public) that are handpicked from the Programme’s network and will be a relevant partner for your acceleration phase. Host companies will be able to provide the startups with technical expertise, solutions to business challenges, lab facilities, testing grounds, mentorship, and more.
The host companies come from a variety of sectors and may include public or private transport operators, car/van manufacturers, mobility companies, IT companies, open data projects, etc.
Application & Selection Phase
1 November 2019
Start Application Phase
8 January 2020
Application Deadline (23:59)
24 January
Selection for Bootcamp Phase Announced
Stage 1: Bootcamp Phase (20-25 startups)
17-21 February
1-week Bootcamp in Vienna to work on your pilot (2-3 team members can participate).
21 February
Selection for Acceleration Phase Announced (Best 5-10 startups from bootcamp)
Stage 2: Acceleration Phase (5-10 startups)
24 February – May
Tailored acceleration program, workshops, business expert support
11 March
Get to know your Host Company – Matchmaking Event in Vienna
18-20 May
Showcase at ITS Lisbon Conference
Stage 3: Trial and Roll-out (5-10 startups)
24 February – Sept
Collaboration and learning with Host Company to further develop the pilot
TBD (September)
Demo day in Brussels
HiReach is a three-year EU-funded Horizon 2020 project that focuses on the development of new tools and business models to improve accessibility for areas and communities in need. By combining different attributes of available transport concepts and bottom-up initiatives with new operational schemes and IT
applications, HiReach will explore viable business models for small scale, modular and easily replicable mobility services (e.g. community transport services, ridesharing, minibus pooling, etc.) that can be provided at affordable prices and/or with minimum subsidies
Impact Hub Vienna is an incubation and acceleration ecosystem for impact entrepreneurs. Part innovation lab, part community center, and part business incubator, Impact Hub Vienna provides change makers with the resources they need to innovate creative business solutions and technologies to society’s most complex challenges.
Impact Hub Vienna is also part of the diverse, global Impact Hub network of over 16,000 members in 100+ locations around the world. From Berlin to Johannesburg, Singapore to San Francisco, our network is a rich community of entrepreneurs, freelancers, business experts, and impact investors all working toward a common purpose—to prototype the future of society and business.
The pre-accelerator startup platform PrEXCELerator Bulgaria covers 15 various industries, and makes accessible a pool of over 100 experts in each of the 15 areas.
Strategy+ Business Lab which founded PrEXCELerator Bulgaria, is the exclusive partner for Bulgaria of prominent international organizations. The company works in partnership with over 15 international startup and investor companies with the view to furnish the best of business development and funding opportunities to startups once they have validated their business ideas through PrEXCELerator Bulgaria.
PrEXCELerator Bulgaria is Communication Partner of Impact Hub Vienna for Bulgaria on the HiReach program.