2021 Pre-Accelerator

Applications CLOSED for Early-Stage Deep Tech Startups

🔥 10 AI Startup seats available.
> 2 x AI Accelerator + 2 x 1M Investment Readiness, 2022 cohort by Techcelerator
> 6 x direct access to present at DevFest 2021
> Fundraising learnings with rising European crowdinvesting platform, partner Seedblink
> Deck review sessions with Launch – startup founders community
> Access to APIs and test applications from our partner Orange Romania
> Fast track to Orange Fab Accelerator
> 30+ AI Mentors
> 8-weeks Program for early-stage AI Startups to access top knowledge, technologies, learning tools and a network of multi-disciplinary AI Experts

As AI moves from research labs to a general purpose technology, the technology’s impact on society will accelerate. We’re looking for those ideas, teams or startups that can, with the use of AI, make a real progress and positive impact in solving a problem of our times. We’re focused on Europe, but we accept anyone that can work online, in a CET timezone.

What is an AI Pre-Accelerator?

A program focused on early stage startups / ideas looking to infuse AI and taking them from concept to MVP.

Mission: Help validate/invalidate ideas towards bootstrap, and make seed investment/accelerator readiness for AI-fueled Startups.

Why an AI Pre-Accelerator by Bucharest AI?

AI-focused Pre-Accelerators help grow AI-startups ecosystems. As Bucharest AI’s mission is to shape tomorrow through AI by enabling people to apply artificial intelligence, opening the doors to its first AI Pre-Accelerator ‘BeAI’ is a natural step forward.

AI Pre-Accelerator timeline:

• Sept 10th – Oct 6th – Open Call for Startups
• Oct 8th – finalist startups announced
• Oct 11th – Program starts
• Oct 12th – 21st Oct – first general Mentor sessions booked
• Nov 8th – 19th – second Mentor sessions booked
• Dec 8th – Demo & Pitch Day

Below, some 8 useful facts about the BeAI Program:

1. Program is fully remote.
2. Applications accepted online by 9pm CET, Oct 6, 2021.
3. Teams/Startups or ideas that are submitted early have a small advantage as we have more time to read the applications. You can submit after the deadline too, though we cannot guarantee the exact date when you’ll hear back from us or a spot in this 2021 cohort.
4. Prepare to get the best from the top-line 30 Mentors of the Program. That means you need to ensure your team has the capacity to capture feedback across 10 AI Segments.
5. Every week or two we talk about how the Program is progressing both with everyone involved as well as sharing with our community.
6. On Dec 8th we organize an event for Pitch & Demo Day at which startups present to a selected, invite-only online audience and Jury.
7. Then it’s only: Bootstrap, seed-investment or acceleration ahead.
8. #BeAI Pre-Accelerator doesn’t really end on Dec 8th, 2021. We continue to give 1:1 advice, introductions and help to the AI startups that need it. And so will our network of investors, mentors, and partners.

What does it do?

• Match seasoned AI mentors with ideas and startups.

• Educate from a-z on concepts, processes, experimentation, and discipline with a no BS and ask what cannot be Googled approach.

• Guide on customer validation, product, marketing, development, pitch, AI regulations, founders mental strength and more.

• Prepare Applicants to attract seed-investment or attention.

• All within an AI context.

Who should apply?

Anyone. Anywhere.

What should you apply with?

“If you are a startup with an innovative idea or product using or wanting to add AI, want to work on launching a startup with an AI component, or have a great group of friends with whom you have fun with AI technologies, then this program is for you” — Virgil Ilian, Program Manager #BeAI Pre-Accelerator.

🏀 Started by you, as a startup using AI/ML or wanting to add AI/ML for the next 8-weeks – pre-accelerated with Bucharest AI.
🎳 Team gathered by you, with AI/ML skills (Python innit) – idea for a solution pre-accelerated with Bucharest AI.
🏓 Idea for a solution using AI/ML by you – team pre-accelerated with Bucharest AI.

We’re flexible. If you already have a startup or plan to start one; if you have a good idea for solving a great problem but lack the team; if you have a great bunch of peeps with whom you can build things but not convinced on what to build exactly — everyone is welcome, it all starts with You. – pre-accelerated with Bucharest AI.:)
*We support young people as well as working professionals. The Program’s working sessions will be arranged such a way you won’t miss school, work, or other endeavours you may have.

NO IDEA

STARTUP IDEA & [NO] TEAM

HOW DOES THE PROCESS LOOK FOR APPLICANTS?

1. FILL IN INTEREST: NO IDEA; IDEA + NO TEAM; IDEA + TEAM – by Oct 6, 2021.
2. SELECTION – we check if there’s match coming both ways. – by Oct 8, 2021.
3. START PROGRAM – 8 teams, diverse backgrounds [high-school students, working professionals], a healthy mindset. – October 11, 2021.

Pre-Accelerator Policies

Mentors

Bucharest AI is joined in the #BeAI Pre-Acccelerator journey by top-line Mentors and Jury Members

Bucharest AI team

Ready to take your startup to the next level?

The #BeAI pre-accelerator is a unique opportunity for exceptional people in the region who want to grow alongside their idea and build an incredible AI-infused product while learning from the best and gaining access to essential information, technologies, and a network of experts.

Join the first AI Pre-Accelerator in Romania