Founders in a Castle: CODE_n at the first founders’ forum in Luxembourg

With a population of about 540,000 people, Luxembourg doesn’t even rival major German cities like Stuttgart in terms of size. That said, the grand duchy is home to a lively startup scene. And since the geography of the market is quite limiting, young companies based in Luxembourg tend to be open to the outside and often look for business opportunities abroad. One initiative that supports local startups in their development toward international markets is the non-profit organization Europe4Startups.

And it was the team assembled by the young multiple founder Jérôme Zois who hosted the first founders’ forum and startup conference in Luxembourg on October 19. At this event called Founders in a Castle, we introduced ourselves as partners and presented CODE_n. The concept: Take up-and-coming startups from Luxembourg, a number of their most exciting counterparts from the rest of Europe, and investors from Paris, Brussels, London, Berlin, Israel and Silicon Valley. Then bring them all together at two of the most exclusive locations in the country. The Mudam, or Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art, was chosen for the pitching session. Then came a stop at House 17 – the exclusive “private members club” – for the startup party of the year. 

We were on location with the CODE_n team and were able to establish some interesting contacts to founders and investors from all over Europe. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll have the pleasure of greeting one or two of them as finalists at the next CODE_n Contest coming up in March at CeBIT. This might include Daniel Büttner, for example, together with his team from Rescued Ideas. They’ve developed Basslet, an armband that will give us a completely new music experience.

Exactly what I need! Convincing demo. “@nicolasvalaize: #basslet pitching in #Luxembourg. @Europe4StartUps#startuppic.twitter.com/LsSozyuhH9”

— Lena Gaede (@LenaGaede) 17. Oktober 2014

Or Ramon Duivenvoorden from the Dutch startup Vigour Video; their software opens up completely unique multiscreen scenarios.

Next generation of #entertainment#pitch by @vigour_io@Europe4StartUps@Mudampic.twitter.com/GpLewYzWTs

— Founders in a Castle (@FIACLuxembourg) 17. Oktober 2014

We congratulate the winners of the pitching session: The main prize – a chance to hold a startup pitch at the coming Web Summit in Dublin – went to the Luxembourg-based startup called Sponsor My Event, which brings together event organizers and sponsors on a digital match-making platform. The audience award went to a mobile event guide which is already a global success: Vamos from Berlin.