When the Pitcher Becomes the Pitchee: Apply Now for Capital On Stage

By David Knight |

Are all you entrepreneurs fed up of pitching to countless investors? This is your chance to turn the tables – the second annual European edition of Capital On Stage takes place in Berlin on May 27, and we’ve teamed up with the event to offer our readers a special offer on tickets.

Capital On Stage brings together top-tier investors and tech startup founders but, unlike at other events, it’s the venture capitalists who pitch to hand-picked entrepreneurs who are actively seeking funding. The investors pitch their views on the market, their investment expectations and what additional services they will bring to the table other than cash.

The event is held annually in the US, Europe and Singapore, and this year it will return to the Berlin offices of Hengeler Mueller, where it made its debut in 2013. Arjen Strijker, founder of Capital On Stage, said: “We’re excited to return to Berlin in 2014. Berlin is only slightly behind London as the largest European city; the ecosystem of tech startups is still only five years young. As such a great city, we know the Berlin event will attract founders and investors form all over Europe this year.”

Kai-Steffen Scholz, a partner at Hengeler Mueller in Berlin, said: “Berlin is increasingly turning into the most important location for startups in Europe. The continuing boom of the startup scene requires specific advice accommodating dynamic corporate development.”

Capital On Stage can count Google, Aldryn and DealMarket amongst its partners, while confirmed VC attendees so far for this year’s German event include Accel Partners, Nokia Growth Partners, Balderton Capital, Connect Ventures, Hasso Plattner Ventures, Lakestar, Mangrove Capital Partners, DN Capital, e.ventures and Wellington Partners.

Michael Treskow, vice president at Accel, said: “Capital On Stage always does a great job attracting and vetting a diverse set of promising entrepreneurs, and I very much look forward to hearing their vision and telling them about Accel.”

Among the speakers at the event will be Silicon Allee’s very own publisher, Nadahl Shocair. And this year’s event – which is limited to 20 investors and 200 entrepreneurs – will also feature the popular Open Office Hour session that enables startup founders to book ten-minute private meetings with two investors of their choice.

Founders actively looking for funding between $400,000 and $10 million (approximately €292,000 to €7.3m) can request an invitation to Capital On Stage here; applications are open until Friday, May 23. If you mention that Silicon Allee referred you, not only can you get your ticket at the early bird pice of €85, but you also get to bring a co-founder for free.