If you’re running a start-up and looking for great advice and funding in exchange for some equity, you can apply to the Seedcamp program 2009, the program initiated and developed by CEO Reshma Sohoni (seen here during a NextWomen Kitchen Dinner) and investor Saul Klein, one of the 10 men to know when starting a business in the UK. The Seedcamp Week program for the next wave of European web-tech talent runs this year from 21st to 25th September.

A huge pool of advisers

Seedcamp connects 20 early stage web tech startups with over 400 highly experienced and sought after entrepreneurs, investors, marketers, product and developer experts. A new feature is that the chosen teams will also have access to Seedcamp’s recently appointed board members who have been selected for their broad range of entrepreneurial experience and international background in order to help Seedcamp deliver its mission to build a world-class, sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. from the Middle East, Africa, and…, Europe. Among the board members: Fred Destin, partner at Atlas Ventures, Alex Hoye, co-founder of GoIndustry plc, Dave McClure, Founders Fund and Richard Moross, Founder and CEO, Moo.com.

In the Advisory Board indeed a couple women are involved, such as  Sherry Coutu ; Cambridge and Bindi Karia, Microsoft Angels, NESTA, but the Selection Panel sees Irena Goldenberg of Highland Capital Partners as the only woman.

Is there another reason to go apart from all the advice? Yes, there is. At the end of the workshop week  Seedcamp will invest up to 50K Pounds for a 5-10 percent stake in each of final five teams and provide ongoing mentorship and support for three months in preparation for the companies’ formal rounds of financing.

What do the winners get?

The 20 teams do compete for seed funding, but most importantly, garner world-class connections in the European entrepreneurial ecosystem. At the end of the week Seedcamp will invest up to €50K each in 5 teams for a small equity stake (5%-10%). The winning teams then have 3 months in London. This is where we really roll up our sleeves and begin to build a kick-ass product and company with the teams. The startups will have an opportunity to take advantage of the same ecosystem of experts that participated in the Seedcamp event through weekly dinners, topical lunches, conferences, and continued mentorship, culminating in further Demo and Investor Days. And on top of that, the teams are talen to the Valley to meet with companies and additional mentors who’ll be important partners and customers.

What are they looking for?

Seedcamp is looking for strong, quality startups that have the talent, drive and capacity to fully embrace the opportunities that participating in the Seedcamp Week programme brings. Which is receiving quality advice from top industry leaders and start building those key relationships to help drive your business. Relationships that normally take years to build, you’ll have access to in one day. Seedcamp is not an event or conference and should not be treated as a one-off. Seedcamp Week is a programme that provides an entrepreneurial ecosystem of support to strengthen and catapult your ideas into a viable business.

To apply click here.