– UK, Spain, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina and Mexico open their doors to new startups who wants to join the Wayra Family.
– The new call for projects will be open on 21th September, until 11th October, in the Telefónica Open Future_’s platform.
Madrid, 21 September 2015- Telefónica Open Future_, the open innovation program of Telefónica, launches a new global call seeking the best startups that want to be part of Wayra. A total of 47 places will be opened around the world for entrepreneurs with innovate projects with technology and digital based.
Wayra UK has 20 new spaces; 10 in Spain (5 in Madrid and 5 in Barcelona); Wayra Peru opens their space to 8 new startups; Venezuela for 3; Chile for 3; Argentina has two new spaces; and Mexico launches their call for one new startup.
The global call will be opened on 21th September to all entrepreneurs with an innovative idea and all startups with a principal focus: to solve the future problems using technologies. Up until 11th October, startups must complete all the needed steps in the Telefónica Open Future_’s platform: https://calls.openfuture.org/wayra.
Experts will evaluate the projects’ characteristics and potential, and after an exhaustive selection process, they will announce the best ones that will be able to participate in Wayra. The acceleration programme will provide them with funding, training and expert advice. Also a workspace for their team at the Wayra space and potential access to the businesses within the Telefónica Group. In addition, accelerated startups will be able to benefit from the network of entrepreneurs, investors and experts grouped around Telefónica Open Future_.
Four years after its launch, Wayra already has a great portfolio of more than 400 companies in operation in 11 spaces in 10 countries, grouped into more than 20 digital industries, and with 81.7 million euros invested.
Telefónica Open Future_ is committed to talent, entrepreneurship and investment, and now it’s offering a new opportunity to disruptive startups, scalable initiatives having high growth potential and a strong global focus. “Internet of Things, Big Data, Business Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cyber-security are the Telefónica Open Future_’s niche markets, but we are not ruling out any option or market”, explain Ana Segurado, Director-General of Telefónica Open Future_.
About Telefónica Open Future_ (openfuture_org)
Telefónica Open Future_ is the area of Telefónica that, since 2014, gathers all the global initiatives related to open innovation, investment and entrepreneurship of the company. Its aim is to connect start-ups, investors and public and private organizations worldwide, guiding innovative technologies and solutions towards the development of viable projects, by means of a model that gives visibility to local talent wherever it takes place
Through Open Future_ iniciatives initiatives (Think Big, Talentum, Crowdworking spaces, Wayra, Telefónica Ventures, Amerigo and the CIP platform), Telefónica covers all stages of support for entrepreneurship: ecosystem and local talent empowering, ideas and disruptive projects acceleration, scale up and investment on IT SMBs.
Open Future- universe has a network of more than 30 spaces in 3 continents (Latam, Europe and Asia) through its offices in 17 countries. With a portfolio of over 550 startups invested worldwide and 62 agreements with public and private partners, Telefónica and its partners have committed EUR 550 million to Open Future_ and helped creating 7.000 jobs around the Globe.
Twitter: @OpenFuture_
