Project From HTP Business Incubator Announced Startup of the Year 2015
A project developed in the HTP business incubator was named the winner of the first national contest Startup of the Year 2015.
The project Ontourcloud was selected as the best among 15 finalists. 43 projects were registered for the contest conducted within a series of events for startup companies Startup Weekend and Invest Weekend.
Over 300 entrepreneurs presented their ideas to recognized Belarusian business experts. Private investors, representatives of investment funds, banks and corporations evaluated the projects. Yury Sudarev, head of HTP business incubator was also among experts.
Before the contest, Alexey Shablovsky, Director of Startup Technologies, revealed typical mistakes in presenting startup projects and explained how to impress investors.
Ontourcloud, a scheduling and touring system for the entertainment industry, became a participant of the HTP course in innovation and entrepreneurship in September, 2015. Leader of the project Oleg Tikhonov built a team in the HTP business incubator; they got an office and the opportunity to work on the project and attend workshops and seminars conducted by successful IT entrepreneurs.
Oleg Tikhonov: "We did not expect to win the contest; of course, we were working hard but our growing project becoming the startup of the year has become a surprise! Nevertheless, we are very excited about the victory. I would say it is a huge credit for us and a responsibility – a lot of work is ahead. We are sure to go on like that; the victory means we are on the right way now. This is a new step, and we will focus on project development.
Mentors from all over the world and from the HTP help us immensely to develop the project. We built the team in the HTP and continue to work on the project every day to make it even better.
The educational course in the HTP business incubator has become a good start for our project. We have been improving our skills in different areas on workshops, seminars and lectures held in the incubator for several months. Now we are making arrangements to launch the project. Presentations all around the world are ahead!"
For reference:
Ontourcloud is designed for event managers and touring artists. The startup project is to help artists' managers to schedule tours.
Ontourcloud has not been launched yet but received over 40 thousand requests.
The contest was organized by Startup Technologies, a center for entrepreneurship support, with the help of the Minsk City Executive Committee.
The contest is intended to promote breakthrough ideas and encourage cooperation between entrepreneurs and investors in different sectors of the economy.
