UCL to host Seedcamp 2008

This September, UCL will be hosting a week of entrepreneurial training from top venture capital investors and business leaders representing many of the leading European technology start-up companies.

Seedcamp, which will take place from 15-19 September, will see the founders of firms including Bebo and Lastminute.com sharing their expertise to teams of students. The occasion provides opportunities for mentoring and networking for the next generation of business developers, with the aim of supporting first-time entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and their confidence.

The Seedcamp concept was developed by Saul Klein, a successful entrepreneur and early-stage investor, and is backed by many of the leading early-stage investment companies in Europe. Klein argues that, with abundant talent, capital, ideas and examples of success, conditions in Europe are good for launching and developing businesses. However, a stronger tradition of entrepreneurship needs to be fostered to enable young people to develop the right contacts, gain validation, build teams and secure funding for enterprises.

This is the second year Seedcamp has taken place. UCL Advances, UCL's centre for entrepreneurship and business interaction, is hosting the event for the first time, from its new location in the Front Engineering Building on Torrington Place.

Tim Barnes, Executive Director of UCL Advances, said: "UCL is delighted to be able to support Seedcamp. We share common objectives in working to bring together great technical ideas with investment and the entrepreneurs that can make things happen. Seedcamp is an exciting environment in which the newest generation of Europe's business leaders can find their feet and start to build their ideas into world-class companies."

To find out more, follow the links at the top of this item.