Cities Connected to boost Europe
entrepreneurial ecosystem growth,
Join us in this reshaping movement!

ScaleUp For Europe 2017 Conference

Porto | Amsterdam | Milan | OASC (+100 Cities)

Join Us

OUR MANIFESTO

The city of Porto is inviting you to join this movement, to co-create and support the implementation of an innovative scaleup framework.

Vision.

In an European single market far from being a reality, cities working in networks will work as unique growth catalyst!

Commitments.

To move towards a path of sustainable growth, with a completely new supporting framework!

Goals.

Aiming at creating a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem where cities can work as true scale-up catalysts!

Vision.

SCALE UP FOR EUROPE VISION

In the last decade Europe has been witnessing a significant overall change in the paradigm of entrepreneurship and innovation, reflected in the intensive proliferation of startup programmes and other supporting frameworks.

These programmes and projects related to the startup phase have been developed very successfully so far, but fledgling firms could not truly enter the “warp-zone” of growth based only on the help of early stage accelerators or incubators.

After successfully achieving a problem/solution fit, validating a business model and entering the loop of funding rounds, startups aiming at moving towards a path of sustainable growth will need a completely new supporting platform.

With this new scenario in place, and with hundreds of startup companies ready to grow all over Europe, the challenges are now related to scaling these companies in a sustainable way. In an European single market far from being a reality, cities working in networks will work as unique growth catalyst. The ScaleUp For Europe initiative follows the ScaleUp Porto Manifesto commitment to promote the creation and development of a national and international network of support for the scaleup companies of the city ecosystem.

ScaleUp For Europe aims at providing entrepreneurs with information about cities’ context and business environment and to promote their internationalization effort. Working in a network, European Cities can provide a unique platform to help companies build reputation credibility and increase sales opportunities. Be part of this movement and help European entrepreneurs paving the way to a solid and sustainable growth.

Commitments.

SCALE UP FOR EUROPE COMMITMENTS

Cities can have a unique role facilitating companies’ growth and the creation of a thriving innovation ecosystem, impacting economic development and job creation.

Therefore, aiming at creating a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem where cities can work as true scale-up catalysts, the ScaleUp For Europe comes together to:

Foster local development by focusing on cities’ role as aggregators in a complex and heterogeneous European network;

Support companies ready to scale to achieve sustainable development and growth boosted by the new European Digital Economy strategy;

Involve citizens and empower them to take advantage of the growing innovation environment that provides new highly qualified job opportunities.

Goals.

SCALE UP FOR EUROPE GOALS

The ScaleUp For Europe initiative follows the ScaleUp Porto Manifesto commitments to promote the creation and development of a national and international network of support for the scaleup companies of the city ecosystem.

ScaleUp For Europe aims at providing entrepreneurs with information about cities’ context and business environment and to promote their internationalization effort. Working in a network, European Cities can provide a unique platform to help companies build reputation, credibility and increase sales opportunities.

ScaleUp for Europe goals and action plans are organized on top of the following pillars:

Build an active and consolidated network of cities aiming at developing an open business ecosystem;

Consolidating an European platform for scaleup’s mobility and knowledge exchange;

Collect and share best practices; Create and promote directives for the implementation of ScaleUp for Europe supporting framework.

Be part of this movement and help European entrepreneurs paving the way to a solid and sustainable growth!

OUR COMMITMENTS

Our contribution to the scale-up movement is based on solid pillars, commitments and an actions.

THE FOUNDATION: TRUST

Trust is at the foundation of the ScaleUp Porto Manifesto vision. All the stakeholders are considered to have a unique role, contributing to innovation initiatives and policies on a relevant and peer basis.

ENABLING ACCESS TO TALENT

Universities and polytechnic schools must work together in strong partnership with reference industry partners and research institutions to create highly skilled resources and talent. Cities need to be engaged in the development of measures to empower new job creation, by balancing training opportunities with high quality of life standards, where cultural activities can play an essential role.

TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARE

New effective learning programmes must be created for scale - ups, together with the local stakeholders, aiming at improving leadership and management skills. Knowledge exchange and expert advice must be fostered.

FUNDING

As funding is a critical asset for companies to scale, solid partnerships must be developed in this field, both with venture capitalists and business angels. It’s relevant to foster the creation of a strong network and implement measures that facilitate the access to investors and funding.

GENERATING DATA

The scale - up gap must be mitigated with the implementation of a system to target, endorse, empower and report matters that concern this subject. Data must be released to make it possible for national and international stakeholders to identify, target and evaluate their support to scale - up companies.

MEASURING AND LEARNING – SELF
ASSESSMENT & BENCHMARK

Reversing the scale - up gap will be effective if all stakeholders are invited to participate and engage in a dedicated monitoring and open self - assessment process. The scale - up process must be monitored and a task force must be appointed to continuously report about the effectiveness of the strategies.

BUILDING NETWORKS –
NETWORK OF CITIES FOR SCALEUP

In a European single market, far from being a reality, cities working in networks will be unique growth catalysts. By creating and promoting the developmentof a national and international network of support for scale - up companies, entrepreneurs will have access to information about their and other environments, be assisted in building reputation and credibility, while increasing sales at home and abroad.

CONNECTING COMPANIES TO
CUSTOMERS – CITY AS A LIVING LAB

Cities working as living labs can support the linkage between companies and customers. The development of smart procurement frameworks, aligned with open public and private partnerships, will foster the development of innovative, demand - oriented products and services.

CONNECTING ALL THE
PLAYERS – THE CITY AS A CENTRAL HUB

Exploring an active, participative and collaborative approach will help scale - ups fulfill their potential. Government, regional and local authorities, entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, investors, industry and large corporations, can create the conditions to support scale - up companies by working together.