Alibaba.com has introduced the return of CoCreate Pitch Europe, its product-based start-up competitors.
With prizes from a $1 million international fund shared throughout the scheme’s US and European editions, this yr’s Europe occasion is a part of CoCreate Europe in London on 19-20 November.
Judging the pitches can be former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, Dragons’ Den investor Deborah Meaden, entrepreneur and social media influencer Simon Squibb and Jonathan Anguelov, co-founder of French unicorn Aircall.
The highest prize is $200,000, supplied as 50% money and 50% Alibaba.com credit. The second positioned entrepreneur will obtain $100,000 and the third will get $50,000.
Final yr’s Europe winner was Harrison Nott, the 15-year-old founder behind UK small enterprise CoolTowel.
Rio Ferdinand additionally judged the 2025 contest. SMEWeb attended the occasion and interviewed him earlier than the pitches.
Talking about what he seems for in a profitable enterprise, he mentioned:
“The power to be adaptable to new traits and new know-how. For instance, AI. Some enterprise fashions don’t require it, however I believe going ahead, quite a lot of companies would require it indirectly to have the ability to scale.
“As necessary as the thought is the founder. It needs to be any person who’s charismatic and has the eagerness. You want to have the ability to see that they’ll lead and have entrepreneurial spirit.”
Purposes for the 2026 competitors are open till 16 October. Extra particulars right here.
