Ukrainian startup Ecoisme hit Richard Branson's accelerator

Photo: Facebook Ecoisme

Ukrainian IoT startup Ecoisme, developing a system of home energy management, entered the program of the accelerator Virgin Media Accelerator. This is a new accelerator in London, which launched a cult entrepreneur Richard Branson in partnership with the famous American incubator TechStars, according to the Internet portal AIN.

Acceleration will begin in May and last for three months, for this purpose Ecoisme founders Ivan Pasechnik and Alexander Dyatlov will move to London. Upon completion of the program, a startup will receive up to $ 120 thousands of investments. Meanwhile, Ecoisme attracted two business angels: Nikolai Belogorsky and Sergey Povzner.

Recall recently Forbes included 28-year-old from Kiev Ivan Pasechnik in the European rating "30 to 30". This ranking includes the most successful startups up to 30 years from all over Europe.

In addition to Ecoisme, three startups from the UK, as well as teams from the USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Canada, have gone through the Virgin Media Accelerator program. Thus, the Ukrainians became the only startup from the CIS, which will go on acceleration to London. In total, startups from 71 of the country applied for participation in the program.

The program is funded by Liberty Global Ventures, which provides investments of up to $ 120 thousands. At the entrance of Liberty Global and TechStars will receive a share of 6% in each startup for $ 20 thousands. Residents will then be able to receive up to $ 100 thousand on convertible loan terms for additional 4%. According to Pasechnik, the company will receive an estimate of $ 2,5 million.

The size of investments received from angels, Ukrainians do not disclose. In addition to Belogorsky and Povzner, the famous angel Bastian Godska previously invested in Ecoisme. He also became an advisor to the strategic marketing team. Terms of the transaction are kept secret.

This is the first set in the Virgin Media Accelerator, which began accepting applications in November 2015. Residents of the Virgin Media Accelerator are waiting for 13 weeks of intensive work on the program of the famous Boston Incubator. Startups will also work with mentors, including prominent entrepreneurs: Richard Branson himself, Tom Media CEO of Virgin Media, Peter Kelly managing director of Virgin Media Business, Bruce Dine, vice president of Liberty Global Ventures, and experts from technology companies like Facebook, Twitter, Stripe and Twilio.

Ecoisme today is perhaps the most active Ukrainian startup, regularly receiving awards at various competitions and events. Ecoisme attracted its first investment in the amount of 80 000 euro in 2014 year from the German telecommunications company Deutsche Telecom - then the startup moved to Poland for incubation in the local accelerator Hubraum. Since then, Ecoisme is often called a startup from Poland, although the team lives and works in Kiev.

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