Apply to join the DOer Express to the International Startup Festival in Montreal

Apply to join the DOer Express to the International Startup Festival in Montreal

Polish your pitch, print some business cards, and pack your bags because SendGrid and Twilio are partnering with Windows Azure to send you and your startup on the DOer Express to Montreal for the International Startup Festival.

Submit your startup for a free ride on our bus to the festival. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to practice your pitch and get advice directly from technical advisors, entrepreneurs and startup mentors. At the festival, your startup will be featured in the NYC Startup Tent where you can demo your product/service, and you can get lost in all of the startup-focused activities and engaging sessions. Plus, join us for a VIP kickoff party with Bessemer Venture Partners in New York. We’ll take care of the travel to and from the event, lodging in Montreal, and provide a heavily discounted conference pass.

The DOer Express takes off from New York City on Wednesday, July 11th and returns from Montreal on Friday, July 13th. If your startup is ready for intensive coaching and pitch perfection, apply before June 19th to get on board.

From New York City to Montreal: The Bus Ride

The DOer Express festivities begin in New York City on Tuesday night at Bessemer Venture Partners. Join us for an exclusive event to meet with the Bessemer team.

Once aboard the Doer Express Wednesday morning, you’ll get a full suite of Startup Festival prep.  Each startup will give the bus its pitch, to be followed by 1:1 mentor sessions with the on-board entrepreneurs and technical advisors. We’ll go over your pitch, provide input on presentation and content, and discuss any questions you want answered.

Startups aboard the bus will receive special promotional opportunities from Twilio, SendGrid and Windows Azure, and we’ll have live social media coverage of all the action.

International Startup Festival: The Main Event

Startup Festival is a three day conference in Montreal that focuses on the business of startups. It draws a community of industry veterans, fresh-faced innovators, technologists and more from around the globe. Take in talks from 500 Startups’ Founding Partner Dave McClure and Twilio’s Co-founder Jeff Lawson among other inspiring keynotes and sessions. This year’s theme is “Startups that matter: people who are changing the world.” We’re ready to help get those startups (you!) to the event.

Recap: Details and Applications

We will be selecting startups based on innovative ideas, relevance to the Startup Festival theme, and the seriousness of your business objectives. A panel of judges made up from SendGrid and Twilio will choose teams for the bus, up to 46 people. You must submit your application here by 11:49pm PST, Tuesday, June 19th.

Accepted submissions will receive:

• A free ride to and from Montreal on the bus, departing from New York City
• Free lodging July 11-13 in Montreal
• A heavily discounted pass to Startup Festival: $200
• Invite to a private event with Bessemer Venture Partners in New York
• 1:1 pitch guidance and mentorship from SendGrid, Twilio and more
• Promotional opportunity on company blogs and Startup Festival blog
• Social media coverage live from the bus
• A spot in the NYC Startup Tent at Startup Festival

Contest Rules

Companies must be less than three years old and have equal to or less than five million in funding to be eligible. Bus participants will be limited to five members from each company. Twilio and SendGrid will provide roundtrip travel on the bus from New York City to Montreal, but will not provide any additional travel assistance. All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm PST Tuesday, June 19th. Winners will be notified via email by EOD June 22nd. If you have questions please email meghan@twilio.com.