FAQ
Vodafone Mobile Clicks is the biggest mobile start-up competition in the world. It is an international, high profile contest to identify and develop the best, most innovative mobile internet start-ups. Entrants compete against the best of each country for total prize money of 225,000 Euros. The best mobile internet start-up is selected following the votes of a professional jury across three different rounds and the results of a public vote.
Vodafone Mobile Clicks has been running since 2008. Since launch, it has helped to accelerate innovation in the mobile internet sector across Europe. It is the biggest mobile start-up competition of its kind, providing ongoing support to the ever-growing start-up community.
Which countries are getting involved this year?
This year’s event has been extended with the presence of Germany, the Republic of Ireland and Turkey alongside Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and the UK.
Why does Vodafone run Mobile Clicks?
Vodafone Mobile Clicks is about empowering ambitious, young start-ups to develop their ideas and accelerate them into market. Vodafone is committed to helping the wider ecosystem succeed, and through initiatives like Vodafone Mobile Clicks and the wider Vodafone developer programme, the innovation that is at the heart of that ecosystem has been stimulated, grown and commercialised.
When will Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011 be launched? Who runs the conference?
Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011 will be announced on 28 April at The Next Web Conference. Hosted in Amsterdam, the conference brings together companies from Europe and the US to discuss the future of the web and mobile. It was founded in 2006 by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Arjen Schat and Patrick de Laive. For more information, go to: www.thenextweb.com/conference
You can submit your entry between 28 April and 12 June through the Vodafone Mobile Clicks website: www.vodafonemobileclicks.com.
How many rounds of judging are there?
There are three rounds for entrants to get through. Entrants in the first two rounds are voted for by a panel of local and global judges, made up of local industry experts from each country and Vodafone employees. For the final round, all seven local winners will be invited to represent their country in a live final at the PICNIC festival in the Netherlands on 15-16 September 2011. They will present a short pitch to an expert panel of independent judges during the show. Combined with votes from members of the public, the overall winner of Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011 will be announced.
What are the timings for the different judging rounds?
- Round 1 judging will take place between 13 June and 3 July 2011
- Round 2 judging will take place between 11 July and 31 August 2011
- The final judging will take place on 15 and 16 September 2011.
The jury team consists of Vodafone employees and independent local and global mobile experts. The latter group is slightly more dominant (in numbers) in the jury composition as to cultivate independent judgement.
These worldwide experts are complemented by additional jury members from each participating country. These include an expert from the local Vodafone organisation, the chairman of the local Mobile Monday chapter, a representative from Vodafone Ventures and other VCs as well as a popular local mobile blogger.
The judges at the finals are as follows:
- Lee Epting, Director of Content Services at Vodafone Group
- Rudy de Waele, founder of Mobile 2.0 Europe and dotopen
- Peter Barry, Head of VC and Start-up at Vodafone Ventures
- Paul Jozefak, Managing Partner at Mobile VC
- Reshma Sohoni, Partner at Seedcamp
- Zee M Kane, Editor-in-Chief of The Next Web
The winner from the seven finalists will be announced in a live final at this year’s PICNIC event in Amsterdam on 16 September 2011. Ahead of the presentations, members of the public are invited to cast their vote for the winner of Mobile Clicks 2011. At the live final, the overall result of the public vote will be counted alongside the votes of panel members to decide the winners.
PICNIC is Amsterdam’s leading annual international event, highlighting creativity and innovation, particularly in media, entertainment and technology. PICNIC brings together and disseminates the ideas and knowledge of the world's best creators and innovators. For more information go to: http://www.picnicnetwork.org
How do people vote for their favourite finalist?
Members of the public are invited to cast their vote for the winner of Mobile Clicks 2011 by visiting http://www.vodafonemobileclicks.com/vote. Votes will be counted until midnight CET on 12 September 2011. At the live final at PICNIC, the overall result of the public vote will be counted alongside the votes of panel members to decide the winners.
Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2010 winner was Portugal-based Cardmobili, a service that allows you to manage all your rewards, membership and loyalty cards, storing them in the cloud and in your mobile phone, while maintaining all their information. You just have to show your mobile phone when you required. Since winning the competition in September 2010, Cardmobili has launched its application on Windows Phone 7, translated the app into French and Spanish and also seen its user base increase by 80%. The company was also a finalist in the Media Guardian Innovation Awards 2011.
Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2009 winner was Layar, an Amsterdam-based company that with more than one million active users has become the world’s largest mobile augmented reality platform. Launched in June 2009, the platform is available on Android, iPhone and Bada devices and is promoted by leading manufacturers and carriers like Samsung, Verizon and Sprint. It has been named as a 2011 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and TIME magazine and as a Disruptive Innovator at the 2010 Deloitte Fast50 awards.
Who are the finalists this year?
To be completed when announced.
Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011 is open to all start-up companies, businesses, institutions and all other organisations in the seven Vodafone markets
All companies must:
- Be less than 3 years old;
- Have a turnover of less than €500k per annum;
- Be mobile related.
How will the prize fund be split?
The €225,000 prize fund will be allocated as €150,000 for 1st place, €50,000 for the first runner-up and €25,000 for third place.
Isn’t this different from last year?
Yes the prize fund has been increased from a total prize fund of €150,000.
Why have you increased the prize fund?
With even more countries participating in Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011, we have been able to reward this year’s winners with an even bigger prize fund to help make their vision a reality.
Vodafone will set up winners as a one-time vendor and payment is made via transfer to their bank account.
Where can I find out more information about Vodafone Mobile Clicks?
You can visit www.vodafonemobileclicks.com for all the latest information.
You can follow the official Vodafone Mobile Clicks Twitter account @vfclicks
You can also follow the Vodafone developer team on Twitter – they will be tweeting from @vodafonedev
For all the latest on Mobile Clicks, the tweets will be hashtagged with #vfdev and #vmc2011.
Where can I find out more information about Vodafone developer?
Similarly, information about Vodafone developer can be found at https://developer.vodafone.com/.
You can also follow the Vodafone developer team on Twitter – they will be tweeting from @vodafonedev
For all the latest on Mobile Clicks, the tweets will be hashtagged with #vfdev and #vmc2011.
For all the latest on The Next Web 2011 conference, the tweets will be hashtagged with #tnw2011.
For all the latest on PICNIC 2011, the tweets will be hashtagged with #PICNIC11.
What should I do if I'm having trouble registering?
If you are experiencing any issues with your registration or entry to the competition please send us an email to vmc2011@vodafone.com.
Table of contents
- What is Mobile Clicks?
- How long has it been running?
- Which countries are getting involved this year?
- Why does Vodafone run Mobile Clicks?
- When will Vodafone Mobile Clicks 2011 be launched? Who runs the conference?
- When can I submit my entry?
- How many rounds of judging are there?
- What are the timings for the different judging rounds?
- Who are the judges this year?
- When is the winner announced?
- What is PICNIC? Who runs it?
- How do people vote for their favourite finalist?
- Who are the past winners?
- Who are the finalists this year?
- Who is allowed to enter?
- How will the prize fund be split?
- Isn’t this different from last year?
- Why have you increased the prize fund?
- How are the winners paid?
- Where can I find out more information on Mobile Clicks?
- Where can I find out more information about Vodafone developer?
- What should I do if I'm having trouble registering?