Reading: KPMG and UKTI offer chance of a lifetime for town's startups

KPMG Reading and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are offering the opportunity for mobile startups from Reading to showcase at 4YFN (4 Years From Now) at Mobile World Congress 2016. 

Applications for 'KPMG Presents: The Best British Mobile Startup 2016' are now open for mobile startups who would like the chance to fly to Barcelona for 4YFN at Mobile World Congress in February 2016.

The competition will see successful applicants from the Reading area invited to pitch their business to a panel of judges before the final four startups are selected to take part in this chance of a lifetime in Spain. Startups from Manchester and London are also being invited to pitch to judges in their local cities.

Mobile World Congress is the world’s largest annual gathering for the mobile industry, organised by the GSMA, and held in the Mobile World Capital of Barcelona. Last year the event attracted over 94,000 attendees, thousands of which were C-level leaders of their businesses.

Featuring 140 guest speakers and more than 3,500 press and industry analysts, the event is the place to be for anyone operating in the mobile industry. This year CEO guest speakers from PayPal, UNICEF and Hointer have already been confirmed.

Commenting on the competition Barry Carter, KPMG’s head of TMT in the Thames Valley, said: “This really is the chance of a lifetime for mobile startups. We are looking for innovative businesses who can showcase the best of what Reading has to offer in disruptive mobile technology.  For the finalists this opportunity to get in front of the key players in the mobile industry could be invaluable to their growth ambitions and will open doors that can be difficult for a small enterprise to achieve on their own.  We are expecting a great response to this competition.”

Samantha Massey, head of UKTI’s technology trade team, said: ‎“UKTI is delighted to support this fantastic competition and we look forward to unearthing the next game-changing idea in mobile.

"I am excited about seeing an exceptionally high calibre of applicants – all of whom contribute to the UK’s reputation as a global tech centre and who help us demonstrate why the UK is the ideal place for tech innovators to set up and grow their business.”

Mobile World Congress will take place from February 22–25.

Applications are now open at www.kpmgtechgrowth.co.uk/kpmgmwc16 and will close on December 10.