Christopher BarrettA newly launched startup accelerator programme will see European festivals bosses support early-stage companies across music, entertainment and tech.
The scheme, launched by the team behind the Bridge Conference and Jukebox Ventures, will provide up to £1 million in support for emerging businesses, and offer access to a network of industry experts that includes senior executives from CAA, WME, YouTube Music, and key European festivals. Successful applications for the programme will be provided with a 50% discount on conference tickets.
The second edition of the Bridge Conference is set to take place in Croatia from 27-29 May. The event will see representatives from selected early-stage businesses pitch directly to investors and industry leaders onsite, with funding, mentorship, and go-to-market support on offer.
Among the speakers at the conference, which is expected to explore the evolving relationship between music, technology and culture, will be Superbloom and Lollapalooza Berlin festival director Fruzsina Szép, Exit Festival co-founder Ivan Milivojev, WME agent and partner Steve Hogan, and Creative Artists Agency head of electronic Maria May.
Exit Festival co-founder Dušan Kovačević said, “Bridge was born from the idea that the future of music will be built at the intersection of creativity, technology and human connection. With Jukebox Ventures joining us this year, we are creating a space where bold ideas, industry leadership and real investment can come together to help shape what comes next. Because for real business success, even the best ideas need direct access to the right people, and that is exactly what Bridge is designed to provide.”
Alex Jukes, founder of the Jukebox Ventures investment platform said, “At Jukebox Ventures, we believe the next wave of innovation in music and entertainment will come from founders who have traditionally been shut out of the room. Bridge is exactly the kind of platform that changes that, and we believe the best way to achieve it is through close contact, in-person meetings and building real world relationships. By bringing together the brightest minds in the industry with a genuine commitment to backing overlooked talent, we are not just investing in startups, we are investing in the future of the entire sector. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this.”