Frequently Asked Questions

You do not yet have a complete overview of all the possibilities that our global network has to offer? This is the right place to find out what is going on in the creative and cultural sectors! We as Creative Business Network offer a lot of possibilities for different target groups.
The most frequently asked questions and respective answers can be found here. You still have open questions? Write an email or just give us a call! You can find our contact details here.

Creative Industries

What are the Creative industries?

It’s not easy to define what the creative industries are, as it can be applied to a lot of different companies and markets. A report from the European Commission gives us this definition: “Cultural and creative sectors mean all sectors whose activities are based on cultural values and/or artistic and other creative expressions”.

For us, the creative and cultural industries are companies that thrive with the help of creativity, artistry, and cultural values. They are companies that look beyond the bottom line.

We’ve supported and hosted startups from many different areas such as advertising, design, film, music, video games and much more read more about some of our startups here.

Startups

Who can apply for Creative Business Investor Pitch?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Investor Pitch. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title WHO CAN APPLY FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS CUP? In addition to this, startups who wish to apply for the Creative Business Investor Pitch must be actively looking for investment and have an assessment and/or knowledge of their financial needs and offers.

Who can apply for Creative Business Solution/Solution challenge?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Solution, known also as a Solution Challenge. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title WHO CAN APPLY FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS CUP?

In addition to this, startups who wish to apply for a Solution Challenge must meet the special criteria specified in the call for applications.  

How can a creative startup participate in Creative Business Cup?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Cup. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title ‘Who can apply for Creative Business Cup?’.

Creative Business Network has partner organizations all over the world, these organizations are called National Partners. CBN’s National Partners are responsible for the organization of their National Competition, then the winner will have the opportunity to come for the Creative Business Cup Global Finals: the world pitching finals where the Best Creative Startup of the Year is crowned.  

Each National Competition has different deadlines, to see which organization that runs Creative Business Cup in your country check our National Partner list and get in contact with them directly through their institutional email/phone number.

All startups participating in a Creative Business Cup in any country of the world are invited to participate in the Creative Business Cup Global Finals and its additional opportunities for startups, such as: Creative Business Solution, Creative Business Investor Pitch, Exhibition Stands, and more.  

Who can apply for Creative Business Cup?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Cup, as long as they uphold the rules and criteria described in this section.

There are no specific requirements for the participating company in relation to age, turnover or number of employees. However, the competition is for creative startups, which may be defined in accordance to the local context.

Participants in Creative Business Cup can be:

  • Startups utilizing creative skills in the production of a creative industries product / service.
  • Startups utilizing creative skills in the development of a product or service for / in collaboration with other industries.

Participants in Creative Business Cup must:

  • Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies.
  • Be commercial. Their concepts must have market potential.
  • Own the rights to the idea with which he or she is entering the competition.
  • Be registered as a legal entity in their country.
  • Not have received more than 1,000,000,000 USD of external capital investment in the past. Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies.
  • Be commercial. Their concepts must have market potential.

Creative Business Cup will allow startups from the following areas to participate:

  1. Advertising
  2. Architecture
  3. Kraft & Artisan
  4. Design
  5. Experiences technologies
  6. Fashion
  7. Film, Video & Photography
  8. Gastronomy
  9. Leisure Activities
  10. Music
  11. Performing Arts
  12. Publishing
  13. Radio & Television
  14. Software, Computer Games & Electronic Publishing (for creative industries)
  15. 3D Printing maker
  16. Toys & Games

Investors

How to apply to become a CBI?

Subscribe to the CBI newsletter here, and you will be directly contacted by us!

What is the Creative Business Investor (CBI) Pitch?

The CBI Pitch is a dedicated session during the Creative Business Cup Global Finals. The jury consists of  diversified international investors who have extensive experience investing in startups and creative businesses. CBI Pitch provides the finest creative startups with the opportunity to pitch in front of international investors and find potential external investments.

Who can apply for an Investor Pass for our events?

Investor Pass is for investors who make direct investments in startups or venture capital funds – VCs, CVCs, Angels, LPs and M&A Investors.

Who can apply as a CBI?

  • Business Angels (BA), networks and syndicates
  • Accelerators
  • Venture capital funds
  • Corporate venture capital (VC) funds
  • Institutional investors
  • Crowdfunding platforms
  • Family offices

Why you should become a CBI?

Startups qualifying for Creative Business Cup have a proven track record of performing above average and becoming successful companies. Join them on their journey early!

What benefits has a CBI?

  • Access to viable, high-quality investment propositions from creative startups and invaluable market intelligence
  • Access to a network of global investors in the creative industries with potential exit opportunities from existing portfolio companies
  • Opportunities to bring companies from your portfolio to the attention of other global investors and co-invest with likeminded investors from around the world
  • Opportunities to become a member of the global jury and expert

Media & Press info

Who can apply for Creative Business Investor Pitch?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Investor Pitch. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title WHO CAN APPLY FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS CUP? In addition to this, startups who wish to apply for the Creative Business Investor Pitch must be actively looking for investment and have an assessment and/or knowledge of their financial needs and offers.

Who can apply for Creative Business Solution/Solution challenge?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Solution, known also as a Solution Challenge. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title WHO CAN APPLY FOR CREATIVE BUSINESS CUP?

In addition to this, startups who wish to apply for a Solution Challenge must meet the special criteria specified in the call for applications.  

How can a creative startup participate in Creative Business Cup?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Cup. All startups must comply with the requirements and criteria stated in the title ‘Who can apply for Creative Business Cup?’.

Creative Business Network has partner organizations all over the world, these organizations are called National Partners. CBN’s National Partners are responsible for the organization of their National Competition, then the winner will have the opportunity to come for the Creative Business Cup Global Finals: the world pitching finals where the Best Creative Startup of the Year is crowned.  

Each National Competition has different deadlines, to see which organization that runs Creative Business Cup in your country check our National Partner list and get in contact with them directly through their institutional email/phone number.

All startups participating in a Creative Business Cup in any country of the world are invited to participate in the Creative Business Cup Global Finals and its additional opportunities for startups, such as: Creative Business Solution, Creative Business Investor Pitch, Exhibition Stands, and more.  

Who can apply for Creative Business Cup?

Any startup from the Creative Industries with a good business idea and a registered company is eligible to compete at Creative Business Cup, as long as they uphold the rules and criteria described in this section.

There are no specific requirements for the participating company in relation to age, turnover or number of employees. However, the competition is for creative startups, which may be defined in accordance to the local context.

Participants in Creative Business Cup can be:

  • Startups utilizing creative skills in the production of a creative industries product / service.
  • Startups utilizing creative skills in the development of a product or service for / in collaboration with other industries.

Participants in Creative Business Cup must:

  • Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies.
  • Be commercial. Their concepts must have market potential.
  • Own the rights to the idea with which he or she is entering the competition.
  • Be registered as a legal entity in their country.
  • Not have received more than 1,000,000,000 USD of external capital investment in the past. Have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies.
  • Be commercial. Their concepts must have market potential.

Creative Business Cup will allow startups from the following areas to participate:

  1. Advertising
  2. Architecture
  3. Kraft & Artisan
  4. Design
  5. Experiences technologies
  6. Fashion
  7. Film, Video & Photography
  8. Gastronomy
  9. Leisure Activities
  10. Music
  11. Performing Arts
  12. Publishing
  13. Radio & Television
  14. Software, Computer Games & Electronic Publishing (for creative industries)
  15. 3D Printing maker
  16. Toys & Games