Opera Startup Awards

One of the largest European software developer Opera Software , in conjunction with the Department of Technological Entrepreneurship ITMO and Intercollegiate Student Business Incubator "QD» within the framework of M aster of T echnology E ntrepreneurship organizing a competition of youth startups' projects Opera the Startup Awards ». The main goal of the Competition is the creation, development and support of new projects based on Opera web technologies.
For the first ones registered on the Competition website http://mte-opera.ru, from April 20 to April 23, 2011, master classes are organized at which current problems and needs of Internet users will be discussed. We put aside the subcortex: competition, opera, technology business, prizes. Our meetings and experiences will share our experience and skills, the secrets of applying the latest web standards and unique business strategies at meetings:

• Lead Development Manager Opera in Russia and the CIS Ilya Shpankov
• Director of Standards Charles MakKetiNevil (Charles McCathieNevile)
• vice president Johan Borg (Johan Borg)

“We are waiting for developers who are interested in developing their product as a profitable business. Developing solutions for a specific technology can help startups increase their efficiency, ”commented Marina Sukhorukova, head of the Department of Technological Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management at St. Petersburg State University ITMO, and a member of the organizing committee of the Opera Startup Awards .
After a series of workshops, the teams will prepare their projects, which will be presented at the semi-finals on May 21. Finalists will continue to work on projects from May to September, receiving support in the form of commercialization seminars, consultations with mentors of the QD business incubator and representatives of Opera Software.
On October 15, the winners of the Opera Startup Awards will be determined. Among the special prizes, including an internship at the Opera Software office and providing the team with office space in the QD incubator for further work on the project.
Participation in the Competition and master classes is free.

The number of seats at the workshops is limited.

The competition will be held in two stages:

1. Preliminary qualifying round.
After the seminars, you can assemble a team (if it does not work out during the work at one of the seminars), work out the idea and prepare a presentation.
Each team must be registered by one of its members by May 20, 2011.
After registration, the team receives a confirmation, which gives the right to participate in the Competition.
Presentation of the project on the qualifying round on May 21, 2011.

2. The final.

• Work on projects in the summer months in order to obtain practical results.
• From June to October, a series of seminars and master classes in the field of web technologies, innovative and technological business will be organized for participants in the Contest.
• Participants can also ask questions to Opera representatives and receive informational support on projects on the Contest forum .
• Presentation of the practical results of the project and determination of winners on October 15, 2011.

The requirements are quite common.

But the winners are promised: the
opportunity to start their own business with the support of a world-famous company and attract investment in their own project .
Absolutely all contest participants will be able to claim valuable prizes from Opera Software, the QD business incubator and partner companies.
The contest organizers also announced special prizes for the most striking projects:

• Internship of one or more participants at Opera Software
• Equipped workplace in the QD business incubator for the project team

Individual prizes from the MTE program:
all projects automatically participate in a portfolio competition for admission to the magistracy of the Department of Technological Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (for those who have completed their undergraduate or specialty). The winners of the portfolio competition enter the master's program without exams.

In general, friends, there is something to fight for!