Blackbox Connect to Include Twice as Many Companies and Female Founders for Spring 2014 Program

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Feb. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Blackbox Connect, a Silicon Valley based startup accelerator program with the mission to empower entrepreneurs around the world, has extended its partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs to launch two program cycles in 2014.

The program has expanded its network of companies twofold since 2013 – from 8 to 16 companies – while including twice as many women as last year – 50% of the founders are women.

The aim of Blackbox is to connect entrepreneurs globally with resources in Silicon Valley, while helping them become bigger role models in their local communities. The popular two-week immersion program provides international startup founders with the opportunity to learn best practices of building and scaling technology companies, and experience the best of the Silicon Valley ecosystem.



According to Founder and Managing Director Fadi Bishara, “Startups around the world today are born global, with products used by customers across the globe.  For decades, Silicon Valley has been the hub of this international entrepreneurship movement. At Blackbox, we’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs to empower international changemakers to dramatically scale their impact and reach their full potential.”

Mary Grove, Director of Google for Entrepreneurs, said, “We've seen firsthand that entrepreneurship is thriving in communities all over the world. One of our goals is to connect our thriving partner network entrepreneur communities with one another and back to Silicon Valley. Blackbox Connect does this so well, bringing founders from across the globe to work and live alongside one another in an immersive two week program. Our hope is that founders drink from a firehose and can return home inspired, energized, and connected with a broader community."

Google for Entrepreneurs partners 88mph, Astia, Astrolabs, Campus London, Campus Tel Aviv, Communitech, Factory, Flat6Labs, Kstartup, LeCamping, Gaza Sky Geeks, NASSCOM, P@SHA and Startup Grind nominated their best startups to participate in the competitive Spring 2014 program. Blackbox then selected the final participating founders (from Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Israel, Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and The United Kingdom) with products ranging from enterprise software, to re-configurable Arduino shield using a smartphone app, to custom design 3D printed jewelry.

About:

Blackbox Connect is a two-week immersion program for founders who are based outside the US. Founders come to Silicon Valley where they have the opportunity to live and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs from all around the world and partake in an intense agenda of meetings and workshops with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and executives. Follow Blackbox on Google+ at http://plus.google.com/+blackboxvc, on facebook.com/blackboxvc and on Twitter @blackboxvc.

Google for Entrepreneurs empowers entrepreneurs around the world through programs, partnerships, and Google products. With over 50 programs in 110 countries, Google for Entrepreneurs seeks to grow entrepreneurial communities and to equip entrepreneurs with skills and resources to pursue their big ideas. To learn about the programs, or to grow your own skills through free online courses, visit http://google.com/entrepreneurs, on Google+ at http://google.com/+GoogleForEntrepreneurs and on Twitter @GoogleForEntrep.