Seedcamp opens applications

Applications for Seedcamp Week 2009 are now open for the next wave of European web-tech talent to apply. If you haven’t heard of Seedcamp and you’re a startup in Europe, you should. Since starting in late 2007 they’ve built up a head of steam, making them the closest thing Europe has to a YCombinator model – but they concentrate on developing more well-rounded startups than just hacker projects. You can apply here.

Mini Seedcamp 2009 attracted nearly 500 applications from across Europe, and this year it will be held from 21st to 25th September at UCL in central London. The week-long programme connects 20 early stage web tech startups with over 400 entrepreneurs, investors, marketers, product and developer experts, see here.

Plus, Seedcamp has announced the following new board members, something of a “who’s who” of the tech startup scene:

· Fred Destin, partner at Atlas Ventures

· Charles Grimsdale, co-founder of Eden Ventures

· Alex Hoye, co-founder of GoIndustry plc

· Christoph Maire, Head of Maps & Explore Unit, Nokia Services

· Dave McClure, Founders Fund

· Richard Moross, founder and CEO, Moo.com

The 20 teams compete for seed funding, but frankly, the connections they make are pretty worthwhile too. At the end of the week Seedcamp will invest up to €50K each in 5 teams for a small equity stake (5%-10%). On occasion, they have been known to select more than 5 teams.