Win the LAAS Top Ten Automotive Startups Challenge and visit this famous island

By Miles Branman Published November 9, 2016

The LA Auto Show is one of the largest global stages for automakers. Each year, some of the most anticipated new models bow in the land of fame and fortune. Meanwhile, those who are hungry for success compete in the show’s Top Ten Automotive Startups challenge for a chance to be featured at AutoMobility LA (formerly the Connected Car Expo and LA Auto Show Press & Trade Days).

This year, the incentives for competitors have improved significantly. As part of the show’s effort to gain exposure and entrepreneurial guidance for it’s entrants, three of the Top Ten featured finalists will receive live mentoring sessions with prominent Silicon Valley investor, Bill Tai, during the LA Auto Show’s AutoMobility LA on November 16.

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“The LA Auto Show is attracting super interesting and disruptive startups that are redefining what we know as automotive,” said Tai. “As an educator, investor and entrepreneur myself, I want to help bring my network and resources to accelerate the success of this year’s Top Ten finalists.”

Better still, one winner will be invited to Sir Richard Branson’s Extreme Tech Challenge, which takes place on his privately-owned Necker Island. I’ll repeat that last part: someone gets a free ride to a private island to hang with one of the richest, most successful chaps on the planet. Winners receive mentoring sessions and tech and infrastructure support from top technology firms, as well as increased publicity. In other words: you get the keys to future success.

The LAAS is encouraging startups from all industries to apply (HERE) because even if you don’t win the grand prize, the top ten finalists are exposed to 4,500 media and 20,000 industry professionals at this year’s AutoMobility LA in November.

The Top Ten finalists will be selected by the AutoMobility LA advisory board, which is comprised of senior executives from Aeris Communications, City of Los Angeles, Elektrobit, Ellis and Associates, Google, Local Motors, Lyft, Nokia Growth Partners, NVIDIA, Pandora and Strategy Analytics. AutoMobility LA will be accepting submissions from June 9 – July 31, 2016.

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