FAQs

You will find answers below to the questions we get asked the most about applying to the program and Investment

Accelerator Program

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What is Wayra Germany´s relationship with Telefónica?

Wayra is the fast track into Telefónica.As one of their open innovation initiatives, wayra Germany supports and invests in startups, developing products that will be useful to Telefónica, one of the leading telco operators in the world.We ignite your business by helping you win Telefónica as a client and thus gain access to its more than 350 million customers.

Does Wayra Germany offer a typical acceleration program?

We do not offer a typical acceleration program.We analyze startups individually, based on the stage the company is at, its maturity level and its needs.We are a global business hub that helps startups with potential to do business with Telefónica's global group and grow fast. Our micro CVC (Corporate Venture Capital) allows us to invest in select businesses and offer specific benefits that suit their individual needs.Your business success is our success, and we develop a flexible path that adds value for both of us.

What do you offer? Why should I participate?

The Venture Development Program offers:
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The opportunity to do business with TelefónicaA €25K paid project, with no equityExecution and sales focused coachingPotential follow-up investment of up to €350KOperational resourcesAccess to the global wayra networkAccess to the wayra office space in Munich city centreSupport with internationalization

The opportunity to do business with Telefónica
A €25K paid project, with no equity
Execution and sales focused coaching
Potential follow-up investment of up to €350K
Operational resources
Access to the global wayra network
Access to the wayra office space in Munich city centre
Support with internationalization

What does Wayra Germany get in return?

Telefónica will have the option of investing in your next funding round with a slight discount on your valuation.
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We buy samples of your technology to cut costs, drive our revenue, or to pursue new business opportunities.

How long does the program take?

The program lasts four months, made up of one month of pre-acceleration and three months of venture development.We believe that, within that time frame, you can win Telefónica as your client and launch your joint project.

what does the collaboration with the chosen startup look like?

During the four months of our program, you will work directly with a business unit at Telefónica.In the first month, the milestones and deliverables will be set. Together, we will also create a customized coaching plan. As soon as this phase is over, the three-months acceleration phase starts. You will conduct a pilot project with Telefónica, with the overall goal of winning Telefónica as a client.

are we too early stage for the program?

At wayra Germany, we look for startups that are ready to implement their solutions within Telefónica. If your company’s offer goes beyond a minimum viable product, we would be thrilled to explore use cases with our parent group.Nevertheless, if you have a valid use case for Telefónica, we will be happy to hear about it.

when is the application deadline?

We accept applications on a rolling basis.

are we good fit for Telefónica?

If you have received a personal invitation from our venture development team, then YES, you are.

If you operate in an area that could contribute to wayra and Telefónica, please do submit an application.

We look for growing startups, with a focus on either B2B or B2C, which provide solutions for Cybersecurity, IoT, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, 5G... or which could brings operational efficiency to Telefónica's global group.

Is attendance mandatory? Does the program require physical presence?

It depends largely on the business unit. As far as we are concerned, we can do almost everything remotely. The only thing we ask for is to meet you at least once face to face because we are convinced that this is constructive for our future collaboration and makes the program more personal.

We know that you will have other responsibilities and places to be outside of wayra, so the program can be planned flexibly around any external commitments.

can we set up a call to learn more?

If you can’t find an answer to your questions either on our website or here in the FAQs, please first send us your question(s) in an email (de@wayra.org).

Although we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, unfortunately we do not have enough time to deal with everyone’s enquiries on the phone, which is why we ask you to first contact us via email.

If you still have open questions after emailing us, simply let us know so that we set up a call and answer your remaining questions.

can you connect me with Telefónica or your partners?

We are only able to facilitate direct communication with our partners for startups that participate in our program.

we have submitted our application - is there anything else that would be required from our side?

Great-now you are one step closer to working with Telefónica. At this stage, we don’t need anything further from your side.Should any information be missing or should we need anything more from you, we will get in touch.

how did you find us?

We have a scouting team that searches for potential startups that fit best our needs. They screen various platforms and use various tools in the process.

in what way are you interested in working with us?

We want to help you win Telefónica as a client.If you are interested in entering other markets, such as the UK, Spain, or Latin America, we are also more than happy to help you conquer those areas. We have seven hubs across ten countries.

how do successful candidates receive the €25k?

You will receive €5K after a successful pre-acceleration phase and a further 20K after a successful acceleration phase.

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Investment

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How long does the process take you?

It normally takes us about 4 - 6 weeks until we can transfer the funds

How do you invest?

We invest either through direct equity or convertible loan notes

What is your main criteria for choosing an investment?

We are mainly looking at companies that offer potential use cases for the telco industry. We can invest in startup that currently work with Telefónica or could do so in the future. So at best, fine tune your pitchdeck towards telco use cases.

What is the value-add that you bring?

Our first goal is to help you gain as much revenues as you can from Business Units at Telefónica Germany on a short-term. On a mid-term our second goal is to help you scale up globally with other operating units of Telefónica Group and our partners, both internally and with reselling cases externally.
On the other hand, the investment team continuously supports portfolio startups with their daily business and financial topics by providing tools and by connecting them to strong VCs worldwide.

What kind of startups are you looking for?

Find more information here.

How does the investment process look like?

-Your application is received.
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-First assessment of your company focusing on technology, business model potential, its future adoption rate, and fit with Telefónica.
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-Meet your team and understand your vision, execution courage level.
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-Deep due diligence to validate your technology and understand how do you operate, sell, and plan to grow the business.
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-Present the investment case to our investment committee to take a final decision.

You are not looking for an investment from us but need some advise with your startup
and would like to contact us?

We are always happy to help. Fill out the form and give us more info about your request on the comment field.

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