ΗΕΜΙ Incubator Open Call

The Hub for the Exchange of Music Innovation is proud to announce the launch of HEMI Incubator, the first music business incubation & acceleration programme in the region!

Do you run your own Music Business?

Are you developing a groundbreaking idea addressing the needs of the Music Industry?

Looking for coaching, networking and business development opportunities? 

Then HEMI Incubator is for you!  

Choose one of our programmes, apply (deadline 10/04), join our community, and take your chance to shape the future of the Music Industry, with us! 

ABOUT HEMI INCUBATOR

 HEMI Incubator is a business development programme addressed to music entrepreneurs and/or music related business professionals and companies of 9 countries from Central and South Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia 

HEMI Incubator provides a framework with hybrid and scalable training schemes with the aim of bringing measurable results to both music professionals and already established companies (entrepreneurs / SMEs / startups within the music field). 

Applicants will gain a deeper understanding of the ever-changing international music sector, the opportunity to connect with key industry players and:

  • Profit from the knowledge and expertise of experienced music industry professionals and from startup accelerators and European networks
  • Network and discover the different European markets 
  • Be accredited to 10 festivals, conferences and showcase festivals
  • Benefit from a unique framework to develop their ideas and/or enhance your product or service
  • Travel and accommodation costs covered to selected events of the HEMI network
  • Have an opportunity to receive a Grant Support to further develop their project (after successful completion of the programme)
HEMI Incubator is developed by the HEMI initiative members organisations in collaboration with top industry experts and mentors and in partnership with some of the most active and results oriented music and tech organizations / associations in Europe such as the Found.Ation (GR), IMPALA (EU),  Music Innovation Hub (IT), Music Tech Europe (EU), Startup Wise Guys (EE).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

HEMI Incubator includes flexible coaching, mentoring & matchmaking sessions, as well as online and in situ networking activities. Through tailor-made business consultancy and exclusive industry meet-ups, the programme will generate connections between professionals and key players of the music industry and create opportunities that will eventually lead to long-term relationships.

To ensure that our activities can offer applicants the right framework and specific tools, guidance, expertise and network they need, our programme is divided into 2 streams :

  1. The Acceleration Programme addressed to music entrepreneurs who have a business idea / project 
  2. The Incubation Programme addressed to high potential startups/SMEs that offer sustainable solutions to the music sector and need to foster their growth. 

STREAM 1 > The Acceleration Programme 

Target group: music professionals who have a business idea, want to create a new service, product or company, related to the music sector, and need support to transform it into tangible products or services.  

Duration: 3-month training programme from July until October 2022 

Benefits :

  • One-on-one mentoring and coaching from European music industry professionals
  • Online and offline workshops to deepen their knowledge of the music industry and develop further their entrepreneurial skills
  • Online kickoff event during Tallinn Music Week 2022
  • Physical meeting during Athens Music Week – June 2022 (travelling and accommodation costs covered)
  • Presentation during Budapest Showcase Festival in October 2022
  • Promotion and B2B with relevant professionals
  • Grant for 3 projects with the highest potential of development (at the end of the programme) 
  • Accreditations to HEMI partners’ conferences and showcase events / august

STREAM 2 > The Incubation Programme 

Target group: music entrepreneurs and business professional who need to develop their existing businesses and extend their markets.

Duration: 6-month development programme from July until December 2022

Benefits:  

  • One-on-one mentoring and coaching from European music industry professionals
  • Priviledged contact and matchmaking with HEMI region professionals
  • Online kickoff event during Tallinn Music Week 2022
  • Physical networking events and pitching sessions (travelling and accommodation costs covered) during:
    • Athens Music Week in June 2022
    • Linecheck festival in November 2022
  • Promotion and B2B during selected relevant events
  • Introduction to specialised networks and companies to develop synergies
  • Grant for 3 projects with the greatest potential to impact the future of the music industry (at the end of the programme) 
  • Accreditations to HEMI partners’ conferences and showcase events

TIMELINE 2022

May
June
July
October
November
Kickoff during Tallinn Music Week
Programme launch at Athens Music Week
Launch of training activities
Acceleratees' final event during BUSH
Incubatees' final event during Linecheck

WHO CAN APPLY?

  • Music business professionals, artist entrepreneurs, self-employed or small and medium-sized  companies (e.g. management, booking, comms, marketing agencies, licensing, publishing, copyright, live, recording, production companies, festival organizers, media etc..) 
  • Business professionals who offer a sustainable solution to the music sector (e.g. SaaS, blockchain, AR, AI, ticketing, entertainment attorney / accountant, etc..)
  • Entrepreneurs who are about to create a new service, product or company related to the music sector 

SELECTION CRITERIA

STREAM 1 The Acceleration Programme 

  • The call is addressed to business professionals and entrepreneurs with at least 3 years of experience 
  • Projects must be related to the music sector
  • Applicants will be selected based on their motivation and feasibility of their project

Eligibility criteria:

  • Citizens of the HEMI countries living anywhere in the European Union, UK and the EFTA countries
  • Permanent residents in 1 of the 9 HEMI countries (independently of nationality)
  • Applicants must be above 18 or older and should have no military obligations
  • Applicants must be fluent in English and must have valid travelling documents

STREAM 2  > The Incubation Programme 

  • The call is addressed to music entrepreneurs and business professional with a registered company 
  • Product or service can be related to any part of the music sector 
  • Applicants will be selected based on the originality of the project and its impact on the music sector

Eligibility criteria:

  • Applicant must have a registered company in one of the 9 HEMI countries
  • Applicants’ representatives must be 18 or older and should have no military obligations
  • Applicants’ representatives must be fluent in English and must have valid travelling documents

READY? APPLY NOW AND LET'S SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, TOGETHER!

The deadline to submit applications is set to Sunday 10th of April 2022, 23:59 CET. For further inquiries, please contact us at info[at]hemimusichub.eu

Choose your stream! 

3 month > Acceleration programme addressed to 20 music business professionals and entrepreneurs with a project idea (with a defined Proof of Concept)

 

6 month > Incubation programme addressed to 10 startups and SME (already established as companies) which are developing new services or activities related to the music sector. 

COVID-19 notice: HEMI Incubator networking and travelling activities are subject to changes depending on the evolution of the pandemic. 

STREAM 1:

The 6-month Incubation Programme addressed to 10 high potential startups/SMEs that offer sustainable solutions to the music sector and need to foster their growth (developing new services or activities related to the music sector).

STREAM 2:

The 3-month Acceleration Programme addressed to 20 entrepreneurs who have a business idea / project and need support to transform it into tangible products or services related to the Music Industry.

STREAM 2

The 3-month Acceleration Programme addressed to 20 entrepreneurs who have a business idea/project and need support to transform it into tangible products or services related to the Music Industry.

The selected projects, start-ups and SMEs will receive:

  • One-on-one mentoring;
  • Workshops on specialised business topics and soft skills;
  • Access to CSEE music markets;
  • Networking events and pitching sessions
  • Accreditations to HEMI partners’ music conferences and showcase festivals
  • Matchmaking with key industry players to develop synergies
  • Support grant for 6 projects/companies in total

Phase 1: Preselection of 27 nominees 

This phase is about checking applicants’ data and eligibility criteria, leading to a preselection of 3 nominees per country  (27 in total).  

Preselected nominees will get access to online trainings covering major topic related to music business. The objective is to help artists identify skills and competencies they need towards the development of their international career.

27 preselected artists list  will be announced on the 21st of February 2022.

Phase 2: Selection of 9 Nominees 

A phase where the Jury and experts will reduce the 3 nominees to 1 per country, leading to a pool of 9 international nominees. 

Activities will split in 2 parts:
1. The training part with Tailor-Made Business Consultancy aimed to help them expand their carrier beyond their home country! 
2. The touring part, where each HEMI associated showcases and festival partners will select and book some of the nominees to perform live during at their events (see event partners)

Phase 3: HEMI Music Award Winner

The final phase of the awards concluding the training, touring, networking  and evaluation activities.

HMA winner will be selected according to the evaluation activities and number of bookings achieved in phase 2 and gets promotional support,  as well as all costs to travel, participate and perform live at Major International Festival and Conference*.

* The  event will be chosen in accordance with the Music Genre of the winner. Choice can be  related to Covid pandemic situation.

Phase 1: Preselection of 27 nominees 

This phase is about checking applicants’ data and eligibility criteria, leading to a preselection of 3 nominees per country  (27 in total).  

Preselected nominees will get access to online trainings covering major topic related to music business. The objective is to help artists identify skills and competencies they need towards the development of their international career.

27 preselected artists list  will be announced on the 21st of February 2022.

Phase 2: Selection of 9 Nominees 

A phase where the Jury and experts will reduce the 3 nominees to 1 per country, leading to a pool of 9 international nominees. 

Activities will split in 2 parts:
1. The training part with Tailor-Made Business Consultancy aimed to help them expand their carrier beyond their home country! 
2. The touring part, where each HEMI associated showcases and festival partners will select and book some of the nominees to perform live during at their events (see event partners)

Phase 3: HEMI Music Award Winner

The final phase of the awards concluding the training, touring, networking  and evaluation activities.

HMA winner will be selected according to the evaluation activities and number of bookings achieved in phase 2 and gets promotional support,  as well as all costs to travel, participate and perform live at Major International Festival and Conference*.

* The  event will be chosen in accordance with the Music Genre of the winner. Choice can be  related to Covid pandemic situation.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The HEMI Music Awards 2022 budget is divided in prize packages worth a total of €36,000. 

The 27 preselected nominees (phase 1), will get access to online meetings, presentations and webinars to enhance their knowledge about Live Sector challenges in  the Region and in the wider European market.

Artists and representatives will get to know the people behind HEMI and about the HEMI Awards events, you’ll learn more about HEMI markets, get media coverage and business assessment made by HEMI network partners.

In phase 2, the 9 nominees will receive personalized support through dedicated promo and tailor made training activities events to help them learn new skills and expand their competencies, contributing towards the development of their international career. 

They will get access to HMA touring programme including collaboration with booking managers, live performance and networking in the 9 HEMI MUSIC AWARDS partners countries and events, a total prize value of € 2,000 per nominee.

HEMI Music Award (phase 3) – winners’ package includes costs for content creation, promo campaigns and will cover all expenses to attend and perform at the selected international Festival, a total prize value of € 5,000 .

The HEMI Awards winner will also receive extra promotion by the 18 media partners of the HMA 2022 programme.

 The HEMI Music Awards (HMA) activities will combine theory, practice and most of all, provide you life time experiences!

 HMA Business Consultancy
Tailor made activities provided by selected music industry experts, to give you all the answers in a 360 approach.

 HMA Delegate Pass
A privileged access and an opportunity to meet with international Music Industry professionals, to develop your network.

HMA Artists Focus
Dedicated promotional events during Showcase and Conferences, to present yourself to international music professionals!

HMA Live Tour  
Get booked and prepare your trip to tour in some or perhaps even all HMA associate Showcases Conference and festivals!

HMA Export Pack
Support for promotions, content creation and matchmaking activities, to ensure you get everything you need to go international!

HEMI MUSIC AWARDS Prize 2022
After your sucesful journey in central, eastern and south european Showcase Conferences and Festivals, get ready to go west, with a promo support pack and a Live performance at major european music festival!

HEMI INCUBATOR PROGRAMME 2022

Phase 1 activities
Preselection and Evaluation for the 27 Nominees
Period: 23rd of January – 22nd of March 2022

Agenda

  • Personal meeting with national HMA team
  • Common meeting with HEMI partners
  • Meeting with all HMA nominees
  • Access to online lectures

Workshops & Lecture topics

  • kickoff meeting 
  • Discover HMA Music Markets (workshop)
  • From identity to strategy (lecture)
  • Meaning of Export Ready (lecture)
  • How to talk to the press? (lecture)
    …and 7 more topics to be announced!

HMA delegate pass
Each of the nominees (solo artist and/or all band members) will receive an accreditation to attend the event of their home country (final dates tbc) :

  • Tallinn Music Week (EE) > 04-08/05/2022
  • MENT Ljubljana (SI) > 08-10/06/2022
  • Athens Music Week (GR) > 21-25/06/2022
  • Wianki w Krakowie (PL) > 23-26/06/2022
  • EXIT Festival (RS) > 07-10/07/2022
  • Mastering the Music Business (RO) > 6-8/09/2022
  • Reconnect (CZ) >  28/10 -1/11/2022
  • BUSH (HU) > 21-23/10/2022
  • Tak Brzmi Miasto (PL) > 12-13/11/2022
  • PIN Music Conference (MK) > 25-27/11/2022

Phase 2 activities
Selection of the 9 International Nominees
Period: April – November 2022 

 Agenda

  • Coordination meetings with HMA team 
  • Artists Focus and Networking activities during HEMI partners events
  • Business Consultancy based on personalized needs (common workshops and one on one mentoring sessions)
  • HMA live tour > Booking for live performances  from HEMI partners for their Festivals and Showcase Conferences

HMA Delegate pass
1 Artist representative or Band Manager of each of the 9 nominees will receive accreditations to access all HEMI partners’ events:
Athens Music Week (GR), BUSH (HU), EXIT Festival (RS), Mastering the Music Business (RO), MENT Ljubljana (SI), Reconnect (CZ), Tak Brzmi Miasto (PL), Tallinn Music Week (EE), PIN Music Conference (MK) and Wianki w Krakowie (PL)

Phase 3 activities
Selection of Award winner

Period: November – December 2022

Agenda

  • Meeting with HMA team
  • Set up of Promotional activities
  • Organization of live performance at major european music festival

HMA Export Pack

  • Matchmaking with professional contacts  (e.g. music platforms, Labels, Music Agencies, Booking Agencies, Festival organizers).
  • Promotional support prior, during and after live performance.