UK-based internet services provider Virgin Media and accelerator Techstars have revealed the first 10 startups that will take part in their London-based initiative, which will begin at the end of this month.
Liberty Global Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of cable company Liberty Global, and Techstars will invest an initial $20,000 in each startup in return for a 6% stake.
Companies will also have the option to receive up to an additional $100,000 in the form of a convertible note in exchange for up to another 4% stake.
The program will last for 13 weeks and give startups access to facilities, business advice and help with product development. Mentors will include Virgin founder Richard Branson, Virgin Media CEO Tom Mockridge and Bruce Dines, vice-president of Liberty Global Ventures.
The initiative will begin this week with a trip to Silicon Valley and Denver, during which the startups will meet representatives from companies including internet company Google, CEOs from Techstars portfolio businesses and Richard Branson.
The accelerator will culminate in a demo day, after which startups will have the opportunity to visit Chicago or Silicon Valley and meet potential investors.
Paricipating startups include Poland-based home energy monitoring platform Ecoisme; Italy-based, football-focused social network GoalShouter; and KonnectAgain, an Ireland-based platform that helps companies stay in touch with former employees.
Canada-based voice communications software developer Synervoz is also joining the program, as are UK-based local engineers marketplace Repairly and Rally Networks, a US-based service that lets users charge their phone after downloading a free app or engaging with an advert.
Germany-based Sponsokit, which is working on a platform to help businesses collaborate with social media creators; UK-based Stepsize, which enables programmers to collaborate on code; TelToo, a UK-based peer-to-peer content distribution network; and virtual reality exercise platform Wizdish are also joining the lineup.