A look back on the Creative Business Cup Global Finals 2018 (#CBCup2018) proves what a force the creative industries are. And, it laid a solid foundation for our newly minted Creative Business Network.  The event, held in November 2018, created a platform for startups from 50 countries to pitch their ideas in front of an audience composed of global investors, dignitaries, ambassadors and representatives from multinational corporations. In a tough competition, which Lars Seier Christensen alluded to as ‘close to a fist fight’ among the jurors, the winner of CBCup2018 was 6Degrees from Israel, who presented a wearable technology that controls smart devices, enabling people with upper limb deficiency to reclaim their digital life. The second place went to Gamechanger Audio from Latvia while the third prize was claimed by ThinkOutside from Norway. Besides earning the title of ‘world’s best creative entrepreneur 2018’, 6degrees from Israel also won the Creative Business Pitch, which focused on the most investable startup.

To mark the global impact that Creative Business Cup participants have, there were special prizes given out for two other pitch competitions focused on investment and experience technology, as well as special mentions and the National Partner vote. ConfigReality from China walked away with the INVIO Experience Technology Solution prize, ArtNight from Germany received a special mention by the jurors, and Myssifarmi from Finland was awarded the National Partner prize — a vote held among all National Partners on who they believe should win Creative Business Cup.