04 / FAQ
Twelve questions, straight answers
The recurring questions about ASCENT, raised during the initial scoping talks with EuroSIMA and Mont X, and in candidate conversations. If a question is missing, write to ascent@actionsportech.fr.
01 Who can apply to ASCENT?
ASCENT is open to startups whose product or service is rooted in the broader action sports industry: surf, skate, snow, climb, outdoor, trail, board sports and emerging practices. The team must have at least two people. The project must have moved past ideation, with a working MVP or early traction signals.
02 What is the participation fee?
The cohort 1 participation fee is €3,000 excluding tax per startup, totalling €15,000 excluding tax per cohort year, for 9 months of full support. This covers one-to-one mentoring, monthly workshops, network access and continuous support services. It does not cover startup travel, EuroSIMA Surf Summit, Cévennes bootcamp and final Demo Day remain at the startup level. Payment terms are finalised at the first steering committee meeting before launch.
03 Does ASCENT take equity from selected startups?
The equity question is not decided for cohort 1. ASCENT is designed first as an operational support programme with revenue tied to participation fees, sponsorship and grants, not as a seed fund. Exact terms are specified in the information pack sent to the selected startups ahead of the January 2027 kick-off.
04 What is the exact schedule for cohort 1?
The call for applications is open until January 2027. The programme is presented at the EuroSIMA Surf Summit in Seignosse in September 2026, where the extended application window is announced to the whole industry. The 5 selected startups are announced in January 2027 and kick-off follows immediately. The mid-term Demo Day is set for May 2027, the Cévennes bootcamp for July 2027, and the final Demo Day for September 2027 at the EuroSIMA Surf Summit 2027.
05 Who sits on the selection jury?
The jury has eight members in total, two ActionSporTech, two EuroSIMA, two Mont X, one finance expert and one sustainability expert. Mont X nominates one of the two external experts from its network. Every jury member scores every application individually on the six-criteria weighted grid before collective deliberation.
06 What are the selection criteria?
Six criteria are used to score each application: innovation and originality weighted at 30%, environmental and social impact at 20%, economic viability at 20%, scalability and internationalisation at 10%, team quality at 10%, action sports industry fit at 10%. The grid is public and shared by the three partners.
07 How many physical events are mandatory?
Two physical events are mandatory: the January 2027 kick-off, whose venue is confirmed to the selected startups, and the final Demo Day at the EuroSIMA Surf Summit 2027. The Cévennes bootcamp in July 2027 is a third in-person milestone to be confirmed. Everything else, workshops, calls and peer sessions, runs hybrid or fully digital.
08 Is cohort 1 run in French or English?
Cohort 1 is mainly in French. An English-speaking team can still be selected if the application quality warrants it, in which case real-time translation will be provided for workshops and collective sessions. Future cohorts may open to English natively depending on feedback.
09 What is the Mont X international mission?
Mont X offers an optional mission in Canada, around Mont-Tremblant, for startups wanting to test the North American market. The mission is opt-in and not covered by the programme budget. It includes access to the Mont X network in the Canadian action sports industry and a targeted immersion with industrial partners.
10 What does the Cévennes bootcamp include?
The bootcamp runs 4 days in immersion, scheduled for July 2027 in the Cévennes. The objective is to work in unusual operational conditions, with access to a rider ambassador, pressure-tested pitch sessions and intensive strategy work. Exact venue and format will be announced at a steering committee meeting before the bootcamp.
11 Is there an ASCENT label after the programme?
Yes, graduating startups carry the Powered by ASCENT label, co-branded ActionSporTech × EuroSIMA × Mont X. The label can be used on their website, their pitch and their communication, and remains a quality signal carried over from the three-party programme.
12 How does communication work during the programme?
Selected startups benefit from regular editorial visibility through the EuroSIMA newsletter, the ActionSporTech and InPulse LinkedIn channels, and the Mont X network. Each key milestone (selection, mid-term, Demo Day) is backed by a press release and a co-branded press kit. Startups retain full control over their own communication and keep ownership of all their content.
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