Zwillenberg takes role in global incubator network

Paul Zwillenberg, former managing director of Associated New Media, has taken a leading role in an international network of new media “incubators”.

Zwillenberg is partnering US entrepreneur Mark Patricof to launch kpe Europe (www.kpe.com), which promises to drive down the amount of equity it will take to develop start-up companies compared with other incubators in the market. The company is dubbing its service a “digital studio” to distinguish itself from other incubators already in the market.

“kpe will nurture a company for the first three to six months of its life. Unlike incubators, which look for between 25 per cent to 75 per cent of the equity, kpe will be taking between two per cent and 20 per cent,” says Zwillenberg.

“Our success rate will allow us to do this. We will not be investing time and money in projects that will not work. I expect to see the first ‘digital studio’ engagement float on the stock market in 12 to 18 months.”

Companies which have already partnered kpe Europe include Castrol, Henri Wintermans Cigars, Microsoft, ShopSmart and Proactive International, says Zwillenberg.