It was only last November that I wrote about our first Cisco Entrepreneurs in Residence (Cisco EIR) cohort in Europe. I knew then we had started something special -an incubation model that allows Cisco to tap into the immense talent of the European startup community and helps address many of the unique challenges entrepreneurs face in the region. Only a few months into our first European season, our startups have gained significant traction inside Cisco -and are demonstrating potential for strategic relationships and differentiation with us.

With this success in mind, I am pleased to announce we are now accepting applications from startups located in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia (EMEAR) to join our second season cohort in the region. We have partnered with Pioneers once again and are looking forward to announcing the winners on stage at the Pioneers Festival in Vienna in May. Find out more and apply here.

Seizing the Internet of Everything opportunity as a startup

We agree with VentureBeat and others that Europe is poised to create a round of "super startups" as ample talent, increased investment, government support and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit are creating a perfect environment to foster a new generation of billion dollar startups. Europe is also a model for the rest of the world in Smart Cities with Vienna, Barcelona, Paris, London, Copenhagen and other cities in the region leading the way in applying the Internet of Everything (IoE) to solve urban issues and improve the lives of residents. Simply put, the time is ripe for EMEAR startups innovating in these areas to shine.

If you are a technology entrepreneur in Europe or the surrounding region reading this post, you probably already know about the opportunity and the stakes. You may also have an idea that will shape the future of IoE along with a team, a unique technology and maybe a handful of customers. You are ready to scale your business and seize the market openings ahead of you. Now, you just need to validate your go-to-market strategy and get expert feedback to refine your product. However, getting traction as a startup with your target global customers can be tough.

We created Cisco EIR with an entrepreneur like you in mind: to open new avenues for you to collaborate and scale with Cisco and to help you create truly differentiated solutions and business outcomes jointly with us. Cisco EIR invites early-stage startups to partner with us to co-create game-changing products for IoE, Smart Cities, Big Data/analytics and other transformational opportunities through a six-month "in residence" experience. Each startup selected for Cisco EIR is paired with a Cisco executive sponsor whose team will work with the company to identify and execute on joint go-to-market opportunities. The program also includes broad exposure to the startup communities of Europe and Silicon Valley, co-working space, financial support and potential strategic funding from Cisco.

Showcase Your Startup on Stage at the Pioneers Festival

We are going to be at the Pioneers Festival in May -and so should you. Last year's festival attracted over 3,000 attendees from across the world and was an ideal launch pad for Cisco EIR in Europe. The Cisco EIR team had the opportunity to announce our five first-season companies -Flatout, Graphmasters, ICE Gateway, MammothDB and Mentat Innovations -on one of the premier startup community platforms in the region.

Now, it could be your turn. Apply for your chance to join Cisco EIR in Europe and appear on stage with us at this year's Pioneers Festival.  You bring the idea, the passion and the team -and we will give you the resources and opportunities to help you scale your product and your business. This is your invitation to innovate with Cisco. See you in Vienna in May.

@MalaAnandCisco