Alibaba.com launches the first European edition of its CoCreate Europe start-up competition. The company that manages the global B2B e-commerce platform has also named the two personalities who will lead the jury: Manchester United legend turned entrepreneur Rio Ferdinand OBE and entrepreneur and television presenter Sara Davies MBE. . The two figures will head up the judging panel for Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch, the global competition that shines a spotlight on the next generation of product innovation in the UK and Europe. The overall judging panel will consist of representatives from the UK, Germany, France and the US, alongside Everette Taylor, CEO of crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and official partner of CoCreate Pitch 2025.
The event, which will be held during the first edition of CoCreate Europe, Alibaba.com’s sourcing and e-commerce summit to be held in London on 14 November, will see 30 finalists present their product ideas live in front of the jury. Ten winners will receive prizes of up to $20,000 each, while the overall winner will be awarded $200,000 to support the development of their products. , with a total prize pool of $400,000. CoCreate has been held annually in Las Vegas since 2023, bringing together thousands of SMEs in a single event to collaborate, establish sourcing relationships and promote growth. Alibaba.com is expanding the global reach of the event with the launch of CoCreate Europe.
Rio Ferdinand said in a statement: “I learned the value of ambition, new ideas and determination on the pitch, qualities that have also guided me in building my entrepreneurial career. As a judge on CoCreate Pitch, I look forward to sharing these experiences and supporting the next generation of innovative product-based start-ups in Europe.”
“I have spent many years identifying new business ideas and turning them into reality,” says Sara Davies (pictured), “so being invited to judge Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch competition was a natural choice. There is huge untapped potential among European entrepreneurs, and I am excited to hear innovative product ideas and help drive new businesses forward.”
Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com, adds: “We are thrilled to welcome Rio and Sara as judges for CoCreate Pitch at the first edition of CoCreate Europe, scheduled to take place in London in November. We look forward to hosting SMEs from across the continent and bringing this unique event dedicated to the sourcing ecosystem to Europe.”
The pitch competition is the main programme of CoCreate 2025, Alibaba.com’s first European sourcing summit for SMEs, which brings together entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors for a full day dedicated to product innovation and business development.
Following the success of the American edition, held in Las Vegas last September, the European event will take place on 14 November 2025 in London, offering a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs to connect and grow.
The event will also provide insights and access to Alibaba.com’s cutting-edge solutions and supplier network, with AI-powered sourcing tools such as AI Mode and Accio that automate the entire sourcing process, connecting buyers with over 200,000 verified suppliers across 76 industries, with over 200 million products listed. In addition, Trade Assurance will be highlighted, which allows SMEs to gain greater confidence and reliability in supply chain management. These combined tools allow SMEs to save time and focus on growing their business.
The event will also feature keynotes and panel discussions on topics such as reducing business costs, building resilient supply chains, using AI for growth, international expansion, and trends that will shape 2026, and much more. Numerous networking opportunities will connect sellers with sourcing professionals, suppliers, investors, SME influencers, and other stakeholders.
To participate in CoCreate Europe, scheduled to take place in London on 14 November 2025 at the InterContinental Hotel – The O2, you can find all the information on the event website.
Rio Ferdinand OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) is a former English professional footballer and member of the Premier League Hall of Fame (2023). He captained Manchester United and represented England, before building a career as an investor, presenter and entrepreneur. . His documentary Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad won the 2018 BAFTA for Best Single Documentary. Since retiring, he has worked as a football pundit for TNT Sports and the BBC and has produced high-profile documentaries for the BBC and Amazon Prime. He runs the Rio Ferdinand Presents media brand, which has over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube. Sara Davies MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) is a British entrepreneur, presenter and investor, best known for founding Crafter’s Companion, a multi-million pound DIY company, while at university. She was also a member of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den for six years, becoming the youngest female investor to appear on the programme.
As part of its strategic partnership with Alibaba.com, Kickstarter will offer a coaching programme dedicated to pitch winners who intend to launch crowdfunding campaigns within 12 months of the event. Finalists who launch campaigns on Kickstarter within that period will have access to exclusive benefits, including homepage visibility, newsletter listings, coaching from Kickstarter experts, and promotion on both partners’ marketing platforms.
The CoCreate Pitch prize pool consists of 50% non-dilutive cash prizes and 50% credits and support.
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