Startup adVANce Challenge | Startup Partnership by Mercedes-Benz Vans 9 Phase 1: Alignment Phase  Open Call for Phase 1 (Alignment Phase) Startups can file their application for participation in Phase 1 with a proposal for a Product (“Product Idea”) during an application period from September 14, 2016 through January 15, 2017, 23:59 (CET) via f6s.com (https://www.f6s.com/startup-advance/apply) (Open Call for Phase 1).  Selection for Phase 1 (Alignment Phase) In the Selection for Phase 1 (to be completed on February 7, 2017), Daimler AG will select up to eighty (80) startups, which will be informed about their selection for Phase 1 (“Daimler Meet Up Notice”). The Daimler Meet Up Notice will include an invitation to the selected startups to a workshop (“Daimler Meet Up”). Participation of the startup in the Daimler Meet Up requires the prior entering into a Non-Disclosure-Agreement (NDA) with Daimler AG in order to safeguard confidential information that is exchanged during the workshop.  Phase 1 (Alignment Phase) The start of Phase 1 is February 7, 2017. The Daimler Meet Up has a duration of two days and will take place in February/ beginning of March 2017 in Stuttgart, Germany (Daimler AG may decide to offer additional locations outside of Europe as an option). The startups have to bear their own costs for the participation in the Daimler Meet Up. The aim of the Daimler Meet Up is to align the Product Idea that the startup has filed during the Open Call for Phase 1 with the purpose of the Startup adVANce Challenge, and to further refine the Product Idea. In the Daimler Meet Up, Daimler AG will provide the startups with an overview about different future transportation scenarios for Mercedes-Benz Vans and feedback to the Product Ideas. After the Daimler Meet Up, the startup has the opportunity to rethink and refine its Product Idea until March 26, 2017 (End of Phase 1). The level of maturity expected for the end of Phase 1 (Alignment Phase) is a clear and detailed Product Idea matching Mercedes-Benz Vans’ purpose and that can be elaborated and transferred into a concept in Phase 2. Additionally the startup needs to have an idea how the corresponding Product Idea’s business model looks like. Phase 2: Concept Phase  Call for Phase 2 (Concept Phase) Startups that have participated in Phase 1 (Alignment Phase) can file their application for participation in Phase 2 during a filing period from March 26, 2017 through April 9, 2017, 23:59 (CET) (Call for Phase 2). The entry point for the application will be announced on the Startup adVANce Challenge Homepage (http://startup-advance.mercedes-benz.com) in March 2017. The subject matter of Phase 2 is the elaboration of a detailed concept and business model based on the Product Idea, as refined during Phase 1 (“Concept”). Together with the refined Product Idea, the startup shall submit a first draft of the Concept, which shall also specify the proposed level of cooperation the startup may require from Daimler AG during Phase 2. If the applying startup has its registered offices in the United States of America, this startup must, together with its application, nominate an EU Affiliate (cf. Sec. 1.4, item 3). More detailed information and requirements regarding the Concept as well as supporting documents will be provided in the “Application Guidelines”, which Daimler AG will make available on the Startup adVANce Challenge Homepage (http://startup-advance.mercedes-benz.com).  Selection for Phase 2 (Concept Phase) In the Selection for Phase 2 (to be completed on April 25, 2017), Daimler AG will select ten (10) startups, which will be informed about their selection for Phase 2 (“Phase 2 Selection Notice”). The Phase 2 Selection Notice will include a request to return, by May 5, 2017, 23:59 (CET), at the latest, a duly signed copy of the agreement that would be the basis of the collaboration of Daimler AG and the startup during Phase 2 and, in case Daimler was to select the startup for Phase 3, Phase 3 (“Cooperation Agreement”). For the Cooperation Agreement, please click here. If the startup that has received the Phase 2 Selection Notice does not submit the duly signed copy of the Cooperation Agreement by May 5, 2017, 23:59 (CET), the startup will be excluded from participation in Phase 2 (Concept Phase) and Phase 3 (Prototype Phase). As part of the Selection, Daimler AG will carry out due diligence regarding the startup, according to Daimler AG’s usual procedures for doing business with third parties. Information required from the startup in this context will be specified in the Application Guidelines.  Phase 2 (Concept Phase) The start of Phase 2 is May 6, 2017. The Concept Phase is a pre-stage to the final Prototype Phase (Phase 3) and includes all activities required to convert the refined Product Idea into the Concept which can, in Phase 3 (assuming the selection of the startup for Phase 3), be converted into a Prototype. Relevant activities are for example the completion of initial CAD files in case of a hardware product or the initial coding in case of a software product. Daimler AG may provide information to the startup on relevant interfaces to allow startups to develop their Concept in line with the Mercedes-Benz Vans environment and compatible to Mercedes-Benz Vans products. The level of maturity expected for the end of Phase 2 (Concept Phase) is a “ready-to-go” concept that can, without any need for significant further specifications, be used to build the first rough version of the prototype. The technical aspects of the development of the Concept may occur in cooperation with Daimler AG and