Movers and shakers in the Berlin startup scene are being asked to put down their BlackBerrys and pick up a bass, swap the spreadsheets for songsheets and ditch Powerpoint for the moshpit in a musical extravanganza that will test their skills outside of the boardroom in a Battle of the Startup Bands.

This October, six bands from the hottest startups will perform on stage in front of a live audience. The bands will have just 20 minutes to wow the crowd in hopes of being crowned the champions.

Wannabe startup superstars first need to first compile a video to impress the judges. Of those videos submitted, 12 will then be picked and invited to play on one of two nights in September to a live audience and “celebrity judging panel”. A core six will then perform for the title in October.

Organiser Christoph Raethke says that the definition of “band” is a broad one. It can just be one singer-songwriter or you could rally your whole team to form a startup supergroup. The only condition is that the music must not all be electronic  – so no minimal techno, guys…

Visit Battle of the Startup Bands to make your entry. We’d love to see the CEOs rocking out…

Text by Chloe Lloyd