Unilever Launches Program to Help Entrepreneurs Go from Start-up to Scaleup with the Unilever Foundry
27 Oktober 2015 - 1:00PM
Business Wire
Unilever announced today that the Unilever Foundry will launch
in North America on November 17, 2015. The Unilever Foundry is the
company’s global platform to connect Unilever brands with
innovative start-ups seeking to partner with the world’s second
largest advertiser. Unilever Foundry enables the company’s global
brands to experiment with and pilot new technologies more
efficiently and effectively. It also provides start-ups and
entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and work on global
projects, access mentoring from marketing professionals, and tap
into a new source of funding through Unilever Ventures.
Kees Kruythoff, Unilever North America President, explains,
“Pioneering new approaches to business has been core to Unilever
since our company was founded more than 130 years ago. In an
always-on, data-driven and connected world--innovative and
forward-thinking technology companies will play a vital role in
helping our brands continue to engage meaningfully with people
everywhere. Through Unilever Foundry, we’re enabling our brands and
functions to continue to lead the industry through engaging with
the pioneers of today: start-ups.”
With Unilever Foundry, the start-up community can see the
challenges Unilever faces and apply to pitch solutions to senior
business leaders. Unilever Foundry, which has already launched in
the United Kingdom, Singapore and India with products such as Axe,
Magnum and Knorr, dramatically simplifies the way in which
entrepreneurs engage with Unilever and offers an exciting
opportunity for the best and brightest to pilot their
technology.
The Unilever Foundry offers four key opportunities for start-ups
and entrepreneurs:
1. Marketing Mentors
Over a period of three months, Unilever mentors work
individually with start-ups and entrepreneurs to craft their brand
vision, marketing strategy and product roadmap. Aline Santos,
Senior Vice President, Marketing, explains, “Through the mentoring
program, we hope to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and
build businesses that may eventually become global strategic
partners. Mentoring also enables our marketers across the
organization to engage directly with start-ups and be inspired by
new ideas and ways of working.”
2. Challenges
Through the platform, Unilever brands and functional teams post
briefs looking for innovative technology solutions. Companies with
proven technology are invited to pitch their solution and, if
selected, pilot their technology with Unilever. The
pitch-pilot-partner process enables Unilever to embed
experimentation at the heart of the marketing function. Since
starting the Foundry in the United Kingdom 18 months ago, Unilever
has already launched 75 pilots with different start-ups around the
world. On November 17th, Unilever North America brands will also
launch challenges to start-ups from across the region.
3. Investment
Unilever Foundry also gives companies the option to apply for
funding through Unilever Ventures, the venture capital arm of
Unilever. One of the investment focus areas for Unilever Ventures
is ‘digital marketing’; and it has already made several successful
investments in this space, including Olapic, Yummly and Brandtone.
“Through Unilever Foundry, we hope to make more start-ups aware of
this opportunity to receive investment from the world’s second
largest advertiser. In combining our business and marketing
knowledge with the expertise available in venture capital through
Unilever Foundry, we are in a position to provide the best of both
worlds,” explains Olivier Garel, Head of Unilever Ventures.
4. Be part of the launch event
The Unilever Foundry launch in North America will be celebrated
with an event where more than 150 Unilever Marketers and leaders
from the NA start-up community will come together to network, see
pitches from leading start-ups, and explore opportunities for
collaboration. Start-ups who would like to attend the event as a
guest are invited to apply here:
https://foundry.unilever.com/events.
“Technology companies continue to lead and shape the future of
marketing and Unilever has been a pioneer in establishing global
partnerships with the largest digital players. However, as the
speed of innovation increases and disruptions seemingly occur
overnight, Unilever understands the importance of recognizing these
trends and connecting with the start-up ecosystem as well,” said
Babs Rangaiah, Unilever Vice President of Global Media Innovation
and Ventures.
Briefs detailing requirements and the innovative technology
solutions that can help will be posted on
https://foundry.unilever.com.
About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home
and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and
reaching 2 billion consumers a day. It has 172,000 employees and
generated sales of €48.4 billion in 2014. Over half (57%) of the
company’s footprint is in developing and emerging markets. Unilever
has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including
Persil, Dove, Knorr, Domestos, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Wall’s, PG Tips,
Ben & Jerry’s, Marmite, Magnum and Lynx.
Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) commits to:
- Decoupling growth from environmental
impact.
- Helping more than a billion people take
action to improve their health and well-being.
- Enhancing the livelihoods of millions
of people by 2020.
Unilever was ranked number one in its sector in the 2014 Dow
Jones Sustainability Index. In the FTSE4Good Index, it achieved the
highest environmental score of 5. It led the list of Global
Corporate Sustainability Leaders in the 2014
GlobeScan/SustainAbility annual survey for the fourth year running,
and in 2015 was ranked the most sustainable food and beverage
company in Oxfam’s Behind the Brands Scorecard.
Unilever has been named in LinkedIn’s Top 3 most sought-after
employers across all sectors.
For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit
www.unilever.com. For more information on the USLP:
www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151027005590/en/
UnileverU.S. Media Relations:Jaime Stein,
201-894-7760Mediarelations.USA@Unilever.comorMedia Relations:Laura
MisselbrookLaura.Misselbrook@unilever.com
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