“Shaping the future of commerce!”
KIABI and Agorize launch an innovation challenge for startups to reimagine tomorrow’s retail
LILLE, October 17, 2023 – KIABI, in partnership with Agorize, launches the “Future of Retail” Challenge, inviting European startups to take part. The goal? Envision the future of commerce by co-creating innovative, sustainable, and groundbreaking customer experiences while taking on technological shifts.
“At KIABI, we are deeply passionate about the customer experience and the future of accessible and sustainable fashion retail. With this Challenge, we’re eager to collaborate with startups that align with our vision of an enhanced customer journey, while also preserving our planet,” declares Jérôme Fauquembergue, Director of Innovation and New Business at KIABI.
Open Innovation: Beyond just technology, a strategy to anticipate the future and fast-track operational execution
For KIABI, this initiative goes beyond just exploring new tech. It’s also about identifying signs from the market signals, forecasting future trends, and bolstering the brand’s position as a genuine customer-centric company. The Challenge helps KIABI detect groundbreaking innovations that cater to customers’ evolving needs and partner with inventive companies that can accelerate the design phase. This open innovation model has previously helped enterprise organizations reduce time-to-market by 60%, significantly reducing the time between ideation and large-scale operational rollout.
A quest for the most innovative retail solutions
The Future of Retail Challenge calls upon startups to put forth innovative solutions in four key domains:
- Eco-responsible sales practices for brick-and-mortar stores
- Technologies for smart stores
- In-store customer experience
- Any innovative retail concepts
Selected startups will have the chance to work closely with KIABI to implement their innovative solutions.
Startups keen on participating can submit their application and solution until November 12 on the dedicated Challenge page.
“Agorize’s platform is the ideal springboard to connect large corporations with innovative startups. This challenge with Kiabi reinforces our mutual commitment to rethink and rejuvenate the retail sector,” explains Yohann Melamed, CEO of Agorize.
Large corporations seek not only Agorize’s software technology but also the expertise to scout and implement innovations, irrespective of their industry. Agorize is a globally recognized leader in innovation management, listed in the Top 3 of G2’s 2023 Best Idea Management Software ranking.
Centered around a specific theme, this Challenge encourages startups to present a variety of innovative approaches to update and enhance the sale of consumer goods.
Three key phases for an exceptional challenge:
- Application Phase: Startups can submit their solution by November 12.
- Finalists’ Pitch: On November 21, the top 10 propositions will be chosen for presentation before an expert jury.
- Pitch at the Mapic Innovation Forum: On November 29, the winning company will have the opportunity to showcase their solution at MAPIC, the fashion retail industry’s leading event in Cannes.
For further details, please get in touch with:
KIABI
Justine Sanson
justine.sanson@kiabi.com
+33 6 58 78 16 46
About KIABI
Established in 1978 in Northern France, KIABI revolutionized ready-to-wear by introducing an unprecedented affordable fashion concept for all families. With a network of 579 touchpoints in 25 countries, KIABI recorded a turnover of 2.2 billion euros in 2022. Always serving families since its inception, KIABI offers responsible, desirable, and affordable collections, designed in France by a team of 56 in-house stylists. A favorite brand among families, KIABI is backed by nearly 10,000 Kiabers from 60 nationalities.
Press contact
AGENCE MARIE-ANTOINETTE
kiabi@marie-antoinette.fr
About Agorize
Agorize offers an innovation management software solution that helps large enterprises accelerate their innovation process, from concept to broad-scale implementation. Agorize’s clients transform and create value using the most comprehensive innovation management platform connected to a community of 10 million startups and innovators, and supported by a team of experts. Founded in 2011 in Paris, Agorize serves over 300 global companies and will be the startup scouting partner for MAPIC 2023.
Agorize
Alexandre BARTHEL
alexandre.barthel@agorize.com
+33 7 60 09 32 42
