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Global Call for Innovators working with ‘Customer Engagement and New Business Models’ – LAUNCH Innovation Challenge 2018 is open
Imagine a world where all products are services. Instead of buying new expensive gear for every adventure – gear you might never use again – you rent it. Rather than buying a fleet of brand new bikes every time your children grow a few inches, you subscribe to a bike replacement service. And when you don’t have time to keep up with the latest fashion trends, you can rely on a clothing subscription service, rather than an overstuffed wardrobe. Imagine a world where renting, leasing or subscribing to a service gives you access to better experiences more customized products or even saves you money.
Sounds crazy? At LAUNCH, we don’t think so! We think it’s time to build the world we want to live in. But we can’t do it alone! This year LAUNCH invites up to 10 innovators to make sustainable lifestyles and a truly Circular Society a reality.
We are seeking innovators across the globe who believe their innovations have the potential to significantly accelerate engagement in circular products and business models. We’re interested in innovations at any stage, from early prototype to commercially proven innovations. We urge individuals, teams, start-ups and established companies and organisations to apply, and help us find the answers to this year’s challenge on ‘Customer Engagement and New Business Models’. See more in the video:
The Challenge is open for submissions until deadline September 1st, 2018. Learn more and submit your innovation here.
“Once you’re part of the LAUNCH program, you will never not be a part of that community. It has been the single most valuable experience as a startup.” Natasha Franck, CEO and Founder at EON, LAUNCH Innovator 2017
LANCH teaming up with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
This year, LAUNCH has teamed up with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Disruptive Innovation Festival on announcing the 2018 LAUNCH Innovation Challenge. This year the focus of the Challenge is on Customer Engagement and New Business Models for a Circular Society. The announcement took place at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Annual Summit in London today, June 21st 2018.
What happens if you get selected?
Selected innovators will have the opportunity to present their innovation to members of the LAUNCH network at the LAUNCH Forum, to be held on December 5-6, 2018. The Forum is a facilitated multi-day event connecting innovators with investment partners, market leaders, and technical experts as well as philanthropic, NGO, and public sector actors committed to accelerating the adoption and scale of solutions. To learn more about the Challenge, nominate an innovator, or submit an innovation, visit launch.org/circular.
“I hope we can get a variety of innovations ranging from technology to more social and legislative…to have a mix of that would be wonderful.”Håkan Nordkvist, Head of Sustainability Innovation at IKEA, LAUNCH Circular Partner
If you want to know more about what you gain as an innovator and what innovations we are looking for, you can download the full Challenge statement here [link to the 2-pager: https://www.launch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LAUNCH-Circular-Innovation-Challenge-2018.pdf].
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more about LAUNCH partners, please contact:
- eBay: Kari Ramirez, Lead Communications Manager, North America: karamirez@ebay.com
- IKEA Group: Jamie Rusby, Head of Sustainability Communications: jamie.rusby@ikea.com
- VF Corporation: Craig Hodges, Senior Director, Corporate Communications: Craig_Hodges@vfc.com
- Novozymes: Rene Tronborg: retr@novozymes.com
- Kvadrat: Alice Rasmussen: ar@kvadrat.org
For more information about LAUNCH Circular and this year’s challenge contact Sofus Midtgaard, Director LAUNCH Circular +45 30 220 111, sofus@launch.org – for more information about LAUNCH visit www.launch.org or contact Kristin Coates, Executive Director @ +1 415 465 5533, kristin@launch.org.
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