Accenture has announced its creation of the Accenture Consumer Innovation Awards to recognise early stage start-up businesses that are changing and improving the way people shop and engage with brands.
Accenture is inviting emerging and start-up brands, creators of marketing tools or e-commerce platforms and retail technology providers to apply for the four awards. The categories are enhancing customer experience and personalisation; increasing sales revenue and footfall; improving product design sourcing and delivery; and enabling an in-store digital workforce.
From the applications 12 finalists will be invited to present an overview of their business to an exclusive panel of judges including representatives from Argos, Balderton Capital, Dixons Carphone, Sainsbury’s, Specsavers and Fjord, Design and Innovation from Accenture Interactive.
According to Accenture, in addition to receiving their award, winners will be given access to a team of experts at Accenture to obtain advice and consultation on how to improve select areas of their business and gain access to clients. They will also secure a three month showcase spot in Accenture’s Innovation Hub.
Teo Correia, global managing director of Accenture’s Consumer Goods and Services practice at Accenture, says the Awards “will celebrate and showcase those start-ups and smaller organisations that are making huge waves within the retail sector. For those entrants that successfully make it through to the final, the awards will allow them valuable time to showcase their existing brands and aspirations in front of many of the country’s most influential figures in the retail industry – an opportunity we hope will make a lasting difference to their businesses.”
Start-ups and emerging companies that are any one of the following are invited to apply: less than three years old, angel or venture funded or are pre-revenue or in beta product phase and there are no geographic restrictions on entries.
The winners of the four categories will be announced at the Millennial 20/20 summit on April 13 in London. The deadline for entry submissions is 20 March, 2016. Interested start-ups can visit http://millennial20-20.com/whatson/theawards/.
