Unilever Foundry, a platform that enables startup companies to engage and collaborate with each other, says that by the middle part of the next decade, the corporate sector is likely to be working alongside startups ‘under the same roof’, in order to meet changing consumer needs.
A study carried out by the group, The State of Innovation, found that 80% of corporates believe that startups can have a positive impact on a large company’s approach to innovation, while close to half (46%) of startups who have not worked with corporates previously are likely to do so in the future.
Strategic Imperative
“Collaboration can no longer be viewed as an optional extra, it’s a strategic imperative,” said Aline Santos, Unilever EVP Global Marketing. “Startups are now widely recognised as invaluable sources of innovation, fueling growth and providing pioneering business solutions.
“The State of Innovation report reveals the appetite for collaboration between corporates and startups and signals a shift in the models adopted for future partnerships. As the Unilever Foundry continues its journey looking for exciting new partnerships, we are continually learning to ensure our future collaborations are effective as possible.”
The study was carried out with more than 200 brand managers and heads of innovation and over 100 startup founders and directors across India, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States.
Tech Partnerships
Unilever Foundry has previously worked on projects that enable emerging tech companies and startups to connect with Unilever brands. For example, its condiment brand Hellmann’s recently partnered with delivery startup Quiqup on a project that could deliver fresh ingredients to consumers at the click of a finger.
Elsewhere, its Knorr brand partnered with AI firm Digital Genius to offer recipe ideas to consumers in India.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
