IC tomorrow is launching a new digital innovation contest for fashion startups
IC tomorrow, the Technology Strategy Board’s programme for Tech City, is running a £120k contest to encourage digital innovation in the fashion and retail industries.
The contest, run in collaboration with the British Fashion Council and the Tech City Investment Organisation, will be open to innovative and creative ideas to help solve fashion industry challenges in three areas: design (the “mass personalisation and customisation” challenge), retail (the “mall of the future” challenge) and media (the “creating a communal and responsive experience through mobile technology” challenge).
Four businesses will be given the opportunity to receive up to £25,000 in funding, which they can then use to develop commercial prototypes, and the contest is open to anyone – applicants do not need to have a background in fashion or have an existing product to apply. The application deadline is 12 noon on Wednesday June 12.
Challenge partners include the London College of Fashion, augmented reality business Holition, the creators of the world’s first pop-up mall Boxpark, and fashion and celebrity magazine Grazia.
IC tomorrow held a briefing event for the contest at Digital Shoreditch last week, which hit full capacity (for those who weren’t able to attend, a video of the webinar is available to watch).
Finance speed-dating networking
IC tomorrow has also announced a speed-networking event, held in association with Robot Corp and London New Finance, which will offer digital startups the opportunity to meet top organisations and commercial partners in the financial sector. Attendees include State Street, Credit Suisse, Lloyds, Accenture, RBS and JP Morgan among others.
The event will take place at The Hospital Club on Monday June 24 from 17.30, and it will focus on connecting financial institutions, banks and asset managers with digital innovators, using a speed-dating format. Attendees will rotate around the room, with strictly five minutes within which to have a one-to-one conversation or pitch to each finance industry representative.
Startups must apply in advance.