Telefonica’s digital startup accelerator Wayra Open Future has signed a new partnership with Cambridge Wireless which will allow its members to tap into the Telefonica Open Future’s global entrepreneurship and innovation network, which has already invested over €300m in 500 businesses
Specialist teams identified as developing innovative wireless, mobile and IoT technologies will also have the opportunity to access Wayra Open Future’s investor network and acceleration services.
One of the key drivers of the partnership is to leverage the reach of Telefonica’s commercial brands and if applicable, businesses will get the opportunity to access a global customer base of more than 300 million throughout Europe and Latin America.
And Wayra Open Future will also act as an additional channel to ‘plug’ CW members into the UK’s startup ecosystem.
“The real potential of this partnership is to strengthen regional ecosystems across the UK as a whole,” says Gary Stewart, director at Wayra Open Future, UK. “Wayra Open Future and CW are exemplars as to the aspirations and global appetites of our UK tech-based businesses. Many of the products and applications they’re developing will provide compelling, industry-changing solutions in years to come.”
Abhi Naha, head of marketing and business development at Cambridge Wireless, added: “This is a very exciting partnership, creating many opportunities for these exciting new businesses to become part of a well-established and connected ecosystem around connected devices, data and services, leveraging the strengths of Wayra Open Future and Cambridge Wireless.”
CW is the latest organisation to partner with Wayra Open Future, following the launch of Velocity Health, the UK’s first digital startup accelerator programme, which is backed by global healthcare company Merck Sharp & Dohme.
Over 100 Wayra Open Future startups will benefit from discounted CW membership, access to an extensive programme of technology events and conferences, along with the opportunity to collaborate with a global network of 400+ businesses.
The ultimate goal, agreed by both Wayra Open Future and Cambridge Wireless, is to strengthen the technology corridor between Cambridge and London.