AD Stretch Accelerator, powered by Avery Dennison, is a non-dilutive startup accelerator centered on buyer engagement, sustainability, and supplies innovation. You get the prospect to affix a novel group of like-minded disruptors and faucet into priceless assets to quickly develop your modern answer.
Scale Up with Avery Dennison – an 88-year-old Startup!
Over the past 80+ years, Avery Dennison has grown from one vibrant concept into a worldwide Fortune 500® company that continues to advance high quality and innovation in supplies science and options that elevate manufacturers with shoppers, optimize clients’ processes and merchandise, and allow extra clever and productive provide chains.
Its merchandise—together with labels, radio-frequency identification (RFID) options, tapes and fasteners, medical adhesives, and extra—are on or in numerous objects that individuals see and use each day. With 30,000+ workers throughout 50+ international locations, Avery Dennison runs over 100 operations on six continents.
AD Stretch Seeks Innovation in Vitality Storage Supplies, Maximizing Shopper Experiences & Sustainable Packaging for this Third Cohort
AD Stretch Accelerator is on the lookout for innovators and founders who would collaborate to handle actual enterprise issues and create impactful options throughout the next problem areas:
Theme 1: Subsequent-generation Vitality Storage Supplies
Problem 1: Enhance the Efficiency of Batteries
AD Stretch is concerned about supplies (together with coatings, substrates, and components) that enhance battery efficiency with a view of the migration from present to future applied sciences. The options ought to enhance vitality density and effectivity or incorporate supplies that present practical enhancements to battery supplies, together with security. Some examples of potential options embody:
- Activable high-shear adhesives
- Insulation enhancements by way of next-gen compounds
- Coatings to enhance hearth retardancy
- Merchandise that assist within the transition to solid-state batteries or gasoline cells
Problem 2: Optimize Prices for Vitality Storage
AD Stretch is on the lookout for supplies that may enhance the prices of manufacturing of present and future applied sciences in vitality storage. An space of curiosity is multi-functional supplies that may mix properties similar to insulation and flame retardancy. Some examples of potential options embody:
- Various materials to switch 1+ supplies used as we speak
- Technique/materials to hurry up the present movie/tape coating manufacturing course of, e.g., altering the solvent-based electrode coating course of to dry coating processes
Theme 2: Maximizing Shopper Experiences
Problem 3: Enhancing Bodily and Digital Retail Experiences
AD Stretch is on the lookout for options to assist manufacturers elevate their shopper retail expertise in-store and thru e-commerce. This will likely embody enabling product customization on the level of sale or digital retail applied sciences. Some examples of potential options embody:
- Applied sciences that enable customization of colour, graphics, match, efficiency, and waste discount within the provide chain, after the product has been produced however earlier than the purpose of sale (single unit or multiples); e.g., Nike By You
- Software program-as-a-Service that helps handle the provision chain to allow product customization (e.g., The place a person can order the addition of ‘title block & numbers’ to a sports activities jersey)
- Applied sciences that take away/cut back friction and make it simpler for a shopper to analysis and consider merchandise earlier than making buying choices, join with like-minded shoppers, or discover, fill, and pay their orders seamlessly
Problem 4: Model Safety
AD Stretch seeks options that may enable attire and footwear manufacturers to authenticate their merchandise, reliably and for the lifetime of the product (with out utilizing a separate app). A key aim right here is to assist shoppers seamlessly authenticate their buy and create robust engagement with the product. Some examples of potential options embody:
- Authentication applied sciences that may be utilized/built-in utilizing market-available printing applied sciences
- Options that allow the mixing of digital triggers into textile or different mediums that may be completely connected to a garment
- Authentication options that may be covert (the place the buyer can’t see it) or overt (the buyer can see and authenticate it)
- serialization, simply not with the ability to be copied
- Authentication options for resale from one shopper to a different and incorporate a function for DPP (Digital Product Passport)
Theme 3: Sustainable Packaging
Problem 5: Enabling Packaging Reuse
AD Stretch is on the lookout for options that may assist broaden packaging reuse options and construct a round economic system in shopper items, with a selected curiosity in fixing challenges with reverse logistics, packaging traceability, large knowledge and AI, course of automation, end-of-life administration, and recycling. Some examples of potential options embody:
- Options to handle reusable provide chains
- Options for reverse logistics of reusable packaging, together with packaging return, sorting, transportation of packaging
- Reuse options for sports activities and music occasions
- EOL Recycling options for metal-based digital triggers like RFID, NFC, or BLE
- AI/Information-powered options to forecast demand and improve the return fee
- Various ornament and packaging options that allow packaging reuse
- Washing answer for reusable packaging
- High quality inspection for reusable packaging
Win Massive with the AD Stretch Accelerator!
AD Stretch companions with entrepreneurs in some ways, together with minority fairness investments, joint improvement agreements, non-recurring engineering initiatives, reseller relationships, and different types of strategic technical and business partnerships. Uncover all the advantages of becoming a member of this system:
- Pilot Funding: a novel alternative to experiment with a paid pilot undertaking.
- Fast Progress: broaden your buyer base and scale up with a globally acknowledged chief.
- Materials Science Mastery: leverage Avery Dennison’s huge expertise in materials science management to revolutionize your merchandise and options.
- World Community: entry a novel community of trade consultants and mentors who can flip your startup into a worldwide phenomenon.
- Demo Day: showcase your progress to trade companions, traders, and media within the extremely anticipated AD Stretch Demo Days.
Additional, AD Stretch doesn’t take fairness. The pilots will likely be funded as per the settlement between you and your program lead. This system will offer you networks, assist, and steering, and AD Stretch will make introductions to assist together with your funding and scaling targets.
“Being a part of AD Stretch has opened doorways to many markets a lot quicker than we may have accomplished ourselves. The undertaking’s champions and mentors have been instrumental in Cellr efficiently working pilots throughout totally different segments. We actually realized what it takes to face on a worldwide stage with a objective. Scaling up with a model like Avery Dennison is a sport changer, and we’re very excited to see the place this journey goes subsequent”, says Chris Braine, CEO and co-founder of program participant, Cellr.
Ought to Your Firm Apply for AD Stretch?
AD Stretch is trying to work with startups (from pre-seed stage to sequence C), which can be already out there or have gross sales traction out there. Earlier-stage corporations may apply and will likely be thought-about on a case-by-case foundation.
In case your startup doesn’t match the problem areas, however you’re engaged on one thing that will likely be helpful for Avery Dennison, you may additionally apply and it will likely be thought-about on a case-by-case foundation.
Timeline & Essential Dates for the AD Stretch Accelerator
Functions are actually open – submit your application as we speak!
- Functions Deadline: November 17, 2023
- Startup Choice: January 2024
- Pilot Section: January to August 2024
- Demo Day: September 2024
Get a glimpse into the newest AD Stretch Demo Day from LATAM 2023
In simply 18 months, the AD Stretch accelerator program has grown from launch mode to a thriving program that fielded over 500 purposes from over 35 international locations and created pilot packages for 14 startup companies.
Able to scale your modern enterprise with Avery Dennison? Explore more about the AD Stretch Accelerator & apply today!
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