JLAB - the Startup Accelerator Programme from the John Lewis Partnership is back

by Startacus Admin

If your startup is focused on catapulting the retail shopping experience into the future, then you may well be delighted to hear that JLAB, the startup accelerator programme from the John Lewis Partnership, is back open for applications for its fourth year.

With Waitrose also joining the programme to make JLAB 2017 even more valuable, we thought it wise to share all the key details and handy links below:

Run in partnership with innovation specialists L Marks, JLAB are once again inviting startups with disruptive tech to join its 2017 programme.

What are JLAB looking for?

JLAB is focusing on enhancing customer experience and is inviting early-stage and high-growth companies looking to collaborate with in the following categories:

Amazing Food Experiences: There is a growing potential to enhance customer experience in food shopping and food service. They are looking for start-ups which will help them to serve food to their customers in more convenient, exciting and innovative ways.

Amazing Store Experiences: They want to partner with start-ups to make in store experiences even more inspiring and individual.

Effortless Shopping: They are looking for solutions that create frictionless on and offline shopping for customers; start-ups who can help them to enhance shopping experiences and save their customers time.

Help Me Live a Healthier Life: They want to help their customers to live well when it comes to their food and lifestyle. They want to find innovative health and wellbeing solutions that can be implemented across online channels and in store.

Smarter Supply Chain: They want to hear from start-ups who have innovative ideas, or solutions to disrupt traditional supply chain practices, from last mile deliveries and farm to fork traceability to smart product IDs and Internet of Things.

Surprise us - Innovations that are so out of this world they can’t be classified.

Whats on offer this year?

This year between 5-10 successful applicants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves across both the John Lewis and Waitrose businesses. Throughout the twelve-week programme, which commences in July, they will receive, amongst other things:

• Support from senior level mentors and free workspace in John Lewis’s head office in Victoria and Waitrose’s head office in Bracknell.

• Access to industry knowledge and expertise from across the John Lewis Partnership, as well as specialist insight on the Partnership’s combined range of over 400,000 of fashion, home, food and technology products and services.

• Access to capital from the dedicated microfund provided by the John Lewis Partnership and L Marks, with team will be eligible to apply for funding of up to £100,000 from the total pot of £200,000, in exchange for equity in their company.

The process & how to apply?

• Applications opened on Tuesday 28th March and will close at midnight on 30 April.

• A number of startups will then be invited to take part in a pitch day on the 6th June to help John Lewis Partnership and L Marks shortlist.

• John Lewis Partnership and L Marks will then select five to ten startups to complete the 12 week JLAB programme, commencing in July 2017.

• The final winner will be announced at a showcase event in September 2017!
  
  
  

Here at Startacus we are delighted to hear that this programme returns again for 2017 and we look forward to hearing what innovative and disruptive startups are selected for this years programme.

For all the details, FAQs, and to of course to apply - head straight on over to Jlab.co.uk. Good luck!

 

 

• #l marks
• #jlab
• #john lewis
• #waitrose
• #startup accelerator programme
• #retail
• #shopping experience
• #corporate innovation
• #innovation
• #john lewis partnership

Published on: 30th March 2017