L Marks maps out a bold vision to further help corporates and startups work together

by Startacus Admin

Innovation specialists and early-stage investors L Marks have launched five new innovation products, designed to help corporates and startups work together more effectively. Keen to find out more, we took a look over the key details.

Innovation specialists and early-stage investors L Marks are best known for collaborating and partnering with some of the UK's best known brands to identify the challenges in their business, then create bespoke partnership and startup scouting projects and turn these into opportunities for improvement and innovation.

From their recent innovation projects with BMW Group, Arsenal FC, Belron, and Mishcon de Reya through to their programmes with corporate stalwarts such as IAG and Wincanton, it’s fair to say that L Marks have their finger on the pulse when it comes to how startups and corporates can effectively both collaborate and also work together. 

However, L Marks are now also leveraging their expertise and experience to deliver five entirely new programmes, ranging from supporting tomorrow's entrepreneurs, to enabling large businesses to develop their own internal think tanks, through to providing startups with the opportunity to join corporate innovation programmes at any time.

Aimed at complementing the existing accelerator programmes which L Marks run, Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive of L Marks, explained:

"As leaders in applied corporate innovation, we've curated these new initiatives based on our experiences and ability to deliver quantifiable value to our corporate partners and ensure they engage with startups  in a way that complements the traditional accelerator model."

In brief, the five new innovation products from L Marks are: 

Young Sparks

Young Sparks is designed to provide tomorrow's entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, support, investment, and commercial relationships with global corporates. Open to 11-18 year-olds with an aspiring interest in business and innovation, the first corporate-supported Young Sparks programme will take place this summer.

Launchpad

Launchpad enables large businesses to develop their own internal think tanks and develop strategies to tackle their key commercial challenges - all in the space of three days. Launchpad is bringing together corporate executives and employees from a range of disciplines and is also facilitating the development of solutions that are directly addressing corporate business opportunities and challenges.

The Network

The Network is bringing together L Marks' network of leading figures across 20 different industries at a series of global events to promote cross-sector innovation. Events include the Innovation World Tour L Marks Innovation Day, roundtable discussions on local issues; sessions with thought leaders, and pre-commercial showcases of emerging technologies.  Innovation World Tour showcases global tech hubs including Europe, USA and Israel. 

Innovation 52

In order to make startup collaboration a key part of their business operations, L Marks has created a continuous accelerator programme that runs throughout the year. Startups will now be able to apply to work with L Marks' corporate partners at any time with successful teams joining one of three accelerator cohorts, gaining access to mentors, data and trialing opportunities with the corporate partner

Challenge Sprints

Encouraging a continual innovation strategy, L Marks is running a rapid startup scouting process based on challenge sprints. As individual challenges are set, the process is fast paced with the launch, scouting, onboarding and integration within the corporate partner all taking place within a few months.

We look forward to seeing how the five programmes further cement L Marks’ position as a leading specialist in corporate and startup innovation.

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Published on: 15th February 2018