XRC Labs, a startup accelerator for entrepreneurs in the retail and consumer goods industries, is now accepting applications for its third cohort program, which will run from Jan. 3 to April 10, 2017.
The concept of startup accelerators is gaining steam within retail, with these companies partnering with big name brands such as Target and Westfield to give innovators an opportunity to get a brand off the ground with the help of advice and funding from industry veterans.
In the case of XRC Labs, applicants with backgrounds in customer experiences, brands and retailing compete to be among the 10 startups selected for the program. The accelerator offers courses, workshops, mentoring, venture capital prep sessions, as well as other marketing and design-related services. XRC Labs will invest capital in each of the startups to support their development.
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The accelerator focuses on topics such as omnichannel retail, product development and data science, and explores innovations that address the challenges and opportunities presented by:
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Customer loyalty;
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Customer experience;
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Geolocation;
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3D printing;
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Crowdsourcing;
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Personalization;
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Consumer insights;
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Internet of Things (IoT); and
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Video analytics.
XRC Labs expanded the program by extending each cohort session from 10 to 14 weeks. Two weeks will be added after the Demo Day to support the startups in actively raising funds.
“The 2016 Cohort Class was a dynamic mix of startups in the e-Commerce, retail, design, interactive tech, 3D printing and smart materials sectors,” said Pano Anthos, Founder and Managing Director of XRC Labs. “We were not surprised by their rapid impact on the retail marketplace in so many arenas and we look forward to this next cohort class achieving similar success.”
Entrepreneurs can apply at xrclabs.com/.
