One of Russia鈥檚 largest retail companies is looking to work with start-ups in the UK.听
Lenta and听corporate accelerator听GenerationS听are inviting听early-stage companies to apply for a paid pilot scheme, with听their solutions听potentially then听being implemented within Lenta鈥檚 chain of听250 hypermarkets and 135 supermarkets in听around 90听Russian cities.听
The听call听includes听international start–ups in the USA, Europe, Israel, China and South Korea, with the听main goal听of听finding听mature technology solutions for听optimising听the retailer’s business in marketing, operations, logistics and supply chain management, as well as HR areas.听
鈥淲e understand the local technology landscape and now looking for promising solutions in countries with the most advanced innovation ecosystem,鈥� said听Vladimir Sorokin, General Director, Lenta.听
鈥淥ur goal is to identify breakthrough projects that will enable us to lead the technological leadership in retail in a number of areas.听听
鈥淲e are confident that the expertise and experience of听GenerationS听will help us in the implementation of this project.鈥�听
The main requirements for听applying听start–ups are a legal entity, a team of not less than听two听people and first sales听–听or听successfully implemented pilot projects听–听in the field of retail.听Teams听must听be ready to pilot their projects in Russia.听听
Start–ups听have听until November听8th听to apply and can do so听.听听
Accelerator experts will听then听select most promising projects, which will present their solutions at the pitch session to the management of Lenta.听听
Based on the results of the pitch session, the best teams will get the opportunity not only to start paid pilots, but also the possibility of long-term cooperation both with the company itself and with other corporations of the听Severgroup听鈥� an Investment Group which also includes Lenta.听
Ekaterina Petrova, Director of听GenerationS, said: 鈥淎 joint project with such a large and significant Russian retail player as Lenta plays an important role for听GenerationS. We already have a successful experience working together with international retailers, so cooperation with a Russian company will be a logical course and valuable experience for us in terms of getting new expertise.听听
鈥�Having deep knowledge and understanding of aspects of the innovation international market, as well as longstanding close cooperation with the international innovation ecosystem,听GenerationS听will be able to use all the tools to find mature solutions.听听
鈥�Close collaboration with international startups will help Lenta to reach a new innovative level putting it on par with the largest European and Western retailers.鈥�听