Toyota Startup Accelerator winners impress with their sustainable and inclusive innovations
· Kicked off in July 2021, the second edition of Toyota’s Startup Accelerator in Europe seeks innovative solutions in Sustainability and Mobility for All
· 5 winning startups pitched their Proof of Concept to investors, media and executives of Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and its partner ISDI on the Demo Day
· Toyota Startup Accelerator brings together innovative approaches & new thinking of startups and the knowhow & scale opportunities of established corporations
Brussels, 28 June, 2022 – The journey started with the open call by Toyota Motor Europe (TME) to recruit startups developing innovative solutions for Sustainability and Mobility for All in July ‘21, in collaboration with ISDI Digital Business School.
In October ’21, the 10 most innovative startups were selected from around 150 applications, originating from over 40 countries. Next, these 10 companies went into the bootcamp, which was designed to further hone their business skills and projects. The programme focused on hands-on interactive learning with entrepreneurs, C-level executives and Toyota experts in various areas such as agile product design, working with corporations, talent scouting, Intellectual Property Rights, internationalisation strategy and more.
At the end of the bootcamp in December ’21, 5 winning startups were chosen to proceed to the 6-month final acceleration phase. Using funds granted by Toyota as well as close support from business mentors and Toyota Guides, they developped their Proof of Concepts.
Last week, their year-long journey culminated with a Demo Day pitch in front of investors, media and executives from Toyota and ISDI.
For Toyota it is key to remain innovative in this fast changing world. We look at what is good for Toyota as well as for society overall, especially in the fields of Sustainability and Inclusive Mobility. Startups are true game changers with their innovative technologies. As a large company we can help them to scale their solutions while we learn and become more innovative ourselves. That is what makes this Toyota Startup Accelerator program fantastic.
The 5 best innovators of the Toyota Startup Accelerator 2nd Edition share their takeaways
Toyota continues its journey towards happiness for all
It was very inspiring for me today to feel the passion and spirit of all these startups. Attending their pitches, I am sincerely convinced that we achieved what we were looking for: finding ways to contribute to society through sustainable innovation. And although we need to weigh elements such as the business model, KPIs and return on investment, in essence this is about so much more. It is about helping to create a better world. This is a journey we are on together, and in which startups like the ones we have seen today play a major role."
About ISDI Accelerator
ISDI Accelerator was founded at ISDI, the leading digital business school in Spain in 2014 with the aim of channeling the entrepreneurial efforts of ISDI students into Europe’s startup ecosystem by facilitating collaboration between public entities, corporations, educational entities, investors, and founders. Since its inception, ISDI Accelerator has developed dozens of incubation and acceleration programs that have helped accelerate hundreds of startups and thousands of companies. ISDI Accelerator appears at the top of the European and global rankings, and in 2019 its IMPACT Connected Car program was chosen as the best startup acceleration project that year by the European Commission.
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (GAZOO Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 27,000 people and has invested over EUR 10 billion in Europe since 1990. Its nine European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and Russia. Today, there are approximately 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2021, TME sold 1,076,300 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share. For more information, visit Facts & Figures (toyota.eu) and www.toyota-europe.com.
Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible. In the pursuit of "Mobility for All", Toyota aims to create safer, more connected, inclusive and sustainable mobility to achieve its mission of producing “Happiness for All”. In Europe, TME launched the KINTO mobility brand which offers a range of mobility services in 14 countries, and is growing its business-to-business sales of zero-emission fuel cell products and engineering support. Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Toyota is working to achieve carbon neutrality in its entire business across Europe. A historic leader in CO2 reduction in Europe, TME aims to achieve 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles in Western Europe by 2035 and will continue to offer a full range of electrified powertrains to customers across the region with its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles. When it comes to sustainability, Toyota is committed to going Beyond Zero.