Desigual launches open call for startups for second edition of ‘Awesome Lab’
Roberta HERRERA
The Spanish company is continuing to develop its startup accelerator programme. In collaboration with Wayra, Telefónica’s open innovation hub, the platform has just opened up applications for its second edition, as stated by the company during 4FYN, an event dedicated to entrepreneurship held as part of the Mobile World Congress.
This open call for applications, which can be submitted via the dedicated web platform, will be open until Monday March 27. From among all applicants, 8 to 10 companies will be shortlisted and will have to present their projects to a jury of experts in April.
Finally, four companies will be selected to develop pilot projects and work with different areas of the company, from data analytics to logistics optimisation, starting in May.
“Since our very beginnings we have been committed to innovation. It is one of our pillars within the Open Desigual
“We want to keep moving forward and this can only be possible by generating new opportunities that allow us to develop new ways of working and incorporate ideas and evolution in all areas and levels of the company”.
The Awesome Lab platform was created in 2021 with the aim of expanding creativity and innovation across the company. As explained by Eva Sirera, Desigual’s technology innovation leader, with this initiative the company seeks to “drive change in an open and practical way, converting Awesome Lab into a space for experimentation, innovation and creativity”.
Founded in 1984 in Barcelona, the fashion company currently has a retail network of 393 mono-brand shops and is present in 109 markets worldwide through 10 sales channels. According to its latest financial results, the Barcelona-based company recorded a turnover of 371 million euros in fiscal year 2021, up 3.4% from the previous year.
