Lafayette Plug and Play, the innovation platform initiated by the Galeries Lafayette group and the Plug and Play Tech Center accelerator, is adapting to the current context by launching the recruitment for its new cohort. The focus of this program is on digital transformation and retail flexibility, inviting applications from French start-ups and international scale-ups looking to accelerate the digital transformation of retail.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to complex health, social, and economic situations, forcing many brands and houses to explore alternative and temporary solutions. However, it is crucial to consider the aftermath and think about how retailers and e-retailers will have to transform themselves after this crisis. Pieter Lammens, Director of Lafayette Plug and Play, emphasizes the importance of collaborating with start-ups that can quickly provide actionable solutions to save valuable time. The current store closures have further emphasized the need for omnichannel transformation and the speed at which digitalization and flexibility are adopted.
In this new cohort, Lafayette Plug and Play is prioritizing initiatives that focus on e-commerce and the agility of supply and production flows. Solutions that can be deployed within short deadlines are crucial in this urgent context. Selected companies will participate in an intensive three-month program that includes meetings and workshops with sector experts, key decision-makers, and investors from the Lafayette Plug and Play ecosystem. The goal is to support their commercial development and growth opportunities.
The call for applications began on April 6 and will remain open until May 22, 2020, on the Lafayette Plug and Play website.
Useful links:
– Lafayette Plug and Play
– Plug and Play Tech Center
