The Challenge
This challenge seeks to develop new business models and ideas that will enhance the customer journey, sales cycle and user experience around battery service ecosystems, e.g. automotive wholesalers, repair shops, drivers, solution providers and other elements within the value chain for low voltage battery solutions.
*Clarios owns the rights to the VARTA® Automotive brand to produce automotive low voltage automotive batteries. However, VARTA AG and Clarios are entirely independent and distinct companies.
What to expect
Up to 8 participants will have the opportunity to workshop their solution with VARTA® Automotive and its parent company Clarios* with The Future Charge Open Innovation Challenge over the course of one month.
The Open Innovation Challenge will consist of a series of events that will run over November and December.
Virtual Kick off (online)
Onboarding for finalists where you'll get introduced to the problem and use cases.
Bootcamp Days (in-person)
As a finalist, you'll be invited to a design thinking workshop your ideas with Clarios representatives around their VARTA® Automotive brand. This is your opportunity to better understand the requirements of the VARTA® Automotive ecosystem and develop your value proposition. There will also be coaches and experts to help support you on business topics to support your final pitch to VARTA® Automotive and Clarios.
Ideation Sprint (online)
You'll have a week to fine tune your solution and prepare for the demo day.
Pitch Day (in-person)
Each team will present their solution. A chance to meet and network with executives and representatives from VARTA® Automotive and parent company Clarios. There will be up to 3 winners; one winner will receive one POC with VARTA® Automotive its parent company Clarios.
Who should apply?
We're looking for applicants who are open to collaborate with our client over several weeks on prototyping or enhancing new or existing ideas to drive the new innovation wave of low voltage battery solutions in the automotive environment.
Apply if you're any of the following:
- Entrepreneur/tech talent / researcher/ bright mind interested in piloting your ideas
- Startup, business or company that has a working prototype or a developed solution that’s been tested in the market.
You are ideally based in EMEA, but exceptions are possible.
Focus areas
We’re looking B2B and B2B2C solutions for low voltage battery solutions that can enhance the digitization, user and buyer experience, and circularity of the battery supply chain.
Technologies from the areas listed below are encouraged:
- Low voltage battery solutions
- Customer service optimization
- Data utilization
- Predictive maintenance & diagnostics
- Digital solutions
- Fleet management software and service solutions
- Predictive analytics
- Personalized services
- Energy management and optimization
- Telematics
- Connectivity
- Streamlining workflow and procedures
- Advanced analytics and AI
- Battery maintenance systems (BMS)
Requirements
- Finalists can be in Berlin for the design thinking bootcamp days (28 + 29 November) and the pitch event (6 December)
- POC program will be implemented in Germany
- This is a Hybrid training and POC Program. There will be an in-person & virtual components. The kick-off and Demo Day will be held in person in Berlin, Germany, while the rest of the programme will take place in a virtual setup.
- English is the working language
PRIZES
1ST PRIZE
- POC with VARTA® Automotive and its parent company Clarios
- 5.000€ prize money
- 1 year co-working at The Drivery for 2 team members
- 25.000€ of credits for Google cloud services and tech support + Google work suite
- up to 5 MATLAB & Simulink licenses (worth 5000€)
2ND PRIZE
- 1 year flex membership at The Drivery
- 25.000€ of credits for Google cloud services and tech support + Google work suite
- up to 5 MATLAB & Simulink licenses (worth 5000€)
3RD PRIZE
- up to 5 MATLAB & Simulink licenses (worth 5000€)
BENEFITS
- Test your product with real use cases from VARTA® Automotive’s huge workshop network and pilot fleets
- Publicity on The Drivery’s as well as VARTA® Automotive and Clarios’ websites and social media channels, strategic marketing support
- Market access to partners and networks
- Potential investment
- Product iteration
- Partner benefits
- Individualised mentoring
- Hybrid participation
Timeline
Evaluation
Criteria
The information below should help entrants understand the judges’ expectations.
Each startup will be evaluated and assessed on the four criteria below.
Up until the pitch event, applications will be judged on their potential to satisfy the judging criteria and on delivering impact for partners’ needs.
Business case fit
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Solution shows a market overview, a positioning, and a working business case.
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Evidence of real problem solving, USP, value-added, concrete business model for impact and economic viability.
Partner case fit
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The solution solves a problem and/or use case for the partner(s) and presents the opportunity for further joint development.
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There is a strong strategic fit, unique partnership, and market potential for partner collaboration.
Innovation
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Proposed business model or sevice shows evidence of innovation and value created for potential future users and customers
Team
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Team has capacity to implement solution (technical expertise, business expertise, understanding of the thematic area, commitment to the project)
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Clearly delivered message in pitch presentation. Handled Q&A.
The Location
The Drivery is not only the most innovative co-working space in the center of Berlin, but also a makerspace, a hub for innovation and mobility.
The Drivery
Mariendorfer Damm 1
12099 Berlin
Germany
Partners
Clarios is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of low-voltage batteries and solutions, with a systems integrated approach and technological savvy to power and enhance the connected vehicles of today and the future. Today, one in three vehicles worldwide is powered by a Clarios battery, and seven out of 10 newly manufactured vehicles with start-stop technology equipped with absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery technology are fitted with VARTA® Automotive batteries.
The Drivery is a global mobility innovation hub headquartered in Berlin, Germany. We are passionate ecosystem builders and enable startup-corporate collaboration to shape the future of mobility.