US Retail Giant Target Supports Six Indian Startups for 6th Cohort of its Accelerator Program

US-based retail giant Target Corporation, which is in fact 2nd largest department store retailer in the United States behind only Walmart, has selected six Indian startups as part of its "Accelerator Programme" that gives companies the opportunity to implement their solutions in real-world scenarios and measure the results in real time.

The startups selected will work on developing customised retail solutions using emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), computer vision, natural language processing and analytics.

The selected startups will be part of a four-month intensive programme focused on transformative and technology-driven ideas to create solutions for today's rapidly changing retail environment.

These startups will have access to Target mentors, tools, resources and operational support, as well as workspace at Target's Bengaluru offices.

"Over the last couple of years, India has become a superpower driving innovation in the retail sector across the globe," said Rakesh Mishra, Vice President of Marketing at Target India.

The Target Accelerator Programme was launched in December 2013.

The selected startups for the sixth batch of the programme are Kenome, Point105-AR, Quilt.ai, Moodboard, Eder.ai and StyleDod.

Kenome uses AI to help enterprises make sense of dark data using deep learning, natural language processing and knowledge graphs.

Point105-AR provides a holistic 3D asset management solution for augmented reality experiences.

Quilt.ai uses AI tools to build a large research and action platform.

Moodboard provides a tool that leverages AI to provide insights on product performance trends that aid in future product design.

Eder.ai offers a distributed computing platform with Blockchain-grade encryption which enables secure AI to help scale research and unearth new intelligence.

StyleDod provides a tool that automatically converts floorplans into 3D designed rooms, fully furnished with merchandisable products.
To date, 30 startups have graduated from the programme and worked with Target teams, the company said.

Seven Startups Graduate from Target Accelerator Program’s Fourth Batch in India

On an average it takes six weeks and $10,000 to create a motion picture promotional video. What if you could create a video every 15 minutes at a fraction of the cost? This was one of the many innovative ideas presented today at the Target Accelerator Program’s Demo Day. Seven startups - Preksh, MintM, Uncanny Vision, Lechal, Lawbot, Charmboard and Story Xpress, pitched ideas in areas like digital marketing, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

The Target Accelerator Program gives startups a unique platform to develop, scale and test their products in a live retail environment. With unparalleled access to retail business know-how and a community of mentors in India and the U.S., the 16-week program culminated in an impactful Demo Day that saw seven startups pitch to venture capitalists, retailers, serial entrepreneurs and the media. The graduating startups have successfully tested their products across Target stores and its digital channels. The program also provides a platform for Target team members to create compelling solutions. This batch included two internal ideas that were developed alongside the startups.

“We have worked with a broad category of startups and are excited about the initial tests conducted with several of them. The vision of their ideas and the far reaching impact it can have is helping Target stay ahead of the game”, said Navneet Kapoor, president and managing director of Target’s office in India. “Through our accelerator journey over the last three years, we have seen the Indian startup ecosystem mature and are thrilled to see them address deeper and more relevant business problems. We remain invested in partnering with the startups to shape the future of retail.”

The Demo Day in Bangalore comes on the heels of a successful retailer accelerator at Target’s U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis, which was run in conjunction with Techstars. The accelerator programs are being used as a springboard for Target to become more engaged with the startup ecosystem. The Target team in India recently partnered with late-stage startups to provide solutions for other business needs. For instance, UpGrad is providing online trainings for team members and startups to upskill on-the-job, and Blue Birch is solving reverse logistics problems through sustainable solutions for old laptops, phones and workstations.

Target’s long standing commitment to support the communities where we live and work is also being realized through the accelerator program. Target’s team in India is now working with Lechal, who was part of the fourth batch that presented their demos today, to provide haptic footwear to the visually-challenged cricket team from Samarthanam Trust, a partner NGO. Promising to provide ease of navigation, this wearable technology will enable these cricketers to pursue their passion with more zeal.

With a portfolio of 22 startups and counting, the fifth batch of the Target Accelerator Program is slated to launch later this year. Applications can be submitted at:www.f6s.com/targetacceleratorprogram.