Are you a startup company that can work with Stora Enso in the creation of a plastic-free supply chain?
Consumers are more and more aware of what and how they consume. They want solutions that are better for our planet, and to be able to meet this need, companies need a new approach to materials. We are looking for startups to join Stora Enso’s aim to help companies and society to transform towards a circular bioeconomy, and a shift from fossil-based materials to renewable ones.
Stora Enso offers a unique possibility for disruptive startups to learn first-hand from an industry leader, which may even lead to a new product-market fit.
In practice, the selected startup companies will have 3 Stora Enso employees join their team to co-create a business opportunity between the startup and Stora Enso. Additionally, each selected startup company will have access to their own coach from the Stora Enso Group Leadership Team to guide them towards a potential business opportunity.
Apply for the Accelerator program, run together with Vertical and Aalto ENT.
Do you have a solution or a technology that could reduce or eliminate plastic from supply chains?
For example, can your product / technology help companies in any industry replace oil-based plastic, reduce plastic, or eliminate plastic from their manufacturing, packaging, transport, shipping processes, and other parts of their supply chain? You could also have solutions that help a corporate track and reduce its own “plastics footprint”—the amount of plastic it consumes as a company.
Stora Enso is looking for startups, growth companies, and disruptive entrepreneurs who want to build a scalable company. Whether or not your startup already focuses on plastic reduction, if your services or products could be applied toward our aim to reduce plastic in any part of the supply chain, then this is a fantastic opportunity for you.
We strongly encourage startups with current offerings in new material solutions, supply chain technologies, process optimization, analytics, IoT, design, manufacturing, machine learning and artificial intelligence that can provide solutions to reduce or eliminate plastic to apply to this program. The top 6 teams will be selected to work together with Stora Enso in a unique 3-months accelerator program.
Explore opportunities with Stora Enso
Creating a plastic-free supply chain is a challenge that requires fresh innovative thinking and cooperation throughout the value chain. For example: how do you replace plastic in food packaging with scalable solutions that also help minimize food waste? How do you minimize plastic in shipping goods, both industrial and consumer products? How does a company get an understanding of how much plastic it consumes? How do you re-design a manufacturing process to eliminate or reduce plastic altogether?
This is where your innovative thinking and solutions come in. We are looking to explore joint solutions with you to reduce and remove plastic and oil-based products from any part of industrial supply chains. Working closely with a team of Stora Enso talents, you will have a unique opportunity to co-create solutions, which may lead to a new product-market fit and potentially a commercial partnership. The Stora Enso Accelerator Program also offers unprecedented access to Stora Enso talents and a Group Leadership Team (GLT) Coach, working side-by-side for innovative solutions in the below areas.
Plastic-Free Solutions
Apply your technology to develop solutions that replace, reduce, reuse, repurpose or recycle plastics used in any industrial process.
Plastic-free Company Branding
Explore innovative ways to maximize brand awareness, exposure, and recognition as the global leader of plastic-free innovations.
Plastic-free Packaging
Explore creative packaging solutions that eliminate or reduce the need for plastic from a company’s own operations, but also from that company’s customers and suppliers.
Process Redesign
Explore radical ways to re-design industrial processes without the need for plastic.
Eliminating Plastic Waste
Investigate opportunities in the separation and sorting of plastic materials in industrial processes and operations to minimize or eliminate plastic waste.
Plastic Consumption Tracking and Reduction
Explore new ways to track, manage, and reduce plastic and plastic-related materials associated with a company’s own consumption, its production / manufacturing / shipping processes, and also those of its customers.
Stora Enso accelerator program
The Stora Enso Accelerator program brings your company a unique opportunity for growth as well as unprecedented access to Stora Enso talents and senior leadership, working side-by-side toward innovative solutions.
- Dedicated resources from Stora Enso – Each startup is assigned a coach from the group leadership team and three Stora Enso Talents, providing essential knowledge and access to the organization throughout the program
- Potential to secure a corporate client looking for a long-term commercial partnership
- Service and business design support
- Globally renowned 3-month business co-creation program
- Immersion in one of the most vibrant startup communities in the world (Maria 01 in Helsinki)
- No equity and no fee taken for the program
FAQ
This list of questions will be updated throughout the whole application period.
When and How to Apply?
The application period is currently open. You can fill the form here by 13.11.2020 and we will get back to you by 14.12.2020 with information whether you made it to the top 20 startups invited for the final Selection Days, these will be held remotely.
Who can Apply?
Any startups bringing solutions in new material solutions, supply chain technologies, process optimization, analytics, IoT, design, manufacturing, machine learning and artificial intelligence that can provide solutions that could transform Stora Enso business, can apply for the program.
Does my product or technology have to fit Stora Enso’s current offering or fit with the theme of the creation of a Plastic-free Supply Chain?
No, it doesn’t have to. The co-creation process is designed in such a way that you will be able to explore the opportunity of adapting your product or technology to the challenges that Stora Enso has outlined in the creation of a plastic-free supply chain.
Where and when will the Selection Days take place?
The 20 most promising startups will be invited for the Selection Days taking place remotely, on 12th and 13th of January. Startups are recommended to join the voluntary Selection Day Training, which is organized on the 11th of January, also remotely.
Where and when will the program take place?
The program will take place in Helsinki, Finland between March 22nd and June 10th. We expect a minimum of one to two people from your team to be available to work with your new team.
This is a 3-month program, but is the on-site requirement also 3 months?
On-site presence is mandatory only for approximately 15 days in total during the program. Exact days will be informed to startups during the selection period. If the situation requires it, we will carry out parts of the program or its entirety online.
Can startups outside of Finland apply?
Absolutely. We and our clients have worked with startups on co-creation projects from all over the world.
How many startups will you select?
At the end of the selection process, we will select six startups in total to participate in the program.
