SEAT and Conector have joined forces to launch a specialised startup accelerator in the automotive industry and mobility.
SEAT Accelerator by Conector will promote five startups in its initial acceleration programme, with offices in the SEAT facilities in Martorell. Entrepreneurs will receive support and assistance from the automotive brand and will follow Conector's methodology.
In the company's ongoing commitment to innovation in the automotive sector, through this partnership SEAT aims clearly at supporting entrepreneurs who find new solutions for the car industry and mobility.
Furthermore, startup accelerator Conector consolidates its commitment to partnering with major businesses and promoting corporate accelerators.
SEAT President Luca de Meo said: "Partnerships like the one we have reached with Conector are aligned with our vision for the future of the company to promote a mobility ecosystem.
"The new economy can only be understood by collaborating with partners and integrating platforms. Accelerating startups is going to enable us to exchange knowledge and access the best talent. We are boosting SEAT's digital transformation."
Conector founding partner Carlos Blanco said: "This agreement between SEAT and Conector consolidates our commitment to corporate accelerators and shows that businesses are steadily approaching the digital world.
"Corporate accelerators are an excellent tool for major companies to accelerate their digital transformation, participate in the startup ecosystem and gain first-hand insight into the new technological solutions for their sector."
SEAT Accelerator by Conector will accelerate projects that have a business model involving the automotive industry, mobility and logistics.
All the projects must be proposed by an established company, be scalable and able to internationalise, feature a product or service already on the market and present their initial performance metrics. They must also have a full-time team and a clear leader.
Applications to the acceleration programme will be accepted from today, 19 July, until 19 September.
A committee made up of SEAT managers and Conector partners will shortlist the projects to be presented on Startup Day, the event where Conector members and mentors and SEAT will select the five startups to be accelerated.
The selected entrepreneurs will spend five months in the SEAT offices in Martorell working on their growth and sales strategy and will make progress in aspects requiring improvement with their board of mentors, made up of representatives from Conector and SEAT.
In addition, they will receive assistance from partner companies, continuous training and will join one of the best entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country.
The Demo Day will be held at the end of the acceleration programme, an event where the entrepreneurs will present their project to the country’s leading venture capital firms, investors and business angels to secure investment. It will also be an opportunity to identify possible synergies between the startups and SEAT.
SEAT Accelerator by Conector is the first corporate acceleration resulting from the partnership between Talent Republic and Conector to accelerate the digital transformation of large corporations.
