BSH Home Appliances announced the starting of a partnership with Techstars with the aim of launching a mentorship-driven accelerator program for startups worldwide, that have significant innovative ideas for the “Future Home”. These companies will be able to benefit of the experience of industry experts and of the potential of BSH’s home connect eco-system. Applications for interested businesses will open on 23 July.
The ten best teams will be hosted in Munich early in 2019 to gather for a three-month accelerator program. Working with mentors from BSH and Techstars, they will develop their strategies further, launch pilot projects, and sharpen their business models. «In the Future Home program, says Mario Pieper, head of Digital Business Unit (DBU) – entrepreneurs will complete a process in just thirteen weeks, which usually takes over a year. With our global brands Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau and Neff, we’re one of the world’s most successful home appliance manufacturers, and our Home Connect technology is setting new standards in the connected kitchen. The startups will have the chance to benefit from our experience and knowledge, and an installed base of more than a million connected home appliances.»
By investing in the DBU, the company aims to identify, test and scale potential digital business models rapidly. The DBU’s work will also include strategic investments in startups. The basic idea of the DBU: It creates an organizational environment in which digital business ideas are developed quickly with agile working methods and entrepreneurial freedom.
