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ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

The Paint the Future Accelerator program is designed to strengthen our collaborative innovation programs by connecting selected startups to AkzoNobels’ global network of people and resources. During a period of up to six months, we work intensively with the startups to validate how we can work together and to develop an investible case that delivers value to all parties.

The Paint the Future Accelerator offers:

  • A tailored program to accelerate collaboration between AkzoNobel and the startup
  • A dedicated AkzoNobel intrapreneur who will lead the collaborative project and provide access to a global network of our experts
  • The opportunity to showcase the results during a Demo Day that will shape the future collaboration

Success cases of Paint The Future

Qlayers: COATING INDUSTRIAL SURFACES WITH NO OVERSPRAY

Qlayers develop innovative robotic solutions to overcome the limitations of manual coating application. AkzoNobel helps Qlayers scale globally through a commercial relationship. Together we are transforming the global industrial coatings market.

Alucha: TURNING WASTE INTO A NATURAL RESOURCE

With their pyrolysis technology, Alucha separates organic from inorganic matter, recovering resources such as oil, metals or minerals. AkzoNobel is acting as a launching customer by replacing virgin raw materials with Alucha’s circular calcium carbonate.

ATERRA: SMART INDUSTRIAL WASTE MARKETPLACE

Aterra’s solution enables AkzoNobel to give paints and coatings a more sustainable lifecycle. Aterra connects players across different industries to build a new business model around their waste streams, making sustainability profitable.

Aerones: innovative robotic maintenance solutions for the wind turbine...

After the Accelerator Program, the collaboration lead up to the recent successful Demo Day in Riga, Latvia. Aerones and AkzoNobel are delighted to announce that we’ve decided to continue to work together on developing our shared service offering to clients ...

SprayVision: using data to revolutionize the spray-painting process

AkzoNobel will be offering SprayVision’s data-driven technology to its customers. With its improved coverage and reduced waste, this technology provides the sort of sustainable solutions that our customers want. 

Timeline

Scoping phase
Two months
Getting ready for the Accelerator kick-off
  • Startups selected during the collaboration event will receive a letter of intent
  • We will set a Demo Day goal to showcase the results of the accelerator and outline the resources required
  • Get connected to your experienced intrapreneur and meet the team that will embark on this journey with you
KICK-OFF AND PLENARY PROGRAM
End of the second month
Startups begin their program and receive hands-on mentorship from industry experts
  • Together, create a detailed plan on how you’ll deliver the Demo Day goal
  • Strengthen your startup’s foundation by joining workshops and masterclasses
JOINT VALUE CASE DEVELOPMENT
Four months
Work towards the Demo Day goal
  • Identify the needs to accelerate the development of your startups’ offerings
  • Receive tailored support and get access to AkzoNobels’ resources to advance your solution
DEMO DAY
End of the sixth month
Startups take the spotlight to showcase the accelerator results
  • Opportunity to pitch to a broad audience of AkzoNobel stakeholders
  • Decide if and how we can collaborate to bring to market and scale the solution
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WHAT FOUNDERS SAY

Want to know what it is really like to work with us? In this video startup founders share what made the experience so transformative for their companies

News

Check out these great examples of bright minds joining forces to develop revolutionary ideas.

Global Startup Challenge resulting in two collaborations

The Accelerator program as part of our latest Global startup challenge has just drawn to a close in early 2023. Find out more about the individual startups, how the collaboration with them looked like and how we are moving forward with them.

Paint the Future India challenge awards two startups

The India startup challenge is the third regional edition of Paint the Future, which attracted 207 submissions from 33 cities across India. Get to know the winning companies HyperReality Technologies and Fluid AI who will work together with AkzoNobel to accelerate their solutions.

FOUR STARTUPS WIN IN PAINT THE FUTURE CHINA FINALE

Our successful Paint the Future program in China gave a real boost to collaborative innovation, with four startups selected as winners. They now have the opportunity to collaborate with AkzoNobel on their innovative solutions. Find out more about the program and the winners.

Meet us

Meet us
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"Creating an environment where solutions can connect is essential to shape a sustainable future. Let’s Paint the Future together and boost collective intelligence"

Camila de Lima Castro

Commercial Excellence Implementation Manager at AkzoNobel
"We're looking forward to accelerate innovation in close collaboration at the forefront of new trends, technologies and innovative practices in our industry."

Ruben Brinckmann

Incubator lead at AkzoNobel
"Bringing transformative innovations to market is not easy; through Paint the Future we can leverage all our assets as a strategic partner to deliver successful solutions to our customers and accelerate growth for both startups and AkzoNobel, together"

Sandra Wiegman

Investment Analyst - Incubator at AkzoNobel
"Paint the Future is AkzoNobel’s unique open innovation platform for accelerating innovation in paints and coatings. A step-change in how we innovate in partnership"

Menno van der Zalm

Innovation Director at AkzoNobel
"With our Paint the Future initiative we have established ourselves as the go-to partner for collaborative innovation. The expanding networks will be pivotal as we take on the challenge of cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030"

David Williams

Chief Innovation Officer at AkzoNobel