India startup challenge

Join the world’s largest collaborative innovation ecosystem in paints and coating and accelerate your growth

How will your solution enhance Digital Consumer Experience for Dulux paint consumer

India startup challenge 2022 - Collaborative innovation by AkzoNobel

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India challenge 2022

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We are live and open to submission till 31st May.
So, sign-up now and start submitting your solution.

Join us
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About the challenge

Digital Consumer Experience

How can your digital solution boost the magic of paint and transform the way consumers experience Dulux paint in India?

Timeline

A journey like no other
Submission & interaction
March 1 – May 31, 2022
Sign up to our platform and get access to AkzoNobel experts
  • Sign up and create your profile on our collaborative platform
  • Submit your solution that fits our challenge theme
  • Interact with experts and enrich your solution
Enrichment of solutions
June 1 – June 15, 2022
Enrich your submission in these last two weeks
  • At this stage we are closed for new submissions
  • You can still adapt your submission and talk to our experts
  • AkzoNobel experts start evaluating the proposals
Finalist selection
June 15 – August 15, 2022
It's time to select the submissions with the greatest potential for collaboration with AkzoNobel
  • Solutions are evaluated by AkzoNobel experts and receive online feedback
  • Selected participants are invited to the acceleration event in September
Bootcamp event
September 2022
AkzoNobel experts and startups collaborate during the bootcamp event
  • Build the value proposition and your business model with our experts
  • Prepare your final collaboration proposition
  • The jury chooses solutions that fit best with the challenges
Acceleration
October 2022
Define the collaboration agreements
  • Startups that have been selected after the event will receive a letter of intent
  • Define the collaboration agreement that fits best for the development of your solution
  • Scale your solution and implement with AkzoNobel
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Why should you join us?

Founder friendly

Validated win-win model with successful outcomes

Accelerate, your way

Get your innovations to market faster with a tailored collaboration agreement

Built for scale

Unique opportunity to take the international stage

Sector-specific expertise

Unparalleled access to AkzoNobel’s global innovation ecosystem

Direct line to top leaders

Including access to over 50+ experts

Collaborate with the brightest minds

Join 3,500+ other innovative minds on our colorful platform

Validated startup program

14 startups accelerated through three programs

Why Akzonobel

Leaders in innovation, driving the transformation of the paints and coatings industry.
Join us
€1.25
Billion spend R&D (5 years)
3,000
Scientists employed
3,100
Patents
70
Laboratories globally
+200
Years
+€9
Billion revenue
+34,000
Employees
+150
Active countries

Ways to collaborate

Sourcing Agreement

AkzoNobel can be the launching customer for your solution.

Read more: Alucha Recycling Technologies, the Netherlands

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT

With a strategic investment from AkzoNobel, we can help your company scale up and accelerate.

Read more: QLayers, the Netherlands

Joint (Technology) Development

Develop new innovative solutions with us!

Read more: Apellix, the US

Success stories

Our innovations go beyond expectation, beyond imagination and beyond generations. How? Discover our inspiring stories here.

Beyond gameplay A story about science, sparkle and surfaces

It’s extremely hard to digitally capture metallic and pearl sparkle effects the way they appear in real life. It used to require a little imagination. So we developed interactive 3D color visualization tools for our customers – by updating technology used...

Beyond the rainbow: Cloud-based app retrieves millions of colors

There are way more than seven colors in the rainbow! Our MIXITᵀᴹ app contains more than two million formulas for automotive, aerospace and yacht colors. It’s easy, accessible and helps both painters and managers do their work. We call it “the future o...

New autonomous drone is a smarter way to apply paint

Apellix (from Jacksonville, Florida, USA) and AkzoNobel are collaborating on a computer-controlled spray painting drone that’ll change the game of applying paint. Apellix won the partnership in the 2019 Paint the Future global startup challenge, now we reve...

Our sponsors

"On the 75th year of India's Independence, Paint the Future is our commitment to leverage and unleash digital innovations by startups on a global stage."
Oscar Wezenbeek

Managing Director, AkzoNobel Decorative Paints South East & South Asia, and Chair of Akzo Nobel India Limited

"Welcome innovators! Join us in boosting the magic of Dulux with your disruptive digital solutions, thereby enhancing delight for Indian paint consumers."
Rajiv Rajgopal

Managing Director, Akzo Nobel India Limited

Our team

Our team
Our team
With Alfred Nobel as one of our founders, our passion for paint goes way back and Paint the Future takes it forward– the next paradigm shift of the industry. It’s the perfect partnership of global expertise with revolutionary solutions and an absolute win-win for all.

Namrata Pant

Communications Manager – AkzoNobel India
Paint the Future is our endeavour to collaborate with young and bright startups to help convert great ideas into smart solutions for better customer experience.

Vandana Krishnia

Head - Marketing, Decorative Paints, AkzoNobel India
Paint the Future is an excellent Platform to connect with Startup ecosystem to explore digital disruptive solutions for complex Business Challenges through collaborative approach and scale up opportunity for Starts ups as well.

Sumit Grover

Market Development Manager - AkzoNobel India
"I am proud of our history of innovation to adapt and stay relevant for our customers. Paint the Future brings AkzoNobel experts and startup community together, to collaborate and discover solutions for a Digitally Enabled India. Do join us to Paint our Future together"

Vineeth Kurup

Head Customer Marketing- Paints, AkzoNobel India
This is your chance to get your innovations to market faster with a business arrangement that’s tailored for you. Let’s Pioneer and Win together.

Niraj Mehra

Commercial Controller – Paints, AkzoNobel India
"Paint the Future is open innovation at its best and brings the future to market now. We’re here to set you up for success. The dynamic paint & coatings industry is expected to continue growing at double digits in India. Together let’s stir up the industry. "

Abhishek Singh

Customer Demand & Service Manager, AkzoNobel India
"Paint the Future is more than working together with partners, it is finding how our intellectual efforts can be combined to generate value for our customers. In the end, an idea is not an innovation until it reaches people."

Rohit Totla

Director Sales – Decorative Paints, AkzoNobel India
"We’re looking for innovators who dare to be original. Join our cool, diverse and inclusive community of innovators. Let’s together turn exciting potential into brilliant reality."

Anushree Singh

Country HR Head, AkzoNobel India
"Our goal is to make the painting journey for our customers more inspired, seamless, organized and delightful. If your solution can transform the way customers experience our products and services, we’re ready for you to blow us away by working together."

Sanatan Hajra

Head Research, Development & Innovation - Decorative Paints India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh and Expertise Centre