World’s brightest startups join AkzoNobel’s Paint the Future bootcamp

AkzoNobel is again expanding its collaborative innovation ecosystem

04-Nov-2021 - Netherlands

The Paint the Future global startup challenge has invited 11 finalists to take part in a three-day bootcamp taking place in Amsterdam November 16-18. The startups and AkzoNobel experts will meet face-to-face to explore potential collaborations together.

AkzoNobel

The invited startups will follow a tailored program that includes customized expert sessions, exclusive presentations and plenty of opportunities to network with senior leadership and subject matter experts.

The jury-selected winners will be announced during the event’s closing ceremony. They will receive a prestigious Paint the Future award and a collaboration agreement to work together with AkzoNobel on sustainable business opportunities.

“Paint the Future bootcamps are full of energy and highly stimulating, and I’m really looking forward to meeting these motivated entrepreneurs in person,” says Klaas Kruithof, AkzoNobel’s Chief Technology Officer and Chair of the Paint the Future jury. “Collaborative innovation is a vital part of our People. Planet. Paint. approach to sustainable business. We’re excited to see how collaboration can transform the paints and coatings industry.”

The 11 startups attending the Paint the Future bootcamp in Amsterdam are:

GreenMantra Technologies

Canada

Up-cycling of polystyrene waste to styrene monomer/oligomers

Halley Labs

Israel

Optimizing paint application through machine learning

SolCold Ltd

Israel

Sustainable self-cooling coating

Techstyle Materials

US

Coatings that regulate heat and moisture in buildings

Graphite Innovation and Technologies

Canada

Anti-fouling coating specifically designed for propellers

Repela Tech, LLC

US

Novel non-toxic fouling control

Zinergy

UK

Thin film energy storage solution

Advanced Material Development

UK

Temperature or mechanical responsive surfaces

SIA Aerones

Latvia

Robotic solutions for paint application at height

SprayVision

Czech Republic

Data-driven approach towards optimal paint spray application

HausBots

UK

Crawling robot for inspection and application of paint

“Our jury members have been specially selected to bring a wide range of expertise covering innovation, digital technology, business, science, marketing, investment and customer experience,” says Ally van der Boon, Paint the Future Program Manager. “With both internal and external experts involved, as well as a previous Paint the Future challenge winner, we’re going to get a multi-layered perspective on these solutions and the impact they could have on our industry.”

With this second global startup challenge, AkzoNobel is again expanding its collaborative innovation ecosystem after a previous global startup challenge in 2019 and regional startup challenges in Brazil (2020) and China (2021).

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