UAE-based luxury retailer Chalhoub Group and beauty brand L’Occitane Mena have unveiled their first retail-tech accelerator programme powered by The Greenhouse, a space for entrepreneurship.
More than 180 applications were received from the region and across the globe, resulting in four retail startups picked across the tech, beauty and luxury sectors including Momenti from South Korea and New York; Confer With from the UK; Emperia from the UK and the US; and Sleekflow from Hong Kong.
The start-ups will be able to work alongside L’Occitane Mena to develop a proof of concept during the next four months to advance its omnichannel strategies and personalised experiences, data-driven decision making and its regional brand relevance.
Each of the four start-ups will come to Dubai and be allocated to a task force within the L’Occitane Mena and Greenhouse team who will provide mentorship, business growth advice and resources throughout the entire process.
Chief innovation officer at Chalhoub Group, Joaquin Mencia, said: “The Greenhouse is the Chalhoub Group’s space for innovation and entrepreneurship and is continuously committed to empowering the start-up ecosystem and implementing innovative solutions for our partners. The L’Occitane retail-tech accelerator programme is bringing the world’s most innovative minds as we work together to enhance the region’s ever-evolving and rapidly growing luxury retail sector.”
An official demo day will be held in May to give the start-ups the opportunity to present their proof of concepts to key internal stakeholders across The Greenhouse, L’Occitane Mena and Chalhoub Group.
In addition, the programme will potentially give the entrepreneurs the chance to foster long-term agreements with L’Occitane Mena and other Chalhoub Group brands.
“At L’Occitane Mena we are very excited to kickstart our first retail-tech accelerator programme in partnership with Chalhoub Group and The Greenhouse. During the next four months, these start-ups will be expected to demonstrate tailor-made proof of concepts and implement their new retail tech solutions with L’Occitane for the first time in the Middle East. This is hoped to promote new opportunities and elevate the brand’s regional presence and customer experience,” said managing director at L’Occitane Mena.
Back in October, Chalhoub Group’s Greenhouse unveiled its second edition of the Beauty Lab to promote five beauty start-ups in the GCC: Rena Roots, Palma De Salus, Alam Health & Beauty, Nood and Salma.
