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Is the Connected Commerce Accelerator currently accepting
applications?
Applications for the Connected Commerce Accelerator have closed.
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What type of startup is the Connected Commerce Accelerator
looking for?
The Connected Commerce Accelerator is looking for
technology-powered startups from around the world with an
innovative idea for a product and/or service in the commerce or
retail space. We will focus on startups that are not only
innovating retail products and services but also exploring new
business models that utilize emerging technology.
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How are the final startups chosen?
Following the application deadline, each application will be
reviewed by the selection committee and narrowed down to a group
of 25-30 finalist teams. Each finalist team will be contacted
for full team interviews with selection committee members from
R/GA and Westfield Labs who will be looking for strong teams
with products and services that have the potential for global
product market fit and scale.
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What role is R/GA going to play in the Connected Commerce
Accelerator and what commitment is R/GA making to the accepted
startups?
R/GA will leverage its capabilities in business strategy,
branding, UX, visual design, technology, and marketing along
with our broad client relationships to help the startups create
successful businesses and brands in the Connected Commerce
space.
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What are the networking and educational opportunities provided
during the Accelerator?
In addition to the R/GA staff experts and client mentors, R/GA
will organize a variety of one-on-one and group meetings,
workshops, and presentations with mentors, entrepreneurs, angel
investors, legal experts, venture capitalists, investment
bankers, as well as others in a variety of forums.
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Will all the mentors come from R/GA?
While R/GA will contribute some mentors from our staff, client
roster, and industry network. Westfield Labs and our other
program partners will also leverage their extensive network of
mentors to support the program. Our program MD will work with
each of our founders to select mentors who will meet their
specific needs and business development opportunities.
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What is a Partner Roundtable?
Partner Roundtables are sessions that will bring the startups
selected for the program together with the program partners and
additional participants to explore the future of connected
commerce. During the sessions, program partners and outside
experts from around the globe will present cutting-edge
innovations and share forward-looking research that will inform
and inspire. Roundtable participants will include executives
from innovative global retail brands, from leading technology
and platform companies, and from groundbreaking digital-native
commerce players. This new approach will bring disparate
perspectives together to create a dynamic and multi-dimensional
conversation around relevant trends defining the future of
commerce, and will help to identify potential market
opportunities for the program startups.
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Does R/GA take equity in the Connected Commerce Accelerator
startups?
R/GA will invest $120K in each startup accepted into the
program, in exchange for up to 5% equity. Deal terms will depend
in part on the stage of the startup as well as terms of previous
funding raised by the startup.
