Wayra Germany, Telefónica's venture unit, and Data:Lab, the Volkswagen Group's competence center for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analytics, are launching a joint project to support startups and young companies. The program is aimed at founding teams from the fields of machine learning, data analytics, and artificial intelligence that focus on mobility, connectivity, or the topic of "smart cities." The selection process for the first startup begins in January.
The aim of the funding is to Wayra Germany and Data:Lab to implement a technology project identified jointly with the startup for the respective corporations. The selected startup will receive financial support, can use office space and technical infrastructure of both partners, and, above all, can take an important development step through direct contact with the business units of two global industry giants. Telefónica and the Data Lab, in turn, can expect the startup to provide innovative technological solutions for clearly defined project tasks.
Boundaries between industries are becoming more fluid
"Digital transformation is making the boundaries between individual industries increasingly fluid. The telecommunications and automotive sectors are also facing similar challenges in some areas. When Wayra and the Data:Lab combine their expertise here, everyone benefits – not least the startups,"
says Christian Lindener, Managing Director at Wayra Germany.
"At Data:Lab, we work on the forward-looking topics of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. Collaboration with startups is very important to us in developing new solutions,"
says Barbara Sichler, Head of the Data:Lab for Business Development and Product Management.
Wayra Germany had in mid-November presented a new model of startup supportThe “Venture Client” model, which is also BMW Wayra, which has been in use for some time, is intended to give mature startups and young technology companies the opportunity to acquire Telefónica as customers. Wayra also aims to strengthen its network with other companies and their innovation platforms. Wayra Germany aims to establish an active and continuous exchange between startups, corporates, and technology experts, from which the industrial and B2B-oriented startup ecosystem in Munich will ultimately benefit.
