Successful concept at the start again

The procedure: Start-ups register free of charge for VINCI Startup Speed Dating, prepare a short and concise pitch and present their solutions to decision-makers from the VINCI Group, its brands Actemium, Axians, Omexom, Building Solutions companies and VINCI subsidiary Eurovia. A Q&A session will then take place, followed by a transition to the next pitch. This time, participants can get involved in the following speed dating sessions during the goal-oriented two-hour online event:

• Smart Maintenance – Service, commissioning, maintenance & repair of plants
• Green Hydrogen – Solutions for decentralised generation and decarbonisation of the energy industry
• Cyber Security – Solutions for a secure network environment
• Digital Twin – Solutions for the manufacturing industry
• Smart Construction – Digital solutions for an efficient, emission-free and safe construction site

If the solution presented is convincing in one of the five internally validated topic areas with explicit business potential, the decision-makers join forces with the young companies to realise a concrete project. This gives the start-ups direct market access and creates sustainable business relationships. All participants are also accepted into “Startup Connect”: Through this programme, start-ups are continuously brought together with VINCI Energies specialists in energy, IT, electrical engineering and automation. This leads to long-term cooperation between start-ups and VINCI Energies business units, ensuring constant business development on both sides.

As a leading technology company, VINCI Energies is constantly expanding its digital capabilities to offer customers the best solutions and services to proactively accompany them on their digital transformation journey. Part of this strategy is to build a leading digital ecosystem in which start-ups play an essential role. To get to know them and expand its network, VINCI Energies 2020 therefore launched the Startup Speed Dating event, to which 100 young companies applied last year.

“Digitalisation is advancing at a rapid pace. Developing digital services and products on your own and thus remaining competitive no longer works. Instead, companies need to join forces with partners, build digital ecosystems and bundle competencies,” says Dr Bernhard Kirchmair, (former) CDO of VINCI Energies for D-A-CH and Eastern Europe. “Young technology companies are breaking new ground with their approaches, skills and creativity. They bring those crucial innovations that we are looking for in many of our customer projects. With Startup Speed Dating and our Startup Connect programme, we bring young companies together quickly, pragmatically and unbureaucratically with the decision-makers and customers relevant to their business. In this way, startups, our clients and we ourselves benefit in equal measure. A real win-win-win situation.”

Last year, the event already proved to be a lasting success for start-ups and VINCI Energies: Out of 100 registered start-ups, 27 were selected to participate. In addition, 86 VINCI Group decision-makers from 40 business units in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as VINCI Energies customers, took part. The results so far are impressive: seven business units are currently working with start-ups on customer projects, VINCI Energies has concluded six commercial partnership agreements with participants, four proofs of concept have been approved and two start-up solutions have been directly integrated into VINCI Energies software solutions.

Interested parties can apply for the VINCI Startup Speed Dating 2021 until 9 May.