The 20 selected Luxembourgish and foreign startups will participate in the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas next January. The event could be digital, in the event of a pandemic, warn its organisers.
Luxfactory, the group specialising in economic, HR and IT consulting is preparing to participate for the fourth time in a row at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES). Held in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 January 2021, the event is considered to be the world’s most important event for technological innovation and consumer electronics.
Logistical axis
Luxfactory is at the crux of the initiative present at the Tech conference. It will bring a delegation of about a hundred people, who will be displayed on the 100m2 of exhibition space in the Eureka Park, the meeting point for young innovative companies and investors.
15 startups from the Greater Region will be selected to participate and represent Luxembourg, alongside some 1,200 startups from some 40 countries.
Startups can now submit their applications on the Luxfactory website. The names of the selected companies will be announced in September.
For this 2021 edition, Luxfactory has chosen SprintProject for its sponsorship. The Paris-based startup specializes in Open Innovation and data in Smart Supply, with a view to creating a first space dedicated to smart supply.
The two partners would like to set up an area dedicated to smart supply at the show and present the latest innovations and technologies in the field of logistics.
Five additional startups, based outside the Greater Region and specialised in this field, will join the 15 Luxembourgish counterparts.
The names of the other sponsors have not yet been announced.
Funding and partnerships
During this trip to Nevada, startup founders will be able to secure financing, sign partnerships and acquire new international clients.
However, once there, the selected companies will have to pay around €5,500 for a stand. Half of the amount is reimbursed, subject to eligibility conditions, by the Office du Ducroire, a public institution that supports companies in their international development.
Airfare and hotel nights are at the expense of the seedlings.
“If the show is digital, we’ll participate too.”
Launched in 1967 in New York and since then transferred to Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) is organized by the Consumer Technology Association, the association of professionals in innovative technologies.
The 2021 edition will welcome more than 180,000 professionals from 160 countries. It is an opportunity for the 4,500 companies, startups, manufacturers, developers and equipment suppliers to unveil their prototypes or the products they will bring to the market during the year to raise funds and attract new customers.
What if Covid hits again?
Its organizer, the Consumer technology Association (CTA), remains however very cautious about the show: “Though we are excited for CES 2021, we also recognize the possibility that new developments with the pandemic may require us to cancel the physical, in-person show”, CTA explains on CES’ Website. “This would be a difficult decision but necessary. In that event, we will move forward with an all-digital show”.
“We are going to protect ourselves contractually and ensure protection for startups if the physical exhibition does not take place,” says Elodie Trojanowski, CEO of Luxfactory. “At the moment, we have no choice but to initiate the organisation and preparations for the show, while waiting to find out more in September. In any case, if the show is held digitally, we will still participate in it”.
Last year, the latter had deplored the absence of government representatives and the responsible minister at the exhibition stand. “As every year, we are going to solicit personalities who play a role in the startup ecosystem in Luxembourg. This year, I would like to invite Sasha Baillie (CEO of Luxinnovation), Mario Grotz (President of Luxinnovation), Carlo Thelen (CEO of the Chamber of Commerce), Lex Delles (Minister of Middle Classes), Franz Fayot (Minister of the Economy) and Prince William (Crown Grand Duke) showing their support for innovation, the promotion of the know-how of Luxembourg startups and the attractiveness of the Grand Duchy, by accompanying us to what is the world’s largest new technology fair.”
The Covid-19 crisis has made the government aware that startups and SMEs play a significant role in Luxembourg’s economic fabric. Beyond mere declarations and intentions, the government also had a duty to support them more actively and to give them greater international visibility (see our article “The Federation of Startups sends its letter to the Minister of the Economy“).
Founded in 1995, the Luxfactory consulting group also positions itself as an innovation partner and incubator for startups and SMEs. It has a staff of around 60 people, (collaborators and consultants in finance, management, marketing, HR and IT).
Created in 2017, SprintProject is specialized in supply chain and retail. The Paris-based startup is also a network bringing together experts, major groups and startups in the sector.
Photo: Attendees checking out the latest products at CES 2020 © CES
