The Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards is launching today, in a bid to find Europe’s next super startup. One small business from within Europe and the UK will win a top prize of €100K and the support of Amazon’s Launchpad team to help it become a global success.
Amazon Launchpad’s support for startups
This competition is the brainchild of Amazon Launchpad – the programme that helps startups to launch on the site, and to reach an audience of millions of potential new customers.
As well the cash prize, the winner will also receive a year of free Amazon Launchpad’s services, which help entrepreneurs launch and boost sales of their brands on Amazon. The Launchpad service will help them sell their product across Europe with bespoke support from Amazon experts, who’ll help to jumpstart their Amazon business and increase visibility of their products.
Additionally, four runners up will each be awarded with a €10K cash prize, as well as one year of free access to the Launchpad services.
“Amazon Launchpad is the perfect programme for startups with innovative products to get discovered by early adopters, quickly expand their customer base, and grow to become established brands. With Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards, we want to do exactly this – we are looking for startups that have an inventive flare and wow our customers with their innovative products,” said Aditi Singh, General Manager of Amazon Launchpad Europe.
Meet the judges
The winners will be selected via the combination of a public vote, and an expert judging panel.
The judges include Jamie Siminoff, founder and CEO of the Ring doorbell; Aditi Singh, General Manager of Amazon Launchpad Europe; Ryan Frank, Head of Amazon Spain Marketplace; Greg Williams, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED UK and Andy Fishburn, Managing Director for Virgin Start-Up.
“Being an early adopter myself, I always look for products that drive breakthrough innovation or simply find a new and simpler way of doing things,” said Aditi Singh, General Manager of Amazon Launchpad Europe. Amazon Launchpad has supported more than 2,000 startups from over 30 categories, with a wide range of experience in supporting startups from across the field.
“I’m excited to be participating in the Amazon Innovation Awards. The energy and fresh-thinking of European founders have established a vibrant ecosystem and showcasing these entrepreneurs and their products is an exciting prospect,” said Greg Williams, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED UK and member of the judging panel.
“I can’t wait to dive in with the inspiring group of emerging brands that are coming to the inaugural Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards. As someone who is no stranger to invention competitions, I’m honored to join the Amazon seller community in finding the best innovations that delight customers and improve lives”, said Jamie Siminoff.
“I’m really hoping to see exciting new product innovations that deliver real value, address an unmet need or do something better than what we’ve seen come before. It would be great to find products that shake up an existing category and have real differentiation. I won’t just be looking for practical function or aesthetic form, but will be paying close attention to the way in which a products design and production has considered and responded to the sustainability challenges of today,” said Andy Fishburn, Managing Director of Virgin Start-Up.
“The Amazon Launchpad Innovation Awards are going to be a combination of excitement, surprise and delight. Engineers, Innovators and Tinkerers never let you down, especially when drawing from such a broad pool of talented startups across the EU. I cannot wait to see what problems this group has solved, or new form of enjoyment they have brought to life,” said Ryan Frank, Head of the Amazon Marketplace in Spain.
How can I apply?
Amazon Launchpad is opening the Innovation Awards to any small and medium sized innovative company from within Europe and the UK, that has a unique selling point that would appeal to a mass market.
Application criteria includes a business registered in an EEA country, the UK or Switzerland, selling a physical product to consumers, being the brand owner of the product entered, as well as have a business operating for less than 10 years with less than 50 employees and a total annual turnover of less than €10 million.
To be in with a chance of winning, don’t forget to register here by the 28th of March to apply! Terms and conditions apply.