INFINITI Motor Company, Ltd. and Nest, a leading venture capital firm and innovation partner, today announced the official launch of INFINITI LAB Smart Mobility.
The announcement was made at a launch event that brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, and influencers alike to meet seven high-potential startups specializing in the areas of smart mobility and connected technology.
“INFINITI has always been driven by the spirit of innovation. We are constantly seeking opportunities to both engage with and nurture entrepreneurial talent. When it comes to startups, Singapore is brimming with potential and INFINITI is helping accelerate the next entrepreneurial breakthroughs in the smart mobility space,” said Roland Krueger, president of INFINITI Motor Company.
The evening began with a live panel discussion on smart mobility, with guests from Singapore’s startup ecosystem hearing from various business leaders about how technology can transform the future of transport. The speakers—including Dane Fisher, General Manager, Global Business Transformation & Brand at INFINITI Motor Company, Amir Nivy, CEO of Hapticus and INFINITI LAB Hong Kong 2.0 alumnus, Lawrence Morgan, CEO of Nest, and Pankaj Lunia, Cognitive Transportation Systems Solutions Leader at IBM—shared thoughts on key topics including the challenges faced by the startup ecosystem, urban transport issues within Singapore, and global smart mobility trends.
INFINITI LAB is committed to advancing entrepreneurs through every stage of their journey. This unique program gives high-potential startups in mobility and connectivity the opportunity to pitch viable business-use cases to INFINITI’s decision makers.
This eight-week program is a first of its kind, and is geared toward startups that have advanced from the idea stage and are ready to gain validation in a commercial setting.
Each of the startups involved will receive dedicated mentorship guidance from industry experts at INFINITI and Nest as they tailor and refine their business models. This will culminate in a Demo Day on June 8, 2017, where the entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors to secure partnerships and funding that will help propel their businesses to the next phase. They also will have a chance to pitch their business cases to key decision makers from INFINITI and the Renault/Nissan Alliance.
Lawrence Morgan, CEO of Nest, added, “We are constantly evolving our programs to ensure they provide as much value as possible to startups as well as our corporate partners. After two successful programs with INFINITI in Hong Kong, we have seen that one of the main outcomes participants are looking for is validation for their business in a commercial environment. For this reason, the eight weeks at INFINITI LAB Singapore will be largely dedicated to helping the startups refine their business models and facilitate relationships with INFINITI”s internal business teams.”
These programs and key partnerships are the latest developments in INFINITI’s ongoing support of the global startup ecosystem. INFINITI continues to explore innovative new initiatives and partnerships that empower entrepreneurs on every step of their journey. For more information on INFINITI programs, please visit https://www.infiniti.com/pursuing-potential/infiniti-lab.html.
