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Could your start-up scoop TNBT Award 2016, and win a $50k Unilever pilot?


Unilever has embarked on its latest mission to discover tomorrow’s marketing and advertising technology influencers with the launch of startup competition The Next Big Thing 2016. The pitch and award initiative will connect the most disruptive startups with Unilever’s brands at a new innovation-focused ad:tech event this November.

Startups have the chance to win a $50k Unilever Foundry pilot and coveted innovation award by entering The Next Big Thing before 26 October. A panel of brands, agencies, VCs and accelerators will select 30 startups to attend a mentoring day held in London this autumn, where industry leaders will help them develop their pitch.

Visit here for eligibility criteria and to enter The Next Big Thing.

Following the mentoring day, 15 finalists will be selected to pitch Unilever in front of 750+ brands, agencies and media owners at ad:tech Performance & Innovation on 2-3 November at Shoreditch Town Hall, London.

Aline Santos, Unilever’s EVP Global Marketing, said that the world’s second largest advertiser is committed to discovering and integrating new technology: “We all know that the explosion of new marketing technology and game-changing consumer trends has had a profound impact on our industry and how we take products to market. Our commitment to sourcing and integrating the most cutting-edge technology is fundamental to securing our future success.

“The Next Big Thing creates a framework for bringing new technology into the business and exposing our teams to the latest innovation in the market. This year we’re looking for the startups that will be powering our future and paving the way for consumers and brands. We’re extremely excited to once again partner with The Next Big Thing and work with an exciting array of tech pioneers.”

Launched in 2013, previous winners of The Next Big Thing include seenit and Relative Insight. Both winners have since undertaken a series of pilots with Unilever across global markets.

ad:tech Performance & Innovation is a new content and pitch-driven event format spun out from the ad:tech London trade show. Speakers will include senior leaders from Unilever, Aviva, Microsoft, VICE, Confused.com, WPP and UBS.

“With the support of Unilever, The Next Big Thing has helped to connect the most exciting marketing and advertising entrepreneurs with global brands, agencies and investors,” added Dan Brain, UK Director of ad:tech owner Comexposium.

“We’re shaking up the format this year with a dedicated innovation agenda, an elite audience that is 75% brands, media agencies and investors and a new venue in the heart of London’s tech scene, Shoreditch. Wherever you sit in the advertising eco-system, The Next Big Thing is the perfect way to keep your finger on the pulse of grass roots innovation.”

Unilever Foundry is Unilever’s global platform for innovation through collaboration. It provides a single entry point for startups and scaleups to connect with its 400 brands and champions their role in the industry. Its unique Pitch-Pilot-Partner approach dramatically cuts the time it takes to get a new initiative to market, with the average project going from brief to pilot in nine months.

Visit here for eligibility criteria and to enter The Next Big Thing.