Nestle’s innovation platform HENRi@Nestle marks its one year anniversary

Published: 26-Jul-2017

July marks one year since Nestlé launched HENRi, its open innovation platform designed to help support start-ups and entrepreneurs to address specific business and brand challenges

Its aim is to revolutionise the nutrition, health and wellness sectors, enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.

Already in the past year, HENRi has attracted submissions from across the world and from a range of high quality start-ups against its initial six challenges.

From assessing and diagnosing micronutrient deficiency to finding a complementary and sustainable material in replacing plastic water bottles, HENRi has attempted to solve some of the most challenging issues facing our society.

HENRi@Nestlé brings together the creative spirit and ingenuity of start-ups, entrepreneurs and innovators across the globe, with the scale and expertise of a 150-year-old company.

HENRi features real business challenges from across Nestlé and opens up applications to any business who thinks they can solve that challenge best.

Chosen start-ups then embark on a “partner-pilot-proof of concept” collaboration with HENRi, having access to the Nestlé senior sponsor and $50,000 funding from Nestlé to support the in-field pilot.

Gerardo Mazzeo, Global Innovation Director and CSV Manager, Nestlé, said: “We’re proud of the work we have done so far on open innovation to help change the culture within Nestlé and to enhance our brands and service propositions for the better."

We have a huge ambition and breadth – looking at business challenges from helping families with portion control and tackling obesity to addressing packaging sustainability within our bottled water business. It’s just the beginning, and I’m looking forward to working with the team at Nestlé and new startups to make a difference on projects that matter.”

Pete Blackshaw, Global Head of Digital and Social Media, said: “We launched HENRi@Nestlé in 2016 with the aim to work with the most creative and innovative start-ups on projects that will make a real difference. We’ve already hosted six great projects, and are looking forward to seeing the pilots launch into the real world, and open more projects in the year to come.”

Throughout the year HENRi has been in conversation with some of the best start-ups, presenting a new breed of collaborative innovation that is founded upon mutual value exchange and a genuine peer-to-peer approach.

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