P&G is looking for new approaches and technologies that can help them to address key business challenges/opportunities. The following innovation briefs will provide a high-level overview of specific business goals and needs, as well as a high-level overview of what they are looking for in a solution.
If you would like to submit a solution to one of the following four briefs, please submit responses at the associated link AND submit here and we'll try to to help you get status on your application.
Submission Link: https://bit.ly/3ysYsna
Business Background:
Pet Care needs and spending is growing rapidly in the US and globally and has escalated with COVID. 68% of Americans have a pet and spend on cleaning/odor solutions alone is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2025. The ideal solutions would be physical and digital tools that let people more seamlessly live with their pet. These solutions need to be easy to use and not require consumers to undergo tedious training programs or make compensating behaviors to how they live in their house. They need to be for people who see their pet as part of their family or as a child. These solutions should meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the pet and the consumer.
Pet Hair Management:
PGV is interested in proactive and reactive methods for cleaning pet hair messes in the home specifically around hair management on clothing, floors, furniture, and car and for the following jobs to be done:
Home Destruction / Pet Behavior Issues:
PGV is interested in preventing pet messes in the home caused by pet destruction including chewing, scratching, peeing, and pooping. We’ve found that consumers anxiety and/or pets with anxiety/boredom/dominance issues are often the reason these messes occur. The following consumer problem articulations are of interest for Physical and Digital solutions:
Pet Odor:
PGV is interested in learning more about proactive and reactive methods for cleaning pet messes in the home caused by pet odors, specifically the odor that urine leaves in carpets and rugs and general smell coming from the pet. The following consumer problem articulations are of interest for solutions:
The Ask:
If you have ideas and supporting technologies that you believe can be disruptive and are looking to drive agile in-market pilots across the world with the goal of scaling successful services & solutions, our team will be happy to work with you. All ideas and submissions will be fully reviewed by our team. We want to hear from you and partner with you.
Latin America offers the fastest-growing regional e-commerce marketplace in the world. Fueled by the pandemic, e-commerce sales grew 36.7% to $84.95 billion in 2020 and the trend is expected to continue. The rise of online has brought about massive changes in the world of commerce and consumer behaviour patterns, with merchants worldwide having to adapt to an unprecedented demand for online products and services.
In order to capitalize on Latin America’s e-commerce boom, grow our business, and continue to be a market leader in the channel, P&G recognizes the need to build the capabilities to win online and provide a seamless and delightful shopping experience at every touchpoint.
Business Challenge / Needs Definition:
As eCommerce grows across the region, consumers' shopping behaviors and expectations are also changing dramatically. New digital technologies are enabling frictionless, convenient and personalized experiences across the shopping journey, from online to offline. If brands cannot deliver such an experience, consumers will go elsewhere.
How can P&G deliver a truly frictionless online experience as well as become a trailblazer in leveraging new digital commerce experiences and approaches? How can we ensure a seamless experience across all channels and touchpoints of the consumer journey, from the first moment they interact with our brands to purchase and checkout, to the moment they receive the product?
P&G is looking to surface how modern businesses and brands are creating a frictionless commerce experience as well as the start-ups and technologies powering them. The goal is to identify technologies and partners that P&G’s brands can execute in-market pilots.
The geographic focus for this project is Latin America, specifically Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Start-ups applying must have a presence in the region and/or the ability to pilot in one of these markets.
Relevant technology domains may include, but are not limited to:
Social Commerce
Quick Commerce / One Click Checkout
Shopping Advisors & Digital Assistants
Livestream Commerce
Data Driven Personalization & Product Recommendation Engines
Shoppable Ads & Content
Group / Community Buying
Supply Chain Analytics & Forecasting
Experiential Retail
Direct Selling
Last Mile & On Demand Delivery
AR/VR & Immersive Shopping
Conversational Commerce & SMS
Rapid Fulfillment models: Darkstores & Micro-fulfillment
WhatsApp Optimization & Enablement
New Ecommerce Marketplaces
Online to Offline Experiences
If you have a solution that addresses this challenge, we want to hear from you. Please submit a summary of your solution, approach and/or technology and indicate how you would propose piloting your solution with P&G. All ideas and submissions will be thoroughly reviewed and where there is a good fit, we are looking to drive agile and rapid in-market pilots with the goal of scaling successful services & solutions.
People with disabilities represent the largest minority group with 1.3 billion people and an estimated global disposable income of $1.2 trillion. However, this group is often an overlooked and underserved segment who experience needs and pain points that are typically ahead of the market. This forces them to become sharp problem solvers that devise their own creative solutions to everyday obstacles. P&G recognizes the need to be much more deliberate about understanding and serving the needs of these consumers, and through that, building our brands’ growth and trust with this large consumer base, as well as elevating product usage and brand experiences for all consumers.
P&G aims to build the world’s most trusted and valued brands, and we believe in serving all people inclusively, bringing visibility to their uniqueness. P&G aims to be a force for good and growth to build a better world for people with disabilities. We need to consider these consumers in brand-building activities such as communication, product & packaging design, social media, e-commerce & in-store to ensure consumer delight and superior experience for not only these consumers, but for all.
How can P&G help these consumers feel empowered to achieve the home, look, and self-care that they want independently? How can we, through our products and brands, enable people with disabilities to better discover, shop, and use our brands, and ultimately delight all consumers with these better solutions?
P&G is looking to better serve consumers with disabilities by:
P&G is looking to surface how modern businesses are communicating and making their messages and products easy to access as well as the startups and technologies powering them. The goal is to identify technologies and partners that P&G’s brands can execute in-market pilots.
The geographic focus for this project is the US and Europe. Start-ups applying should have a presence and the ability to pilot in one of these markets.
Digital Accessibility Innovations (Online and Ecommerce Inclusivity and Accessibility)
Digital Personal Assistants, Voice & Audio Assistance
Interactive/Immersive Retail Tech (interactive retail displays)
Packaging Innovation (smart packaging, AR/VR for visually/physically impaired)
Assistive Technology Devices
Home / In-store solutions (Robotics, Shelves, Displays)
Connected Technology / IoT (in-home, out of home, in-store, online, etc.)
Accessible Advertising
Other
Disclaimer: MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.