W2 Labs looks to startup to solve supply chain challenges

Wincanton, the largest British logistics company, is once again challenging start-ups to pitch their solutions for industry challenges, as part of its W2 Labs innovation programme.

Run in partnership with L Marks, the corporate innovation specialist and early-stage investor, this is the second year that the programme has run with start-ups invited to demonstrate the value of their work across three categories.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to develop their business proposition with Wincanton and will receive intensive business mentoring from the company’s senior executives, with a view to securing an ongoing commercial agreement.

Zigzag, a technology business, which helps online retailers improve their customer service and international returns proposition, is just one of last year’s W2 Labs success stories.

Al Gerrie, ZigZag Founder, said of working with Wincanton:

“We’re already confident in our ZigZag solution yet logistics is a huge industry and there are many verticals we have not yet touched on. With the guidance and support of the Wincanton team, we have been able to look at new and innovative ways of using the ZigZag platform to improve the returns process in other sectors.”

Adrian Colman, Wincanton CEO, said of the W2 Labs 2018 launch:

“Following the success of last year’s programme, which had over 90 submissions from 12 countries, we are excited to see the breadth of talent this year’s W2 Labs brings. At Wincanton, we recognise that to innovate we need an open and curious mind; an approach where we combine our own experience with that of the best start-up businesses from around. Together, we can exploit the possibilities of the digital supply chain to the benefit of our customers.”

Stuart Marks, technology entrepreneur and Chairman of L Marks, said:

“Innovation in the sector has been limited to a few large players but Wincanton’s commitment to W2 Labs demonstrates the company’s desire to lead the challenge and find new ways to innovate. I’m excited that L Marks will be joining Wincanton on this journey to discover and work with some incredible start-ups.”

Pitch Day will be on 16th November. A 10-week intensive collaboration period between Wincanton and the selected start-ups will then follow, with concepts being demonstrated at the end of the process.