Hong Kong-based technology incubator The Mills Fabrica is to expand into the UK with the launch of a pilot cross-border incubation platform to support “techstyle” startups in Asia and Europe.
The Mills – a landmark project that has transformed former Nan Fung Group textile factories into a new heritage and innovation centre – officially launched in Hong Kong in December 2018. Fabrica, the innovation arm of The Mills, supports techstyle innovators from around the world and aims to build a global techstyle community.
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Modelled after the Fabrica Incubation Programme in Hong Kong, UK incubatees will receive support in terms of connections and exposure not just in the UK but also in Hong Kong and Asia, as well as a profile at some of the world’s biggest startup events and conferences.
In addition, teams will be able to develop their businesses in Hong Kong at The Mills Fabrica through access to flexible co-working and event space; the state-of-the-art Fabrica Lab prototyping lab, curated in collaboration with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA); and the Techstyle X experiential and experimental retail store.
The first pilot incubatees in the UK will be Smartzer and Reflaunt.
Reflaunt creates a technology that promotes a circular economy by connecting brands/retailers with the second-hand market. The technology allows customers to resell, donate or recycle their past purchases directly from the e-commerce site of the brand or retailer.
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By GlobalDataWhile the Smartzer platform makes videos interactive and shoppable by adding an overlay with clickable hotspots. Viewers can click on anything in a video to see more information or links to shop. The interactive overlay is automatically optimised for all video formats and distribution channels including websites, social media, video ads, and touch screen experiences. Detailed video interaction data is used to understand video performance and to inform creative decisions for future video campaigns.
Part of the LVMH La Maison Des Startups, Smartzer’s clients include COS, Zimmermann, Harvey Nichols, Swarovski, Jimmy Choo, Feelunique, Missoni x Adidas, and GroupM.
