Sonae MC calls on technology startups to disrupt retail

Portugal-based retailer Sonae MC is inviting startups to test their solutions in a real life environment during the third edition of its Disrupt Retail – Call for Technology initiative. 

Sonae MC is accepting applications until 6th March and the chosen projects will be announced in April.

The company is looking for solutions that can make a meaningful impact in the retail value chain, with an emphasis on the store of the future, e-commerce, new ways of working, health and wellness services, consumer experience and digital universe. 

Its most valued technologies are artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, Internet of Things, robotics and blockchain. 

The second edition of Disrupt Retail, which took place in 2020, pulled in 136 applications from 20 countries, resulting in five proofs of concept. 

The selected startups in 2022 will benefit from an exclusive mentorship programme with Sonae MC’s specialists in technology and retail, and the possibility of watching their proposals implemented in an ecosystem that encompasses over three million families, distributed over 1.000 stores of multiple brands.

Miguel Moreira, Administrator for BIT, the information systems department at Sonae MC, says: “We priortise innovation and believe in cooperation and cocreation as important sources for conceiving new solutions and going above and beyond for our clients, workers and partners.”

“With Disrupt Retail we want to challenge and help startups implement their pilot projects in a real-life context, designing the future of retail together.” 

Along with  startups, the competition is also open to I&D centres, as well as companies and agencies presenting mature and ready to be tested solutions.