Consumer Engagement in
Food & Retail

Sente, in partnership with the global food and retail company Yildiz Holding, is investing in early-stage startups with digital technologies that can help connect food and retail brands with their ever-evolving consumer community.

Starting in London in February 2020, we will select startups from around the world for the opportunity to work with international snacks, food and retail brands as well as the chance for a $50,000 - $75,000 investment (and the objective of a future follow-on investment of $250k+).

We are looking for early-stage startups with technologies in areas such as:

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The program agenda is as follows:

• Week 1 (Feb 10-14) will be in London as an intense, hands-on evaluation and refinement of startups’ business model for global scale-up and relevance for doing potential projects with major food & retail brands

• Weeks 2-5 will be remote, where teams will work with Sente and the Yildiz Holding innovation teams to refine the evaluation of their overall scale-up potential (e.g. technology, business model, unit economics, scale-up economics, competition and industry dynamics)

• All participants will then be invited to Istanbul for Week 6 (March 16-20), where they will participate in facilitated discussions with the corporate sponsor to plan for proofs of concept and pilot projects and investment opportunities

• A minimum of 3 startups after Week 6 will receive an investment of $50,000-$75,000 in return for equity shares, and will receive continued support from the Sente and Yildiz Holding teams, including connecting them with projects within the business and the potential for scale-up and/or follow-on investment.

• A follow-on investment budget of $250,000 is set aside as an option to invest in one or more startups in future rounds based on their success (at mutually agreed terms and valuation).

Other program terms:

• The program will pay for all accommodations in Week 1 (London) and Week 6 (Istanbul), as well as flights to/from London in Week 1. Startups will be responsible for their own transportation to Istanbul in Week 6 (but will have access to Sente's preferred rates with airlines, if applicable).

• There is no commitment from Yildiz Holding and its brands to proof-of-concept or pilot projects with any particular startup, but the program has executive-level sponsorship to work with earl-stage startups.

The Sente Team

Meet our Mentors