Lions Innovation announces start-ups

19 Jun 2015

Lions Innovation has announced the ten finalists of this year's inaugural Start-up Academy, following a global search that netted over 100 submissions.

1. LISNR - Cincinnati, OH, US - A new communication platform that uses high frequency audio tones to interact with devices.
2. eBrandValue - Mountain View, CA, US / Istanbul, Turkey - Integrates sales and marketing data with social signal management, enabling marketers to interrogate social data to increase the value of a brand and sales in real time.
3. MOSH. - New York, US / Sydney, Australia - New digital platform for brands, artists, and causes that strengthens engagement with fans and customers.
4. Ingenious Smart Home - Istanbul, Turkey - Plug-and-play system designed to control home energy consumption through learned behaviour.
5. Laurel & Wolf - Los Angeles, CA, US - Online interior design marketplace that makes professional interior design affordable and accessible.
6. Narratively - Brooklyn, NY, US - Multimedia publication and content studio devoted to untold human stories.
7. Chargifi - London, UK - Wireless power transmitters providing a platform for interaction in public spaces.
8. In Loco Media - Recife, Brazil - Indoor location technology combined with a targeted adtech platform.
9. White Ops - New York, NY, US - Pioneer in online advertising fraud detection.
10. SnowShoe Stamp - Madison, WI, US - Creates small pieces of plastic that serve as physical keys to engaging digital content on mobile devices.

"As R/GA expands globally, we've looked at hundreds of international start-ups. We're excited to work with the select companies, who represent the best in marketing and communication innovations around the world," said Stephen Plumlee, Global COO, R/GA and Managing Partner, R/GA Ventures. "These companies reflect not only the diversity and the vibrancy of the marketing landscape, but also the global start-up community."

Start-up Academy attendees have received passes to the Festival and will take part in a programme of mentorship sessions with R/GA Founder Bob Greenberg; CEO of Interpublic Group, Michael Roth; CCO of Facebook, Mark D'Arcy; Senior Director, Global Brand Development at McDonald's, Matt Biespiel and Rob Norman, Chief Digital Officer of GroupM. The Academy is led by Paul Woolmington, co-founder of Naked Communications Americas, angel investor, advisor and advocate for the role of technology in branded communications.

They will also get an exclusive introduction to the leading creatives, senior marketers and high-level decision-makers that Lions Innovation has attracted and the opportunity to pitch inside the Palais on Wednesday 24 June.

Lions Festivals CEO, Philip Thomas, said that the initiative fulfils a central goal of Lions Innovation to connect start-ups with brands and storytellers. "Lions Innovation is a crucible that brings elements of the industry together for learning, inspiration, networking and celebration. The combination produces a chain reaction from which something special emerges - great ideas aren't just awarded here, they're also born here and fuelled by the undercurrent of energy that flows through the Festival."

For more information, go to www.canneslions.com/lions_innovation.