Nominations for the next round of the Accenture ConsumerTech Awards are now open. These awards recognize start-ups that play a major role in how big brands and organizations engage with millennials.

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Accenture (NYSE:ACN) is inviting start-ups with a focus on excellence in customer experience and personalization and on innovative ways to increase sales revenue, improve product sourcing and delivery, and help to enable a more digital workforce, to apply for the four awards. Applicants can enter at https://www.f6s.com/accentureconsumertechawardldn/apply until Apr. 7.

Finalists will present in London on May 2 to an exclusive panel of judges comprised of senior executives from globally recognized brands and established thought-leaders from the consumer goods, retail, travel and automotive industries.

“Millennials are true digital natives and are driving the agenda when it comes to engaging with big brands,” said Teo Correia, senior managing director at Accenture. “As part of Accenture’s commitment to ConsumerTech, we are delighted to once more open the Accenture ConsumerTech Awards to help convene the discussions between start-ups and big brands. These awards help to foster new ideas and drive innovative solutions for the consumer-facing industries as they aim to reach a generation that is shaping and commanding today’s digital landscape.”

The four categories in the Accenture ConsumerTech Awards are:

Millennial Shopper

  • Solutions that provide better understanding of consumer behavior and demands; improved product design, distribution, stock management and logistics; or increased footfall, sales, product offerings – both online and offline.

Millennial Consumer

  • Solutions that target and attract consumers to a brand, retain customers and increase their spend; customize and personalize brand experiences; or can provide flexibility and choice to match consumer lifestyles.

Millennial Traveller

  • Solutions that improve travel and hospitality experiences; reduce operating costs; or increase choice and improve customer service.

Millennial Driver

  • Solutions that help drivers reduce environmental impact; improve retail and after-sales experience for cars and their ecosystem; or increase drivers and in-car productivity and data connectivity.

The awards are open to start-ups and emerging companies that meet at least one of the following criteria: are less than three years old; are angel- or venture-funded; are pre-revenue; or in beta product phase. There are no geographic restrictions. The winners will be announced on May 4 at the Millennial 20/20 summit in London, at which Accenture is the title sponsor.

Previous winners can be viewed here.

Teresa Mayeth Condicion, Co-Founder and CDO at Snapcart said, “This award provided us with global-scale mentorship and exposed us to broad business opportunities in the consumer goods and retail industry, both brands and investors alike. It has been a privilege to be one of Accenture ConsumerTech Awards first awardee and we are thankful for the opportunity."

All finalists are included in Accenture’s start-up program which gives them ongoing access to the Accenture Open Innovation team for coaching and participation in regular demonstration days.

In addition to receiving their award the category winners receive access to a team of industry experts at Accenture to obtain advice and consultation on how to improve select areas of their business plus a three month showcase spot in Accenture’s Innovation Hub, an area that is visited by many of the UK’s foremost consumer-facing brands.

M20/20 Europe will be staged on May 3 and 4 at the Truman Brewery in London and will see the gathering of more than 4,000 brands, retailers, corporate businesses and start-ups. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from more than 200 world-class speakers, visit 60 experiential exhibitors, attend eight live immersive showcases, and participate in a series of networking opportunities.

Millennial 20/20 is the world’s first millennial summit focused on understanding the millennial-driven changing consumer marketplace. Bringing together thought leaders from emerging and established brands across various sectors, the summit will provide brands with the insights needed to effectively engage with the millennial mindset of today's consumer.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 394,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.