London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED.
You can still apply for the Berlin Fashion-Tech Bootcamp.
As part of the DeFINE Fashion-Tech Bootcamp series, London College of Fashion – University of the Arts London in collaboration with Fashion District will be leading the London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp session between the 5th – 6th June. During the two day bootcamp session; there will be a series of inspirational talks from Microsoft, Marks & Spencer and Farfetch, as well as, interactive workshops and exercises to develop your business idea.
Brooke Roberts Islam, Co-Founder of Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency (BRIA) is one of the leading voices in the fashion-tech industry writing for Forbes.com, the Huffington Post UK and Techstyler. As our Thought-Leader Partner, Brooke will be steering the conversations across the two day bootcamp while contributing to live discussions and hosting digital polls to provide participants with an interactive and engaging experience.
If you are a pre-start-up, start-up or SME working within the fashion supply chain or developing new technologies, we invite you to apply for the London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp and join our DeFINE Network community to contribute to the development of the European Fashion-tech Innovation network.
Who Should Attend
Bootcamps are designed for start-ups and SMEs to develop their business ideas.
Am I Eligible to Apply?
You must meet the following criteria to be considered for the mentoring programme:
- Working in fashion or technology.
- Have an innovative idea incorporating fashion and technology that you want to develop for one of the following:
- Product or service
- Process
- Route to market/business model
- Able to certify that you have ownership or right to use any intellectual property involved.
- Based in a COSME participating country – EU 28 + Montenegro, Turkey, FYROM, Albania, Serbia, Moldavia, Armenia, Iceland.
Please note: you do not need to be a registered company to apply for the bootcamp.
How to Register
Applications are now closed.
Successful applicants will be notified on Wednesday 8th May 2019. Due to high volumes of applications we may not be able to provide feedback.
Limited spaces available and terms and conditions apply.
Costs
DeFINE London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp is free to register.
Location
London Bootcamp will be taking place in two different sites in East London. Day One (5th June) will be at the Holiday Inn – Stratford City. Day Two (6th June) will be at Plexal, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
Travel and Accommodation
Attendees are responsible for travel and booking their own accommodation.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about attending an Info Day please email contact@define-network.eu.
Alternative Events
If you can’t make it to London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp, don’t worry. You might also be interested in applying to Berlin Fashion-Tech Bootcamp taking place Monday 24th – Tuesday 25 June 2019 alongside Wear It Berlin Festival.
Hourly Schedule
Day 1: Talks and Workshops at Holiday Inn - Stratford City
- 10.30am - 11am
- Arrival and Registration
- 11am - 11.15am
- Welcome and About DeFINE
- 11.15am - 11.20am
- Feedback on the poll
-
Speakers:
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency
- 11.20am - 12pm
- Keynote
- What is the future of fashion retail?
-
Speakers:
Daniel Himsworth, Marks & Spencer
- 12pm - 1.10pm
- Business model canvas workshop
- 1.10pm - 1.15pm
- Recap and Poll
- 1.15pm - 2pm
- Lunch
- 2pm - 3.30pm
- Business model canvas workshop (continued)
- 3.30pm - 3.45pm
- Recap and Poll
- 3.45pm - 4pm
- Tea Breaks
- 4pm - 4.10pm
- Fashion District with Helen Lax
- 4.10pm - 4.50pm
- Industry Insight
-
Speakers:
Francesca Bonetti, London College of Fashion
- 4.50pm - 5.30pm
- Fashion Innovation Agency
- case studies of inspirational fashion-tech projects
-
Speakers:
Matthew Drinkwater, Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion
- 5.30pm - 7pm
- Networking Drinks
Day 1: Allocated 1-1 Session with Mentors. Most sessions take place at the same time as talks and workshops.
- 1.20pm - 1.40pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 1.40pmpm - 2pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 3.20pm - 3.40pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 3.40pm - 4pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 4.20pm - 4.40pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 4.40pm - 5pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
Day 2: Talks and Workshops at Plexal, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford.
- 9.30am - 9.30am
- Arrival and Breakfast
- 9.30am - 9.35am
- Introduction to Day 2
-
Speakers:
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency
- 9.35am - 9.45am
- Recap of Day 1
-
Speakers:
Matthew Drinkwater, Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion
- 9.45am - 10.45am
- Workshop 1: Investment Strategy
-
Speakers:
Thierry Baujard, Media Deals
- 10.45am - 11am
- Tea Break
- 11am - 12pm
- Workshop 2: IP Strategy
-
Speakers:
Roxanne Peters, London College of Fashion, University of Arts London
- 12pm - 12.30pm
- Microsoft
- Retail and Luxury at Microsoft
-
Speakers:
Maruschka Loubser, Microsoft
- 12.30pm - 1.15pm
- Lunch
- 1.15pm - 2.15pm
- Workshop 3: Marketing
-
Speakers:
Alice Gras, Hall Couture
- 2.15pm - 3pm
- Panel Discussion
-
Speakers:
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency, Eve Kekeh, Bundlee, Janosch Amstutz, HoloMe, Kostas Koukoravas, Intelistyle
- 3pm - 3.20pm
- Tea Break
- 3.20pm - 4pm
- Presentation on the Mentoring Programme
-
Speakers:
Chiara Colombi (Polimi)
- 4pm - 4.30pm
- Keynote
- Future of Retail
-
Speakers:
David Grunwald, Farfetch
- 4.30pm - 4.35pm
- Poll of the 2 days
-
Speakers:
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency
- 4.35pm - 4.45pm
- Closing remarks
- 4.45pm - 4.50pm
- Warp up of DeFINE London Fashion-Tech Bootcamp
-
Speakers:
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency
Day 2: Allocated 1-1 Session with Mentors. Most sessions take place at the same time as talks and workshops.
- 9.45am - 10.05pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Alice Gras, Hall Couture, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 10.15am - 10.35am
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Alice Gras, Hall Couture, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 11am - 11.20am
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Alice Gras, Hall Couture, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Investment Mentor: Thierry Baujard, Media Deals, Legal Mentor: Max Thoma, Mathys & Squire LLP, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 11.30am - 11.50am
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Alice Gras, Hall Couture, Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Investment Mentor: Thierry Baujard, Media Deals, Legal Mentor: Max Thoma, Mathys & Squire LLP, Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 1.15pm - 1.35pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency, Legal Mentor: Max Thoma, Mathys & Squire LLP, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
- 1.45pm - 2.05pm
- Allocated Mentoring Session
- 20 minutes, 5 mentors in Innovation, Manufacturing, Investment readiness, Tech support, Marketing and Ideation
-
Speakers:
Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi, Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council, Legal Mentor: Max Thoma, Mathys & Squire LLP, Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
Brooke Roberts-Islam, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency
Co-founder, Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency (BRIA)
Brooke Roberts-Islam is an award-winning digital knitwear designer and consultant who recently co-founded the Brooke Roberts Innovation Agency (BRIA).
Following a previous career as a diagnostic radiographer within the NHS, Brooke used inspiration from scan images of the brain to create knitwear using the latest digital knitting technology and yarns. She subsequently gave a TED talk explaining how she combined radiography and knitwear design in her clothing range.
At BRIA, Brooke and her team develop "smart" and sustainable materials solutions for businesses spanning fashion and manufacturing, directly combining her knowledge of the latest developments in the "fashion-tech" sector with her pioneering cross-discipline approach to developing new materials.
In addition to her design and materials development work, Brooke is a "fashion-tech" and sustainability writer for Forbes.com, the Huffington Post UK and Techstyler - a publishing platform she founded - sharing opinions and interviews from the crossroads of these sectors. Brooke is regularly invited to speak about the fusion of fashion and technology at events including the Wired Next Generation conference and the launch of London Technology Week,
2016. She also moderates monthly panel discussions in London featuring fashion tech and sustainability pioneers.
Daniel Himsworth, Marks & Spencer
Programme Manager – Digital & Data Team, Marks & Spencer
Daniel works in the Digital & Data team at M&S, managing M&S’ digital partnerships with Founders Factory (the incubator and accelerator of startup businesses launched by Brent Hoberman and Henry Lane-fox) and True (Europe’s only specialist retail and consumer vertical investor). Both partnerships are a crucial part of M&S’ digital transformation.
Daniel has worked in retail for over 20 years in PR, Communications and Crisis Management. He joined the Digital & Data team in November last year and reports to the Chief Digital & Data Officer.
Francesca Bonetti, London College of Fashion
Lecturer in Marketing, London College of Fashion
Francesca is a PhD researcher in retailing, consumer-facing technology and marketing in the School of Materials at The University of Manchester. She is also a part-time Lecturer in Marketing at undergraduate and postgraduate level at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, and a visiting lecturer at universities across Europe and Asia. Her research interests focus on the digital transformation of retailing and her PhD explores the adoption of consumer-facing technologies in fashion retail settings from a managerial perspective. She has international industry experience in marketing communications and retail and business development in the fashion and apparel sector, through which she developed strong cultural sensitivity, an extensive knowledge of the international media landscape and internationalisation strategies. She currently consult for fashion brands and retailers on distribution strategies, communications strategies and the use of consumer-facing technology across retail channels.
Matthew Drinkwater, Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion
Head of Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion
Matthew works at the crossroads of Fashion, Retail and Technology to head up London College of Fashion's Innovation Agency. Using emerging technology to alter the way that the fashion industry is making, showcasing and retailing, Matthew and his team are building a pathway for truly digital designer businesses.
Matthew has delivered a stunning range of projects that have captured the imagination of both the fashion and technology industries, including what Forbes described as 'the first example of truly beautiful wearable tech'.
Most recently, he worked alongside Lucasfilm's immersive entertainment division ILMxLAB to bring their new performance-driven augmentation technology, LIVECGX, to London Fashion Week.
Matthew was named as a 'fashion-tech trailblazer changing the course of retail' by Drapers and a 'pioneer and visionary' by Wired.
Business Development Mentor: Judith Tolley, Centre for Fashion Enterprise
Head, Centre for Fashion Enterprise
Judith leads the Centre for Fashion Enterprise. She has 30 years’ experience in the fashion industry, developing successful fashion business start-ups.
Judith is a proven entrepreneur: as director of iconic British menswear brand Burro from 1990-2005, she worked from the ground up to develop a fashion start-up into a global brand.
Judith delivers on strategic development and delivery for the CFE and has pioneered executive coaching as a development tool for SME business leaders.
Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Paola Bertola
Professor at the Design Department, Politecnico di Milano
Paola Bertola, PhD in Design, is Full Professor at Politecnico di Milano, Design Department, where she coordinates the PhD Program in Design. She is cofounder of Fashion in Process (FIP) research collective and Faculty Member of the School of Design, Politecnico di Milano, where she teaches in BA Fashion Design program and in MSc Product Service System Design Program. Her research focuses on creative processes, design management and branding, and design research within “culture intensive” industries. She is an author of several international publications and consultant on didactic and research activities for Italian and foreign institutions and companies. She was twice awarded with the Compasso d'Oro Price (2001 and 2011) for her research activities.
Ideation Mentor: Fredrik Timour, Swedish Fashion Council
Founder, Swedish Fashion Council
One of Sweden’s thought leaders within the digitalization of the fashion industry. Has developed both technology, business and education within Fashion Tech.
Fredrik works for the Swedish Fashion Council setting up a Fashion Innovation Center. He has a broad, deep and holistic perspective to digital fashion and is the founder of Neue, a platform for digital fashion development including both hardware, software and cloud, for fashion brands and end user applications. He has been running courses in fashion tech at Fashion Institute of Technology - NYC, London College of Fashion - London, IFA - Paris, Beckmans - Stockholm. Furthermore, he has been working directly with clients like POC, IKEA, BACK developing connected garments.
Innovation Mentor: Fashion Innovation Agency
Fashion Innovation Agency
Manufacturing Mentor: Lutz Walter, EURATEX
Director for Innovation and Skills, EURATEX
For almost 20 years, Lutz Walter has been Head of R&D and Innovation, currently Director for Innovation and Skills at EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, based in Brussels. He is also Secretary General of the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing. Walter has been actively following the technology and innovation trends in Europe’s textile and fashion sector. He has coordinated several large-scale European research and training-related programs, advised companies, research organisations and public authorities and authored various studies and strategy papers on the future of Europe’s textile and fashion industry.
Production Mentor: Anna Ellis, Centre for Fashion Enterprise
Production Manager, Centre for Fashion Enterprise
Anna Ellis joined the CFE in June 2016 as Production Manager to support their FTEF project beneficiaries in developing their businesses through enhancing their supply chain and production management capabilities. With over 20 years’ experience in production and product development in the UK and US, she has sourced and manufactured products in the UK, Europe, China, India and South America, with brands including Gloverall, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Gap inc.
Simon Hjelte (Ink Boras)
Business Developer, Ink Boras
Simon works as a Business Developer at Inkubatorn i Borås (Ink Borås) where he focus on companies in the fashion and textile technology field. He support startups in the entire business development process, focusing on new business models for the new type of fashion startups that we see coming. Simon’s expertise is to discover an idea’s intrinsic value and make business of it - a skill he has developed by knowing the fashion industry in depth.
Simon is a tailor in principle. He has worked through all parts of the textile and fashion value chain and used to operate his own jeans micro-factory. He first got in contact with the Borås textile innovation cluster as an entrepreneur through the Innovation Department at Borås University, engaging as a commercial partner in “on market” research projects. He eventually ended up at the incubator when he got the chance to work with business linked to fashion and textile innovation.
Simon initiated the process of Ink Borås taking the position as Scandinavia's leading business developing partner for startups within the area of fashion technology. From the beginning of 2019 and forward, Ink Borås has an increased focus on attracting startups with technical innovations in textile and fashion.
Thierry Baujard, Media Deals
Founder, Media Deals
Thierry has 20+ years of experience in the communications and entertainment industries. After graduating in Paris he worked in London as a business consultant for entertainment companies and telecom operators, then in France and Germany in business development for Vivendi, and then for ARTE – the Franco-German TV station – in Strasbourg. Thierry then completed an MBA at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and at UCLA in Los Angeles, where he specialized in film financing and e-commerce. In 2012, he graduated from the European Executive Programme of the Ecole National d’Administration (ENA) in France. For Media Deals, Thierry is in charge of developing the investment network across Europe and managing the network’s Investment Forums, which regularly bring mediatech companies and investors together for pitching sessions. With regard to this, he supports the network’s investors in identifying investment opportunities and in carrying out due diligence with a focus on cross-border transactions and exit strategies. He was also the project director of Media Deals’ EU project ImMediaTe, which examined financial mechanisms for digital media between five European clusters (Barcelona, Rome, Malta, Paris, and Amsterdam) and is now the director of the new DG Connect project European Investor Gate (EIG). Thierry has also been developing different creative industries funds for the film, music, and video games sectors. He is a regular speaker at conferences and summits on content and technology as well as an expert for the European Commission on regulations for investment in the digital sector.
Roxanne Peters, London College of Fashion, University of Arts London
IP Lecturer, London College of Fashion, University of Arts London
Roxanne is a Creative and Cultural Rights Strategist with over 15 years experience, working internationally within the cultural heritage sector and creative industries. Having worked at the V&A and at a pan-European level for digital platform Europeana Foundation in strategy, policy and advocacy, she has cultivated relationships with artists, designers and institutions to digitise and license content for cultural and commercial exchange. She is UAL’s Intellectual Property Lecturer and enjoys using her practice-based knowledge to empower creatives, innovators and change makers starting out in professional practice. Current work includes the intersection of IP and ethics in creative enterprise and socially responsive design.
Maruschka Loubser, Microsoft
Director of Global Brand Marketing Partnerships, Microsoft
A marketeer with comprehensive experience in brand/entertainment partnerships and sponsorships across music, film, theatre, sport, arts and culture.
I am a complete geek, loving all things technology and I remain curious about the 'next big thing'.
I have excellent experience and have managed a number of very successful integrated campaigns covering a 360 approach and utilizing various marketing channels incli ATL, BTL, PR, Experiential, Digital & Social. I believe that we live in an integrated world and the campaigns/programmes need to enhance the consumers experience in any medium or consumer journey they choose to engage with you/your brand.
Alice Gras, Hall Couture
Consultant, Hall Couture
Through her different activities Alice Gras dedicates herself time to creators and artisans of contemporary fashion' support.
She is the founder of Hall Couture, an integrated collaborative space dedicated to new fashion creation. She is also co-founder and active member of the Fashion Tech Week event combining fashion and digital culture, in which she has organized the FashionTech Expo since 2014 to give visibility to avant-garde projects. Passionate about the evolution of fashion towards new proposals and models, Alice intervenes as a consultant on behalf of various companies and in team with other creative independents under the StudIOTech label.
Eve Kekeh, Bundlee
Founder of Bundlee
Eve Kekeh is the founder of Bundlee and is passionate about using technology to drive sustainability in fashion. As the eldest of 4 (with an age gap of 18 years!), Eve experienced how quickly babies outgrow their clothes and how much waste this leads to. She set about to solve this problem with Bundlee.
Bundlee is the UK’s first baby clothing rental subscription. Parents rent their baby’s wardrobe and simply return outgrown clothes to get the next size up.
Bundlee was selected to join the Centre for Fashion Enterprise’s FashTech Pioneer Programme and was recently featured in Cosmopolitan magazine.
Janosch Amstutz, HoloMe
Founder and CEO, HoloMe
Kostas Koukoravas, Intelistyle
Founder & CEO, Intelistyle
Kostas Koukoravas, Founder & CEO of Intelistyle. Intelistyle helps retailers address the needs of customers looking for styling advice by using
A.I. to scale their personal styling team online and in-store. He previously drove acquisition, conversion and retention initiatives
at eCommerce teams across media, retail and tourism industries. Before jumping into the startup world, he led engineering teams at Microsoft, Skype and the BBC, bringing together Machine Learning,
computer vision and UX to build innovative customer experiences. Obsessed with technology, entrepreneurship and delightful products.
Chiara Colombi (Polimi)
Project Manager, Polimi
Chiara Colombi, is a Fashion Designer, PhD and Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano, Design Department, and Faculty Member in BSc and MSc Fashion Design programs at Design School ‐ Politecnico di Milano. She has 15 years’ experience in education, research and professional consultancy in the fashion design field mainly focused on trend research methods, product-system development, merchandising and retailing. Her research, teaching and professional experience is rooted in the close relationship established with productive and professional entities. These connections aim to define research projects deemed to be relevant from an industrial, socio-economic perspective and possible topics for studios, workshops, research projects and grants.
David Grunwald, Farfetch
VP Innovation, Farfetch
David is Farfetch's VP of Innovation, where he leads open innovation and engagement with startups, including Farfetch's fashion technology accelerator, Dream Assembly. David has 18 years of experience in technology, and before joining Farfetch in 2018 spent 8 years at Google in various partnership and business development roles. Most recently, he led Google for Entrepreneurs' partnerships globally with responsibility for building the startup ecosystem around the company, working with startup communities, accelerators and incubators. Before Google he founded three companies, including an e-Commerce startup, and also consulted to leading international media and technology corporations on product and digital strategy. He lives in London with his wife and three children.
Fashion-Tech Strategy Mentor: Chiara Colombi
Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano, Design Department
Chiara Colombi, is a Fashion Designer, PhD and Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano, Design Department, and Faculty Member in BSc and MSc Fashion Design programs at Design School ‐ Politecnico di Milano. She has 15 years’ experience in education, research and professional consultancy in the fashion design field mainly focused on trend research methods, product-system development, merchandising and retailing. Her research, teaching and professional experience is rooted in the close relationship established with productive and professional entities. These connections aim to define research projects deemed to be relevant from an industrial, socio-economic perspective and possible topics for studios, workshops, research projects and grants.
Investment Mentor: Thierry Baujard, Media Deals
Founder, Media Deals
Thierry has 20+ years of experience in the communications and entertainment industries. After graduating in Paris he worked in London as a business consultant for entertainment companies and telecom operators, then in France and Germany in business development for Vivendi, and then for ARTE – the Franco-German TV station – in Strasbourg. Thierry then completed an MBA at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and at UCLA in Los Angeles, where he specialized in film financing and e-commerce. In 2012, he graduated from the European Executive Programme of the Ecole National d’Administration (ENA) in France. For Media Deals, Thierry is in charge of developing the investment network across Europe and managing the network’s Investment Forums, which regularly bring mediatech companies and investors together for pitching sessions. With regard to this, he supports the network’s investors in identifying investment opportunities and in carrying out due diligence with a focus on cross-border transactions and exit strategies. He was also the project director of Media Deals’ EU project ImMediaTe, which examined financial mechanisms for digital media between five European clusters (Barcelona, Rome, Malta, Paris, and Amsterdam) and is now the director of the new DG Connect project European Investor Gate (EIG). Thierry has also been developing different creative industries funds for the film, music, and video games sectors. He is a regular speaker at conferences and summits on content and technology as well as an expert for the European Commission on regulations for investment in the digital sector.
Legal Mentor: Max Thoma, Mathys & Squire LLP
UK & European Patent and Design Attorney
Max is a European and Chartered Patent Attorney whose work focuses on drafting and prosecuting patent application in a variety of technical areas, in particular computer-implemented (software) inventions and engineering-related fields.
Max is particularly interested in supporting start-ups and SMEs with their IP matters, and in particular advising about the use of IP (of all forms) to support commercial objectives as businesses grow. He is involved in supporting and advising a variety of start-up accelerators and incubators in the UK.
Max is also a specialist in registered design law, and has had articles published about the subject in a number of magazines. He also has experience in contentious work and disputes, and in managing and prosecuting large international patent and registered design portfolios for large multinational organisations.
Max holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, where he studied a broad-based course. He has particular academic experience in microsystems. His Master’s thesis, which was published in an academic journal, related to production methods for YBCO bulk superconductors. He also holds a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London.
