Breaking Barriers in RetailTech: Winners of the MediaMarkt Startup Challenge 2024

The MediaMarkt Startup Challenge 2024 wrapped up on January 15th with a spectacular showcase of innovation and entrepreneurship. Startups from 21 countries competed, presenting visionary solutions that are revolutionizing the future of retail. At the heart of this year's competition, Crait AI emerged as the winner, with Corpowid and Mol-e securing second and third places.

Redefining Retail: The Innovation Platform

Launched seven years ago by MediaMarkt, Europe's top consumer electronics retailer, the Startup Challenge has grown into an international platform. It has become a launchpad for groundbreaking solutions, connecting startups with global industry leaders and transforming how we think about retail.

Thanks to partnerships with Tenity, Google, Index Group, and BNP Paribas Cardif, the 2024 challenge edition reached new heights, offering participants an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their innovations.

Hulusi Acar, CEO of MediaMarkt Turkey, highlighted the importance of the challenge:

"Our goal is to enhance the customer experience with innovative solutions. This challenge allows us to discover forward-thinking ideas and build strong collaborations with startups worldwide."

Inspiring Keynote by İhsan Elgin

The event also featured an inspiring keynote by İhsan Elgin, Executive Board Member of Finberg, who shared his insights into the evolving landscape of startup ecosystems. His talk resonated deeply with the audience, fueling fresh ideas and conversations about the future of innovation.

Event Highlights: Innovation at Its Best

• 10 visionary startups from various industries showcased their groundbreaking solutions.
• Expert judges offered valuable feedback, fostering a collaborative atmosphere between startups and industry leaders.

The diversity and innovation on display reaffirmed the immense potential within the global startup ecosystem.

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10 Startups Redefining the Future of Retail

The MediaMarkt Startup Challenge 2024 brought together a diverse group of visionary startups. These 10 incredible teams, selected from over 200 applications across 21 countries, showcased their innovative solutions on stage:

- Adgager: A next-generation market research platform connecting brands with a curated community of 90,000+ users, leveraging AI-powered technology for precise insights and trends.

- Carbon Centrum: Built “Fitbit” for emissions tracking, helping individuals and companies measure and score their carbon footprint with ease.

- Corpowid: A digital accessibility widget designed to enhance web accessibility for users with disabilities, including epilepsy, dyslexia, and cognitive challenges.

- Crait AI: Revolutionizing digital marketing with AI-generated photos, enabling marketers and e-commerce businesses to create visuals in seconds.

- Homster: A retail ecosystem using AI to seamlessly connect furniture retailers with suppliers, enhancing in-store sales and customer experiences.

- Mol-e: Accelerates e-waste management with automated classification, a digital waste passport, and an e-waste marketplace, fostering environmental sustainability.

- TheClico: An AI solution that streamlines customer feedback processes, reducing weeks of analysis to just minutes while delivering actionable insights.

- AX SYSTEM: An AI-powered logistics solution enhancing workplace safety and forklift traffic flow in industrial and warehouse settings.

- Starkdata: Creator of the first Advanced Customer Analytics AI Agent, enabling companies to uncover insights and drive customer engagement through natural language prompting.

- WorkyBe: A platform focused on energy and asset management, empowering businesses to optimize their operations sustainably.

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Meet the Winners

1. Crait AI took home the top prize with its innovative use of specialized AI models to create e-commerce and marketing visuals in seconds. Their solution is revolutionizing digital marketing by setting new standards for efficiency and personalization.
2. Corpowid earned second place with its digital accessibility widget, designed to make the web more accessible for individuals with epilepsy, dyslexia, visual impairments, and cognitive challenges. Their work exemplifies inclusivity, and its impact resonated deeply with the judges.
3. Mol-e came in third with an innovative e-waste classification solution that automates the process and creates a marketplace for trading waste. Their approach is a perfect blend of environmental responsibility and financial opportunity.

What's Next? Shaping the Future Together

Reflecting on the program's success, Sabina Babayeva, Head of Tenity Istanbul Hub, shared:

"The MediaMarkt Startup Challenge is more than a competition—it's about collaboration and sparking innovation. We're proud to support these startups and help connect them with key industry leaders."

As MediaMarkt and Tenity's partnership continues to grow, their shared mission remains clear: to create an environment where visionary startups can thrive, shape the future, and drive real change in retail.

Celebrating Innovation: A Year of Possibilities

With 232 applications from 21 countries, including 104 focused on retail technologies and 30 addressing sustainability, the MediaMarkt Startup Challenge 2024 highlighted the immense creativity and talent within the startup ecosystem.

This year’s event reaffirmed that industries can be transformed when opportunity meets innovation. Together, MediaMarkt and Tenity continue paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable future in retail—and beyond.

Looking back at the impact of the MediaMarkt Startup Challenge over the years, the program has screened over 1,192 startups, with 73 teams selected and 21 startups completing PoCs. These achievements reflect the program's long-term commitment to fostering innovation in the retail industry.

This year’s MediaMarkt Startup Challenge is a testament to the power of collaboration and bold ideas. As the winners—Crait AI, Corpowid, and Mol-e—embark on their journeys toward global success, the future of retail and entrepreneurship has never looked brighter.

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