This year’s HFDA Startup Programme received a record number of applications

The HFDA Startup Programme, which kicks off this Autumn, has attracted a record number of applicants, again encouraging start-ups to take advantage of the business opportunities that lie within combining fashion, design and technology. The selected teams will receive 10 online training sessions during which they will be supported in realising their ideas. It is from these teams, that a selection will be able to compete for the HUF 15 million investment offer on Demo Day, the closing event of the programme.

The HFDA Startup Programme, now announced for the second time, was met with great interest, providing business development courses and trainings, and a HUF 15 million investment opportunity for the most promising industry startups. A total of 61 teams applied to the fashion and design industry innovation programme, and almost each and every application was about a new idea. However, there were also teams that applied for the further development of an existing product or service to the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, the Startup Campus startup incubator and Hiventures Venture Capital Fund Management’s joint programme.

In recent weeks, online roundtable discussions and consultations have been waiting for those interested to learn about the programme’s main stops, its mentors, and last year’s experiences. A number of university students were also mobilized: a total of 27 teams applied, where members of the new generation were also represented. The most popular topic was sustainability, with dozens of innovative ideas with international potential providing solutions on environmental safety development regarding industry issues. For example, new, innovative approaches have been presented in the areas of wearable technologies, smart materials, circular material usage, webshops that provide unique experiences, and the business potential of artificial intelligence. Based on the received feedback, the recruitment campaign, in addition to promoting the application process, helped young innovators find like-minded teammates to implement their plans with.

Applications were evaluated by experts from the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, Hiventures, and the HFDA Startup Campus together with the involvement of a professional jury of industry experts. The selected teams will begin their studies - the first stop of the programme consisting of 10 training courses - on Monday, 5th of October, during which they will master the theoretical and practical foundations needed to launch a startup.

Throughout the programme, the teams will be supported by Hungarian experts with their forward-thinking approach to ideas and useful instructions. The experts include Mónika Chen, Brand Development Manager of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency; Gergely Hosszú, Co-Owner of Co & Co Designcommunication; and Judit Horváth, Head of the Contemporary Design Department of the Museum of Applied Arts. At the end of the training courses, a professional jury will select the teams who will be able to present their ideas to investors at the closing Demo Day event, for which they will also receive special training. These teams will be able to compete for the HUF 15 million investment offer from Hiventures Venture Capital Fund Management.