Cutting-edge

collaboration

Foundry transparent logo

AREAS OF FOCUS

Where innovation scales 

The Foundry is led by business problems and opportunities. We work with Unilever’s leadership to identify key programmes where scaleups and startups can help us deliver impact and growth.
To date, we’ve piloted with hundreds of startups, crafting strategic partnerships that help scale technologies and accelerate innovation. We’re looking for disruptive products, services and technologies across these multiple focus areas, including:

  • Wellness icon

    WELLNESS

    Helping consumers change their health & lifestyle habits for the better

  • Personalization icon

    PERSONALISATION

    Improving experiences through data-driven, tailored recommendations

  • Digital engagement icon

    DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT

    Enhancing the ways in which we connect & engage with our consumers

  • Sustainability icon

    SUSTAINABILITY

    Empowering our consumers to live more sustainable lives

  • Direct to consumer icon

    DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER

    Delivering greater convenience & affordability through new business models

  • Direct to business icon

    DIRECT-TO-BUSINESS

    Providing the best service to our business customers, large & small.

  • Supply chain icon

    SUPPLY CHAIN

    Honing operational efficiency and increasing transparency

  • Direct to business icon

    ENTERPRISE TECH

    Enhancing efficiency, productivity and quality across the business

 

 

 

 

 

OUR AMBITION

Pioneering the future 

Our aim is to build a culture of collaboration between startups and our global business. Through partnerships, we are fostering new ways to experiment and pioneer breakthrough technology and new business models that deliver impact at scale. 

 

Startups and corporates are working together and having partnerships for the future of innovation

OUR RESULTS

Successes to date

400+

pilots

$50M 

pilot investment

40,000+ 

startups profiled

FAQS

Have a question?

  • How can I get involved?

    We’ll proactively contact companies that we consider strong potential partners. If you have a proven product, service or technology which has been tested in market and you are looking to partner with us, you can get in touch via the Contact Us page.If you’re a well-established company and looking for serious venture funding to support your growth ambitions, please visit Unilever Ventures.

  • What type of business is a good fit for the Unilever Foundry?

    We’re constantly looking for innovative external partners, startups and scaleups who can collaborate with us to address the strategic priorities of Unilever’s brands and functions.

  • Does Unilever have a venture capital team?

    Yes we do. Unilever Ventures invests in opportunities that are of strategic relevance to Unilever, including digital marketing, digital media, and eCommerce and will consider investing in relevant companies who work with The Unilever Foundry. Please see Unilever Ventures for more details.

  • Can you explain how you select partners?

    We proactively seek out exciting companies that we consider strong potential partners. If we approach you, we’ll ask you to answer a few questions about your company, team and fit with the challenge at hand to understand how a partnership could work.

    If you contact us regarding your product or technology, we’ll review your message and respond to the proposals that best fit our business priorities. Unfortunately we won’t be able to respond to all the messages we receive.  

FAQ about partnerships: How can I get involved Foundry partnership?

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