Mercedes-Benz launches startup accelerator in Singapore

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Being immersed in tech all the time, it’s easy to forget there are still other automakers out there besides Tesla. Mercedes-Benz reminded us by launching its own accelerator program, Startup Autobahn, in Stuttgart last May, with the help of international accelerator Plug and Play.

Last week the legendary German manufacturer announced the program will also start in Singapore in partnership with NUS Enterprise. “Our aim is to accelerate local startups by helping them to develop their idea towards a real life market fit within our company,” the official website states.

Startups will keep their IP and will be called to develop their ideas within Mercedes-Benz.

Startup Autobahn Singapore is looking for companies in spaces like the internet of things, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, location-based services, natural language processing, predictive analytics, and more.

As is par for the course with these things, the accelerator will offer mentorship, access to investors and the company’s network, and tools and training. The selected businesses will work out of the JTC Launchpad space in Singapore’s Block 71 area.

Startups are invited to apply until beginning of November. The program starts in December. A pitching day will be held in April 2017 and things come to a close in June 2017. The accelerator notes that participants will keep their intellectual property at the end of the program and that it will work with them to develop their ideas within Mercedes-Benz.

Interested startups can apply here.

Alumni of the accelerator’s first cohort in Stuttgart include 4tiitoo, which develops technology for using your voice, gestures, or eye movements to control various devices, Canatu, which makes technology for touchscreens, and TruckPad, a mobile app that lets truckers know where to pick up their next cargo.

This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the milestone dates of the accelerator program.