LGG reaches out to start-ups for driving cargo innovations forward

The event runs from November 4 - 14, 2019. “It is intended to promote innovative technologies within the industry, especially for distribution and logistics,” describes Mr Verhasselt the aim.
An ‘Acceleration Programme’, reaching out to start-ups, will be the highlight. This will be rounded up by a so called ‘Ideation Day’ on 13 November. The Ideation Day will consist of a series of workshops and brainstorming sessions, including an investors’ summit, ideation camps and a ‘hackaton’.

Coaching
The organiser ‘we cargo’ is venture capitalist LeanSquare, based in Liege and part of the Walloon economic investment vehicle Meusinvest (soon to be renamed Noshaq).
Start-ups that are interested in the acceleration programme can apply for participation (www.wecargo.be). Of the applicants, 12 will be selected for actual participation in the programme. They will be individually coached by experienced entrepreneurs and key players of the industry which should further raise their innovative potential.

Qatar Cargo and Alibaba
Supporting ‘we cargo’ are Qatar Cargo and the Alibaba Group and both will be part of the acceleration programme. The Alibaba Group will be represented by its computing services Alibaba Cloud and its logistics subsidiary Cainiao.
For the so-called ‘hackaton’ on 13 November Alibaba will open its doors as well as its API’s (application programming interface) to enable out-of-the-box thinking and the creating of ‘crazy’ ideas. Each participating start-up team is invited to come up with solutions to identify problems.
The day after, 14 November, is a start-up as well as a conference day, to which various industry stakeholders are invited such as the said start-ups, air cargo community members, venture capitalists and those interested in the industry.

Marcel Schoeters