Nestlé’s Innovation Platform HENRi Continues To Support Wellness Startups

VEVEY, Switzerland— One year on from its launch, Nestlé’s open innovation platform HENRi continues to support startups revolutionising the nutrition, health and wellness sectors.

In an attempt to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future, the platform has so far backed a startup focused on assessing and diagnosing micronutrient deficiency and another inventing a complementary and sustainable material to replace plastic water bottles. Nestlé hopes the projects will make a genuine difference, not just to its own business, but to hundreds of millions of people across the world.

Commenting on the platform, Pete Blackshaw, Global Head of Digital and Social Media, said:

“We launched HENRi@Nestlé in 2016 with the aim to work with the most creative and innovative startups on projects that will make a real difference, We’ve already hosted six great projects, and are looking forward to seeing the pilots launch into the real world, and open more projects in the year to come.”

As one of the world’s leading health and nutrition companies, with 335,000 employees, over 2,000 brands across 189 countries, and annual sales of €28 billion, Nestle has ambitions to become the world’s preeminent nutrition, health and wellness company.

In an active step to propel its position in the global wellness market, last year the company hired Ulf Mark Schneider as CEO. At the time of his appointment, he explained: “With consumers around the world taking a deeper interest in their personal health and wellbeing, Nestlé’s industry-leading global food and beverage business positions it well for advancing its vision of Nutrition, Health and Wellness.”

By bringing together the creative spirit and ingenuity of startups, entrepreneurs and innovators from across the globe under the Henri platform, Nestle plans to strengthen that vision further still.

“We’re proud of the work we have done so far on open innovation to help change the culture within Nestlé and to enhance our brands and service propositions for the better,” explained Gerardo Mazzeo, Global Innovation Director at Nestlé.

“We have a huge ambition and breadth – looking at business challenges from helping families with portion control and tackling obesity to addressing packaging sustainability within our bottled water business. It’s just the beginning, and I’m looking forward to working with the team at Nestlé and new startups to make a difference on projects that matter.”

For startups chosen to join the innovation platform, they embark on a “partner-pilot-proof of concept” collaboration with HENRi, gain access to the Nestlé senior sponsor and receive $50,000 funding from Nestlé to support their in-field pilot. To find out more about how you can apply go to www.henri.nestle.com.