VW Group launches tech startup accelerator with Plug and Play Tech Center
Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) and Plug and Play Tech Center has announced the launch of the Volkswagen ERL Technology Accelerator Powered by Plug and Play. The new Silicon Valley-based program is designed to accelerate 10 select startups from various industries to help develop next-generation technologies that can be applied in the automotive domain.
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Participating companies will receive access to hundreds of investors, corporations, and mentors within the Plug and Play network, exposure at Plug and Play events, regular educational seminars, and office space. The program is currently accepting applications from technology startups in several areas including; social media/recommendation engines, vehicle related mobile device integration, parking apps, detection apps, display/data integration, voice/sound recognition, and visual computing.
“Innovation is an integral part of Volkswagen Group’s long term product strategy and we take every opportunity to engage the brightest minds in technology to help define the future direction of automobiles,” said Peter Oel, Executive Director, Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory. “Our partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center provides an extraordinary platform for the most talented entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and around the country to bring forth innovation that will help us develop the most intelligent, connected vehicles of the future.”
“It takes great entrepreneurs who are passionate and intelligent to build products that could change our lives like Google has, iPhone has and Dropbox has,” says Plug and Play Tech Center Founder and CEO, Saeed Amidi. “We are looking for innovative products that can change the way we interact and function in the vehicle. As a third room, after home and office, we feel the functionality and the interaction between vehicle and human will enhance the driving experience.”
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