The Unilever Foundry, which connects the transitional consumer goods company with innovative startups around the world, has launched in Ireland with the help of Irish startup hub Dogpatch Labs.

The arrival of the Foundry in Ireland will give Irish startups a path to collaborate with Unilever’s more than 400 brands and functions – giving them the opportunity to scale globally.

Initially, the innovation focus of the Foundry is on digital retail experiences, marketing tech and sustainable living. It gives startups the opportunity to respond to Unilever’s business challenges with the proposal of their own technologies.

 “Unilever Foundry provides a single entry point for startups seeking to partner with Unilever, enabling the company’s brands and functions to experiment and pilot new technologies effectively,” said Jonathan Hammond, head of Unilever Foundry. “Born through Unilever Foundry’s own mission to collaborate, experiment, and pioneer for a sustainable future, The Unilever Foundry at Dogpatch Labs is a physical manifestation of this ethos and gives Unilever access to a growing European startup community.”  

Dogpatch Labs, located in Dublin, supports startups and the tech community by providing opportunities to grow, share knowledge and form connections from within its hub. Unilever’s expansion into the space follows the launch of LEVEL3 earlier this year, a co-working space it formed in Singapore in partnership with Padang & Co.

“As we evolve as a startup hub and platform for innovation, we have chosen to focus our efforts on fostering key industries where we see growth prospects,” said Patrick Walsh, managing director of Dogpatch Labs. “There is big opportunity in the FMCG space and Unilever is a natural partner for us to foster startups and help drive innovation and progress in the industry.”

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