With the support of startup accelerator betahausX , Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Hermes Europe have launched the ‘Future Logistics Challenge’. Through its contest, the two companies want to generate the best possible synergies between parcel logistics, the automotive sector, and startups to find innovative solutions for the ‘vehicle – parcel delivery courier’ ecosystem. Startups from all over Europe have until September 23, 2019 to apply on betahausX’s website with ideas that redefine the categories of ‘Delivery Driver Experience’ and ‘Smart Delivery Vehicles’ and thereby support the work of parcel delivery operatives and make them more efficient – through concepts for predictive analysis, multi-modal networks, vehicle infrastructure, artificial intelligence, optimization of communications, digital workflow management, interactive driver apps, and more.

Ten selected startups will then get the opportunity to finely tune their proposed solutions with experts from VW and Hermes during a two-day boot camp on October 21 and 22 in Berlin. The two winners will go on to develop a proof-of-concept in collaboration with the companies, with a starting capital of up to €125,000.