BrightCap partners Rolls-Royce’s R2 Data Labs to offer funding to solve industrial challenges.

BrightCap Ventures partners Rolls-Royce’s R2 Data Labs to offer funding to solve industrial challenges

Sofia-based Venture Capital fund BrightCap Ventures is working with R2 Data Labs, the data innovation catalyst inside Rolls-Royce, to launch a new startup offering. Selected startups will receive up to €200,000 equity funding from BrightCap Ventures and the opportunity to work with Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s leading industrial technology companies, in solving industrial challenges using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced Analytics, Industrial IoT, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Autonomous Technology.

With a firm commitment to exceptional quality, the partnership aims to identify five startups who pass the rigorous selection process of both organisations. They will be admitted into a six-month monitoring programme to finalize their proof of capability and deliver an MVP through a pilot with Rolls-Royce and with up to €200,000 equity funding from BrightCap Ventures. Upon graduation from the six-month programme and a successful pilot with   Rolls-Royce, BrightCap Ventures can invest up to €3,500,000 in selected startups as part of further Seed/Series A rounds.

Mark Evans, Director Partnerships & Ecosystem at R2 Data Labs said “This is a fantastic entrepreneurial initiative that will look to attract technology companies in the region to work with Rolls-Royce. R2 Data Labs is looking to develop an ecosystem of start-ups and deliver innovation for Rolls-Royce and our customers. R2 Data Labs is the data innovation catalyst within Rolls-Royce and a major contributor to Rolls-Royce’s journey towards becoming the world’s leading industrial technology company. This partnership further cements our digital strategy and by working with BrightCap Ventures, we are truly delivering a winning solution for everyone who is a part of this programme.”

Daniel Lorer, Managing Partner at BrightCap Ventures said “At BrightCap Ventures, we believe that a start-up has a better chance to scale globally if it offers a radically better solution to a sizeable problem of an existing business. Often, it is stakeholders in these existing businesses that identify such existing problems. That’s our motivation to establish a partnership with R2 Data Labs at Rolls-Royce. Connecting industry and venture capital together – what a fascinating journey ahead of us!”

 

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc:

  1. Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs.
  2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
  3. Annual underlying revenue was £15 billion in 2018, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services.
  4. In 2018, Rolls-Royce invested £1.4 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.
  5. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

 

About BrightCap Ventures:

  1. BrightCap Ventures is an entrepreneur-led, tech-focused early-stage VC fund based in Sofia, Bulgaria with strong ties to the US and Israeli innovation ecosystems.
  2. The management team combines substantial experience in founding, scaling and exiting tech startups.
  3. BrightCap Ventures is advised and connected to globally recognized tech industry leaders, including executives from Uber, Google, SAP, Vmware, and others.
  4. BrightCap Ventures’ anchor investor is the European Investment Fund (EIF), a European Union agency for the provision of finance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This funding contributes to the implementation of the European Commission’ Digital Single Market, which, among others, is developing a pan-European ecosystem for start-ups. BrightCap is also funded by private contributions.