With a worldwide network of R&D, innovation labs and delivery centers, and 137,000+ ‘Ideapreneurs’ working in 44 countries, HCL serves leading enterprises across key industries, including 250 of the Fortune 500 and 650 of the Global 2000. HCL generated consolidated revenues of USD 8.6 billion for for Financial Year Ended 31st Mar, 2019.

HCL offer an integrated portfolio of products, solutions, services, and IP through their Mode 1-2-3 strategy built around Digital, IoT, Cloud, Automation, Cybersecurity, Analytics, Infrastructure Management and Engineering Services, amongst others, to help enterprises reimagine their businesses for the digital age.

The Ecosystem Innovation Program (eSTiP) is being run by HCLs Corporate Venturing team (ETO) on bringing open innovation initiatives where they work with customers on emerging technologies, business trends and use cases. HCL's regional leads work with start-ups through established VC, consulate trade missions and other channels to continuously scout for collaboration initiatives across industries. You can contact us to learn more about their open innovation success stories.

Investment from HCL's side will not be equity in start-ups but the time and effort put into joint customer centric innovation programs.

Focus

HCL’s ETO team focuses on innovation by pragmatic application of emerging and exponential technologies 

like Artificial Intelligence (Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Natural Language Generation, etc.), Analytics and Big Data, Distributed Ledger frameworks (Block chain, etc.), Digital Twin, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, Quantum Computing, Blockchain disrupting verticals like Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail, Manufacturing and Hi-Tech, Banking Financial Services and Insurance, Telco Media and Entertainment, Lifesciences and Healthcare, Energy Utilities and Public Services, Aerospace and Automotive. 

HCL collaborates with startups focusing on B2B/Enterprise model. Example of a great fitment are startups who have gained few live customers where HCL can bring their own IP, access, market validation and scale strength. But early stage startups are encouraged to connect with HCL for emerging use cases under exploration.

Experience

HCL has worked with more than 300+ startups and have helped them in their scale up efforts globally. In this effort, they have partnered with VCs, Trade Consulate missions, Universities, and technology partners.

How much do they invest?

As a part of the Ecosystem Innovation Program, start-ups will gain an opportunity to partner with various business services , products , services and solutions through their mode 1-2-3 strategy that is built around Digital, IoT, Cloud, Automation, Cybersecurity, Analytics, Infrastructure Management and Engineering Services ,etc. (For further information, visit www.hcl.com). HCL’s ETO team also helps start-ups to network with prospective customers, coaching and mentorship. Currently, they do not fund or invest in start-ups.

How do they work?

Everyone is welcome to apply. HCL shortlists startups based on use cases, problem areas they are addressing and if they rightly fit in with their customer requirements. They constantly are in the lookout for startups who could provide solutions to HCLs Innovation funnel. Evaluation is based on their well defined Industry Disruption frameworks. 

A good pitch

HCLs ETO team works on agile customer centric innovation programs where they focus on industry specific innovation use cases that could start as small as an idea. Startups and scale-ups have matured in this ecosystem of players by entering through the well-defined frameworks for scouting use case fitments, exploring right concept showcasing and co-creating along with the customer to prototype and scale the solution. 

Startups they funded

• HCL has incubated a series A startup by providing technology infrastructure and domain support to test and implement an AI-driven opportunity engine for one of US customers.

• They have partnered with a Series D scaleup to transform global cloud data management.

• HCL and a Series A startup have demonstrated regtech implementation at scale for a European bank.