How the Alliance Between Corporation and Accelerator Shaped the Path for Startups from Idea to Market

Collaboration, mentorship, and access to technical resources form the foundation for fostering innovations, especially in a technological landscape that is becoming increasingly crowded.

Recognizing this, Bridgio launched an Industry-Focused Pre-Acceleration Program in collaboration with Infineon Technologies, designed to empower startups to develop transformative solutions using Infineon’s advanced semiconductor technologies. For Bridgio, the program serves as a strategic tool to reinforce its role as a bridge between R&D and the market.

Let’s consider how the alliance between Infineon and Bridgio shortened the path for startups from idea to market: from technological prototypes to investments through demand validation and corporate partnership.

Program Overview

The Industry-Focused Pre-Acceleration Program 2024 was conceived with a clear mission: to create an ecosystem where startups working on real-world applications of AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and sensor technology could develop and thrive. By providing access to technical expertise, business coaching, and networking opportunities, Bridgio together with Infineon aimed to accelerate innovation in critical sectors such as health monitoring, environmental sensing, and wearable devices.

The program guided participants step-by-step from ideation to implementation. Startups were invited to submit their applications by June 28, 2024, followed by an online presentation session on July 5 for selected teams. Those who advanced entered a three-month development phase, culminating in a high-stakes Demo Day on October 2 at Infineon’s headquarters in Villach, Austria.

The Demo Day on October 2 at Infineon’s headquarters in Villach, Austria

The Problem

1. Unlocking new application for advanced technologies

Infineon’s cutting-edge semiconductor technologies are powerful and versatile, yet their full potential depends on finding innovative applications. The complexity of integrating these advanced technologies into practical solutions highlights the need for creative approaches.

2. Resource constraints for startups

Startups, despite their innovative spirit, often lack the resources necessary to test market demand and scale their products. This includes access to advanced technologies, technical expertise, and business networks essential for validating their ideas and bringing them to market.

The Solution

A key aspect of the Industry-Focused Pre-Acceleration Program was the comprehensive support provided to participants.

Infineon’s Technological Support

Startups received free Infineon AI Kits, which included a new microcontroller and IMAGIMOB AI technology which is an essential toolkit for developing edge AI solutions. Additionally, participants had access to the PSOC™ 6 AI Evaluation Kit (Figure 1), enabling them to build and test sophisticated AI models tailored for edge computing environments. Throughout the program, Infineon’s technical experts provided hands-on guidance, helping startups overcome engineering challenges and optimize their solutions for real-world deployment.

Figure 1. PSOC™ 6 AI Evaluation Kit block diagram

Bridgio’s Market Validation

Bridgio played a pivotal role in organizing and conducting the business development process by kicking off an info session with HAX and Q&A sessions on Mobility, Healthtech, Energy, and Industrial Automation & Robotics. Bridgio also delivered key lectures on hypothesis generation, market research, business modeling, and go-to-market strategies, as well as guided startups in crafting effective pitch decks for Demo Day.

Opportunities for Long-Term Growth

The rewards for excelling in the challenge extended far beyond Demo Day. Winners earned the opportunity to present at the prestigious Infineon Startup Night in Munich, fostering new partnerships and investments. Additionally, alumni continue to receive support from Infineon and Bridgio through bi-monthly catch-up sessions, where they share progress and address challenges, ensuring ongoing collaboration and growth.

The Outcome

The pre-acceleration program garnered interest from over 50 startups worldwide. After a selection process, 16 of the most innovative teams were chosen to participate, with 13 advancing to the final stage

Among the standout innovations were those presented by the startups that made it to Demo Day. These included bitteiler, Calirad, e-Litmus, EnergTech Solutions, e-nnovation, Flappa, GMD, Granevo, Intellectra Technologies, MuscleMaind, Neuron Soundware, NEXiiO, and Uhura Bionics (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Participating Startups

Granevo, a Slovenian startup, ultimately won the competition with its AI-driven hatching monitoring system, exemplifying how AI can be applied in unexpected yet impactful ways to optimize agricultural processes.

The Demo Day on October 2 highlighted the exceptional quality of prototypes developed during the program. Granevo’s solution earned it long-term collaboration with Infineon Austria and an invitation to the Infineon Startup Night on October 22.

Throughout the Demo Day, Bridgio engaged in productive negotiations with key industry leaders such as AWS, Nokia, Silicon Austria Labs, and HAX. These discussions focused on exploring potential synergies, including opportunities for joint innovation projects, access to new markets, and the development of cutting-edge technologies.

The Impact

The Industry-Focused Pre-Acceleration Program demonstrated the power of collaboration between established industry leaders, the accelerator and emerging startups. The collaboration between Infineon and Bridgio resulted in a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

• Infineon expanded the boundaries of its technology and strengthened its market position by collaborating with innovative startups.
• Startups gained invaluable access to Infineon’s corporate infrastructure and potential investments. This access not only helped them validate their ideas but also provided them with the necessary resources to scale their products.
• Bridgio acting as a vital bridge between R&D and the market, reinforced its position as a key enabler of industrial innovation. By facilitating this collaboration, Bridgio demonstrated its ability to connect emerging technologies with real-world applications, earning a share in rapidly growing projects.

By launching this program, Bridgio empowers startups to rapidly prototype and scale industrial tech solutions by connecting them with tailored engineering expertise and strategic partnerships, reducing time-to-market while maintaining focus on core innovation.

Building on the success of the first batch, Bridgio is partnering with Infineon to launch the second Industrial-Focused Pre-Acceleration Program. This initiative, scheduled to run from June 13, 2024 to October 1, 2025 aims to support tech founders in crafting new hardware products using Infineon Technologies. The three-month program combines online and offline activities, culminating in a Demo Day in Vein on October 1, 2025.

Learn more about Bridgio’s initiatives and stay updated on the latest projects by following our LinkedIn page.