ARC Europe launches start-up scouting in co-operation with the ADAC, Plug and Play Tech Center and STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play
A Project between ARC Europe, ADAC and STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play
ARC Europe, the European market leader in roadside assistance and mobility in the automotive industry, has launched a start-up scouting. The project is being implemented in co-operation with the German innovation platform STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by the Plug and Play (based in Stuttgart) platform and the German automobile club, ADAC. The three most important business areas for ARC Europe have been selected: alternative mobility, connectivity (connected cars) and electromobility (EV). Soon the participating start-ups will be able to implement joint solutions across Europe.
ARC Europe is the largest B2B roadside assistance provider in Europe with a network in more than 40 countries. The company works with major car manufacturers and has more than 46 million cars under its cover. In addition to traditional roadside assistance, the company aims to support the development of electromobility as well as provide mobility and connected car solutions.
“ARC Europe is a company with 30 years of expertise that guarantees experience and knowledge in the automotive industry. At the same time, it is a “traditional” organization, where innovations development is a long process. Start-ups are parts of an agile ecosystem where innovations thrive rapidly. We believe that cooperation with such entities will allow us to work out solutions that respond to the industry evolution and customer’s expectations. We have chosen a scouting process to start-ups, without any geographical or formal limitations. This is not an acceleration project; we want to find business partners with whom we can create added value for B2B customers and develop our business. We are open to talk to any interesting Team that can support our ecosystem.” explains Rafał Staszkiewicz, Marketing Director of ARC Europe Polska and project coordinator on behalf of ARC Europe Group.
The first joint start-up scouting project focuses on three business areas: alternative mobility, connectivity (connected cars) and electromobility (EV). Participating start-ups will have the opportunity to collaborate on new product launches and innovations within the ARC Europe network across Europe.
“As ADAC (founder and largest shareholder of ARC Europe) we support and sponsor the STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play platform. For the organization and realization of the planned pitching sessions, Plug and Play has been a highly professional, ideal, and reliable partner, as they have a very large international network of start-ups and understand our business needs very well. The co-operation between several automotive clubs was very constructive and great fun. The pitching sessions are intended to represent one of the first milestones in the transformation and consolidated collaboration.” adds Bastian Eppler, Senior IT Consultant and project coordinator from the ADAC.
The project is divided into several stages. The first one was a preliminary selection of several dozen start-ups in the three most important areas. In December 2021 pitching sessions were being held — online meetings and presentations of projects. At the beginning of this year, shortlisted start-ups will be invited to further talks and workshops, to develop specific business solutions. The project also includes verifying ideas (PoC) and implementing pilot projects.
“We are delighted to be working with ARC Europe and ADAC on this project. We are leveraging not only the potential of the STARTUP AUTOBAHN platform, but also more than 30 Plug and Play offices around the world. The project is attracting a lot of interest from start-ups. We help in selection of the most interesting projects and running the pitching sessions. This is the first joint project with ARC Europe, and I believe that we will deliver added value,” says Johannes Dalheimer, Ventures Analyst at STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play.
About ARC Europe
ARC Europe is the largest supplier of B2B roadside assistance services in Europe with an outstanding network in more than 40 European countries. The company is present in France, Poland, Russia, Greece, and in many other European countries through its shareholders who are major automobile clubs in Europe: ADAC, The AA, ANWB, ACI, OEAMTC, RACE, TCB & TCS.
ARC Europe has entered new fields of activities, with the ambition to sustain the electrical shift, delivering mobility solutions and connected services enlarging its geographical scope.
About ADAC SE
Having its registered office in Munich, ADAC SE is a public company limited by shares under EU law offering mobility-oriented services and products to ADAC members, non-members and B2B customers. It is comprised of 28 affiliated companies and private equity firms including ADAC Versicherung AG (insurance), ADAC Finanzdienste GmbH (financial services), ADAC Autovermietung GmbH (car rental) and ADAC Service GmbH. A growth-oriented market player, ADAC SE progresses digital transformation across all its businesses relying on innovation and future technologies.
About STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play
STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play is an open innovation platform that provides an interface between innovative tech companies and industry-leading corporations. The basis of the program is the partnership that develops between startups and the corporate business units. The two entities hold an equal footing from the get-go: together they evaluate the potential for a joint venture, move forward to pilot the technology, and work to achieve the goal– a successful production-ready implementation. Designed with the intention to exceed startup acceleration, STARTUP AUTOBAHN moderates a community for collaboration with a focus on implementable results.
