MIPIM 2016: A technology platform which aims to simplify the delivery of goods to warehouses, shops and customers on a ‘one truck per street’ basis, has won MIPIM’s first start-up competition.
Urbismart beat four other proptech finalists to win the gong at an awards ceremony last night after pitching to an international jury of experts including Aaron Block, managing director of MetaProp NYC at the conference this week.
The winning technology applies real-time planning software, intelligence on logistics trends, plus a pooling of resources, to streamline the transportation of goods around cities and regions.
The benefits are cost savings and reduced impact on the environment.
One part of the proposition includes transporting small electric trucks inside lorries, to carry out the last mile delivery to shops and homes.
Urbismart chief executive, Jean-Paul Rival, said: “This award is a sign that we are breaking down silos between corporations, including the IT world, the logistics world and the real estate world. They can now be talking to each other and that is the only way we can reshape our environment.”
Presenting the award, Laurent Pavillon, global head of business marketing communications at BNP Paribas Real Estate, described the competitiveness of proptech.
He said: “During the process we saw start-ups being disrupted by other start-ups so it is really a jungle out there.
Pavillon, who was also on the jury, added the importance of companies’ ability to adapt, plus he described human capital as “the most valuable asset”.
Finalists for the MIPIM start-up competition were selected over three rounds, first at MIPIM UK in October 2015, then at MIPIM Asia in November, and finally at this week’s MIPIM.
For winning, Urbismart wins an access pass for one person to MIPIM events in the UK, Asia and Japan this year, plus an exhibition space in the Innovation Pavilion at MIPIM IN 2017.
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