"At Epson, our vision includes using our technologies and range of products to work with innovative partners to solve societal challenges by improving usability and co-creation, collaboration and investment.
We believe that by using our technology resources effectively and combining them with other technologies, we can create new and greater value together with our partners, thereby developing solutions to meet customer needs.
We’re very excited to launch this year's Epson Innovation Challenge series as part of our Open Innovation Program efforts and are welcoming global innovators, developers and startups to join this unique opportunity!
Since 2019, Epson has been very actively engaging with the startup community not only with our “HackTrek” hackathons in Japan, but also with our global strategic programs to uncover emerging technologies, trends and cutting-edge technology startups."
Junkichi Yoshida - COO of Epson's Printing Solutions Division and Chairman of the Epson Innovation Challenge Executive Committee
Date: July 12th - July 20th, 2023
Location: Remote or on-site at one of the locations below.
Galvanize Innovation Hub San Francisco
Epson Silicon Valley Office, San Jose Office
We've been innovators since 1942. We developed the first electronic printer for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and we launched the world's first mini-printer in 1968. Since then, we’ve never stopped innovating and have built a global reputation for user-friendly precision hardware products.
Our core focus is to develop products that are enriching lives and help to create a better world. In 2019, we launched our Open Innovation program to actively invite creative innovators like you to join us in developing cutting-edge technology solutions,offerings and user experience using our secure cloud service Web API called Epson Connect™ with a focus to foster communication and collaboration.
We’ve arrived at an exciting frontier of technology innovation and designed the Epson Innovation Challenge for developers, product designers and cutting edge startups to rapidly test their creativity and skills developing innovative solutions, offerings and user experiences with the Epson Connect API on top of our world renowned hardware products. Epson offers an attractive platform of over tens of millions sold printers and scanners across more than 150 countries. This is a very unique opportunity where innovators could get a rocket boost by partnering with a trusted brand with global reach.
Over the past years we digitized our society and want to focus now on how we can put that digital foundation to work. Epson is challenging innovators to get creative and think about how we could seamlessly combine the physical and digital world by leveraging the latest cloud-based technologies such as Generative AI, ML, or OCR, to create new opportunities and services through scan and print workflows. Innovation Challenge ideas must leverage our secure cloud service Epson Connect™ for scan and print workflows. Ideas could focus on a variety of areas such as:
Participants will have to look beyond a simple print or scan function in their solution. Ideas should demonstrate a creative mix of scanning, data processing, and printing to address untapped opportunities. Here are a few illustrative examples from an infinite number of possibilities:
Get creative on how we can simplify and enhance information sharing and collaboration. There are no limits in innovation! We’re looking forward to your application and joining us to enrich lives and help to create a better world! Should you have any questions feel free to email [email protected] for any queries.
Epson is on a mission to provide an attractive platform for innovative partners to develop new solutions and user experiences on top of Epson’s print and scan products that will foster communication and collaboration.
Key Value Insights
Leader in scan and print technology
Installed base of 10s of millions of printers and scanners
Reaching across more than 150 countries
Top Verticals
Healthcare Industry
Education
Food Services
Financial Services
Insurance
Government
Legal
House of Worship
Real Estate
Retail
Developers want to integrate with Epson’s redefined Secure Cloud Scan & Print solution to offer value added services to their applications and for their customers.
Epson Connect™ acts as an additional secure cloud-based interface to process data and trigger scan & print workflows across your applications and services.
Create new revenue generating opportunities and re-imagine how to automate workflows to increase productivity and provide new user experiences throughout the enterprise, in education or at home.
Prizes
*Prizes are non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered.
Test yourself
Challenge your skills at the Epson Innovation Challenge! Use the Epson Connect API to create and build innovative UX solutions for Epson’s connected printer and scanner products.
Mentorship
Each participating team will be supported by dedicated mentors of the EPSON America Digital Innovation Team during the event.
Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to participate in several insightful workshops facilitated by our experienced partner and program operator Foundry 415 Innovation Group:
Partnership Opportunities
The most promising ideas may be selected for future partnership opportunities and product rollouts. EPSON has a strong established global footprint which can help startups get traction and to succeed internationally.
Pitch to Top Management
Unique opportunity to get exposure to EPSON’s top management and be awarded with direct feedback from key decision makers and industry experts. We’re very excited that Mr Junkichi Yoshida, COO, Epson Printing Solutions will be in San Francisco for the Demo Day
Silicon Valley Landing Pad Opportunity
The Silicon Valley - San Francisco region is the leading global innovation epicenter for thousands of emerging disruptive startups and venture capital firms. Be on the ground, get introductions (investors, customers) and build your network to succeed with your startup. Come and join us on-location during the Challenge week.
The Epson Connect API allows developer applications to control print and scan functions through Epson Connect, (Epson’s cloud service). This creates an additional layer of interface that could enhance user experience. The Epson Connect API could provide functionalities such as:
These are just some examples of what functionalities the Epson Connect API could bring.
The duration of the Challenge is one week to give participants enough time to come up with creative and high-quality ideas and to allow everyone to participate alongside their regular job.
Application deadline: July 5th, 2023, 11:59pm PT
Selection of participants: July 7th, 2023
Kick-off: July 12th, 2023 at 4pm PT
Demo Day: July 20th, 2023 at 4pm PT
Epson is a Japan-headquartered manufacturing company which provides printing solutions, visual communications, wearable products, and industrial solutions. Since 1942, Epson's DNA has continued to embody the idea of efficient, compact, precision technology, and now their IoT hubs enable customers to access this whenever and wherever you are. Epson is helping their customers in education, tourism, healthcare, and disaster prevention tackle the challenges. By providing timely solutions to issues, they create customer-centric long term relationships, offering continuous support in solving social issues. Learn more at https://corporate.epson/en/about/
Foundry 415 is a Silicon Valley - San Francisco based innovation company accelerating the success of global corporate innovators and technology entrepreneurs. Our team has worked with 40+ global corporations to drive innovation results by uncovering new trends and opportunities, scouting cutting-edge startups for strategic partnership, investment or acquisition, and successfully piloting new business concepts. Alongside its consulting practice, Foundry 415 powers the growth of startups through impactful acceleration and landing-pad programs and offers custom executive education programs with a focus on innovation. Learn more at https://www.foundry415.com/
July 12, 2023 - July 20, 2023
Foundry 415 Innovation Group
44 Tehama St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
$10,997