The Etam Group is looking to attract new start-ups to its accelerator

The Etam Group is launching a call for applications for the fifth intake of its start-up accelerator, WeDareLab. The French company, which includes among others the Etam, Undiz, Maison 123 and Livy brands, is looking for start-ups to support as they grow. Since its launch in 2021, the scheme has supported 13 companies in the lingerie, fashion and tech sectors, including Albertine, We Are Jolies, Liberare, Lolo Paris, Chlore, Flair, Brarista and others.

Applications from interested start-ups must be submitted by June 30, 2024. A maximum of five start-ups will be selected to join the WeDareLab by a panel of Group experts. The decision will be made in September, with the programme due to start in November.

Participating start-ups will receive eight months’ support on two or three key growth projects, including sourcing, acquisition strategy and opening their first shop. They benefit from advice (mentoring, coaching, workshops, etc.) and access to offices, a workshop and a fabric laboratory.

“We are immensely proud to welcome entrepreneurs from all over Europe to our premises, where they can benefit from our expertise, our network and our century-old know-how. Passing on and sharing are at the heart of the values of our family business. And these new-generation start-ups also have a lot to teach us and are a real source of inspiration for us,” comments Alexis Gurdjian, Deputy Managing Director of the Etam Group.
 
After initially targeting lingerie brands only, the WeDareLab opened up to tech start-ups last year. These include Recyc’elit, which has developed a patented process for recycling all types of polyester-based textile waste, and Elyn, which offers a tool for optimising the management of e-commerce returns with alternative solutions to refunds.
 
The 13 incubated start-ups are still active today, and some have made significant progress. For example, Lolo Paris, a brand offering 60 bra sizes, plans to open a Paris showroom in 2024, install pop-ups in Paris and open in several Etam shops.