Trade and Transport Impact

Who are you

You are working on an innovative solution (digital, hardware, chemical or otherwise) – and your clients love it!

You’re working on the future

Are you working on the next big thing? You might have used existing technologies, but you are definitely working on a solution that solves real problems in a new way. Perhaps through AI, big data, IoT, automation, drone applications, AR/VR, machine vision, or something else entirely?

You’re a global citizen

We invite companies from all over the world to join, and you can apply from anywhere, as long as you have the time and capacity to engage with our corporate partners across the next 5 months: up to 5 days in the selection stage, then a few hours each week in collaboration stage.

You’re ready to show and tell

You’ve already tested your solution, have developed a track record, and are ready to take it to a bigger audience. We may select a few wildcards -- highly promising companies in the late prototype stage -- but only for the most groundbreaking technology.

What we offer

The program is designed to help you grow and get real traction with our corporate partners.

Equity free

Our corporate partners seek mutually beneficial collaborations, and don’t take any equity from you to engage.

Get real traction

The program is focused on delivering tangible impact; partners have joined to help you land and scale pilots.

Industry access

You have access to corporate leaders & mentors from around the world to help you get the best from the industry.

Across borders

You can grow in the industry and worldwide. Our partners are international players and can help you enter desired markets.

Are there any restrictions in terms of geography?

No, we value diversity and are open to solutions worldwide; our corporate partners are multinationals looking to implement pilots around the globe. That said, most of our partners are based in Europe and Asia, so meetings tend to be scheduled in favor of these timezones. Startups based in North America have faced some rough hours on calls, but they tell us it's worth it for all the exposure they get to these mega corporations!

What can I expect if I participate in the program?

After rigorous problem scoping and due diligence, we choose a select few startups each cycle to meet with our corporate partners at Kick-Off Days. Over the next 2-3 weeks, you have a series of Group Q&As and 1-on-1 virtual meetings to determine where there might be a strong fit, after which -- if at least one corporate partner chooses to go ahead with you -- you commence a 6 to 8 week collaboration design sprint to flesh out your potential partnership. Rainmaking supports both startups and corporate partners along the way, playing the role of moderator / facilitator / advisor / mediator as needed to get the job done and bring value to all parties. After the design sprint, we all meet again on Launch Days to discuss outcomes and the partnership plans going forward.

Not all startups make it to the design sprint phase, but even those who don't last long after Kick-Off Days gain immense insight from the closed door meetings with our corporate partners, who are all captains of industry. Those who make it to the end of the program have a wide range of successful outcomes -- from pilots to new enterprise clients, strategic partnerships, and even joint venture opportunities.

How can we increase our chances of selection?

Be honest, attentive, and prepared. We believe in mutually valuable collaborations, which are only possible when both sides can (a) have a no-BS conversation around capabilities, goals, challenges, etc. and (b) truly listen to one another and adapt to each other's needs. Coming prepared also ensures nobody is wasting their time, which everyone appreciates!

We recommend you reflect on:
Why this opportunity? What do you hope to achieve? How does your solution solve corporate partner challenges? What can you do better than anyone else / why would they pick you above all the other alternatives? What are the possible risks of working with you, and the main challenges where you need support?

Trade and Transport Impact

Program Partners

Ecosystem Partners

About the program

Trade & Transport Impact is an innovation platform that produces commercial partnerships between startups and top transport companies.

Program Tracks

Decarbonizing Shipping

Supply Chain Resilience

Fall 2020 Cycle Timeline

Partners vetting startups this cycle

Who are you

What we offer

Our results to date

2000+

44

71

About the program

Selection Days Fall 2019

Cargotec, i4sea & Teqplay on their partnership

Shell & Scoutbase on their partnership

Wärtsilä & Signol on their partnership

HHLA & KoiReader on their partnership

Mentors and Advisors

Ying Ying Lim

Richard Holdsworth

Nakul Malhotra

Shanker Pillai

Auke Steenkamp

Christian Langer

Till Schlumberger

Hirotaka Ishizaka

Carlos Torres

Daniel C. Weiss

Dr. Shahrin Osman

Michael Pomerleau

Nicklas Fursund

Why corporate partners love and stay highly engaged with the program

"The program is a first of its kind in the industry and we need a lot more of these to get shipping to it's decarbonisation goals. Open innovation works and to make it work better, we need more collaboration across the industry."

"It is much more meaningful to know other partners' areas of interest and to seek for collaboration possibilities with them, rather than exploring new technologies only by ourselves, and Rainmaking did a great job to create a circumstance of open innovation."

Alumni Startups

Trade and Transport Impact Team

Tarun Mehrotra

Angela Noronha

Michael Sam

Ricky Wakae

Batool El Bakrey

Marwan Selim

In the press

Multi-year program to decarbonise shipping completes first phase

Rainmaking selects startups to nurture towards decarbonisation of shipping

A second six-month cycle is set to commence in August 2020.

Appointed by Enterprise Singapore’s investment arm, SEEDS Capital, as one of six co-investment partners

After six months and 1,200 candidate start-ups, some of the industry's largest companies have decided on 45 partnerships they believe could generate commercial decarbonisation services for maritime.

Corporate and venture development firm Rainmaking, which is driving the program, expects to identify more than 1,000 startups with the relevant technologies and business models to tackle decarbonisation.

The Trade and Transport Impact programme aims to identify more than 1,000 start-ups and link them up with corporate partners. Rainmaking, the firm driving the programme, has also pledged a S$10m investment in start-ups offering promising innovations.

A new Singapore Trade and Transport Impact program will open for global startups to look into tackling decarbonisation in Singapore.

Frequently asked questions

About Rainmaking

This program is powered by Rainmaking.We are a team of 200+ entrepreneurs, strategists, product experts, developers, designers and investors. We treasure diversity in people and in thinking - with 35 nationalities in 13 offices on 4 continents.

Ready to scale up and impact global trade and transport?

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Any questions? Write to us at tradewithimpact@rainmaking.io

This program is powered by Rainmaking.

We are a team of 200+ entrepreneurs, strategists, product experts, developers, designers and investors. We treasure diversity in people and in thinking - with 35 nationalities in 13 offices on 4 continents.