John Lewis partners with TrueStart to launch new initiative for retail start-ups

The John Lewis Partnership has teamed up with retail accelerator TrueStart to form a new initiative that will focus on locating and funding disruptive retail start-ups.

The programme, which is called The Eureka Initiative, will help to bring new products and technologies into the retail sector.

Support

TrueStart, which is owned by private equity firm True Capital, is an independent retail and consumer accelerator and investment fund which offers support to retail-led start-ups.

True Capital CEO Matt Truman said that the collaboration with the John Lewis Partnership will help to build on the accelerator’s work with “genuinely disruptive” businesses.

The programme could also benefit the John Lewis Partnership, bringing new services to its shop floor and e-commerce operations.

Growth

John Lewis Partnership Group Development Director Tom Athron said: “By collaborating with TrueStart we will be supporting the future growth of our company by partnering with like-minded entrepreneurs and fast tracking their ideas.”

He added that he firmly believes that “all businesses focused on growth in a rapidly changing world will need a few eureka moments to thrive.”