This year marks the fifth edition of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize, a continued partnership with BMW—an automotive pioneer shaping the future with an unyielding focus on electrification, digitalisation, and circularity. For this year’s instalment, Vogue Singapore has teamed up with Brinc, a powerhouse in venture acceleration, to elevate the next wave of groundbreaking start-ups. With a diverse portfolio of over 260 companies across seven countries, Brinc runs more than 15 programmes globally, focusing on sectors like climate tech, food tech, blockchain, IoT, AI, and Web3. Through this partnership, Brinc will offer tailored support to selected start-ups, helping them hone their fundraising strategies, go-to-market approaches, and commercialisation plans.
Applications poured in from around the world, encompassing a wide spectrum of innovations across the fashion value chain—spanning both B2C and B2B models. Selected applicants were invited to attend an intensive two-day bootcamp curated by Vogue Singapore. This programme brought together a global roster of industry leaders offering hands-on expertise in digital innovation, creative direction, brand storytelling, marketing, media and design. With a diverse line-up of speakers across fashion, AI, technology and sustainability, the bootcamp was designed to spark meaningful conversations and equip the next generation of entrepreneurs with tools they can’t find in a textbook. Each session provided not just industry insights, but hard-earned lessons and priceless advice—from failures, pivots, and triumphs—delivered by seasoned professionals with layered, multidimensional experience.
Staying true to BMW’s core philosophy of innovation, this year’s event once again featured Renzo Vitale, BMW Group’s Creative Director of Sound Design. A composer, pianist, and visual artist, Vitale has the unique role of shaping the sonic identity for all three of BMW’s prestigious brands—MINI, BMW, and Rolls-Royce. In his session, he delved into the power of emotional connection and the art of unlearning as a key to driving innovation, reflecting on his groundbreaking work alongside Hans Zimmer in crafting BMW’s next-gen acoustic experience. In a first for the programme, this year’s participants also received exclusive early access to fashion industry reports developed by global consulting firm Roland Berger—providing valuable data and insights to support strategic decision-making.
In its inaugural year, Singaporean designer Claudia Poh of Wearable won for her adaptive fashion solutions for individuals with disabilities. ProjectEx followed, with founders Adrian Furstenburg and Viknish Krishnan-Kutty offering lab-grown exotic skins as a sustainable alternative to rare leathers. In year three, Cozterra took the prize with cutting-edge carbon capture technology, and last year’s winner, was Pakt, who drove wardrobe sustainability with their Hong Kong-based smart wardrobe service.
At the end of the bootcamp, ten start-ups were selected to enter the mentorship phase, where they will receive dedicated guidance from Brinc and prepare for a pitch day attended by top industry investors. The selected businesses were Chatlabs, fjör, Purified Footwear, Arxy, Authentified, Nūl Global Technologies, Biofluff, Uncaged Innovations, Vlge, and Alt.
The bootcamp commenced with Alexis Bonhomme, founder of Trinity Asia, providing crucial insights into crafting branding strategies to effectively engage with Asian luxury consumers in 2025. Bonhomme delved into key marketing and distribution approaches, emphasising the critical role of localised, emotional, and authentic storytelling through region-specific social media platforms. Following this engaging session, Artaud Frenoy, Head of APAC at Veja, shared the inspiring journey of their ecological sneaker brand and its commitment to radical transparency, ethical sourcing, and sustainable materials. Faith Robinson, Head of Content at Global Fashion Agenda, then presented “The Upstream Circularity Playbook,” highlighting the necessity of collaborative, systemic shifts for scalable textile-to-textile recycling as a fundamental responsibility for the future of fashion.
Continuing the insightful discourse on Day 1, Annie Lindmark, Program Director Innovation at H&M Foundation, encouraged companies to adopt a visionary approach by “leading from the future,” daring to develop long-term, systemic solutions for a better tomorrow. Liz Bacelar, Global Head of AI & Advanced Analytics, addressed the responsible application of AI for creative entrepreneurs, advocating for its ethical use in enhancing creative work. The day concluded with Sandeep Seth, Chief Growth Officer & President at Tapestry International, who shared how to build resonant brands by deeply understanding consumers, fostering emotional connections, and driving cultural relevance through social engagement.
Day 1 – Key Takeaways
- Alexis Bonhomme: Engaging Asian luxury consumers in 2025 demands culturally sensitive and emotionally authentic storytelling delivered via region-specific social media, crucial for both research and direct connection to capture evolving trends.
- Artaud Frenoy: Veja’s conscious fashion model prioritises radical transparency in their supply chain, ethical sourcing of materials, and a commitment to sustainability, proving that responsibility can be integral to brand success.
- Faith Robinson: Scaling textile-to-textile recycling requires collaborative, systemic shifts across the industry, viewing textile waste as a valuable resource and establishing circular ecosystems as a fundamental responsibility for fashion’s future.
- Annie Lindmark: Companies should adopt a visionary approach, proactively developing disruptive, long-term solutions for a sustainable fashion industry, investing in innovation and advocating for systemic change.
- Liz Bacelar: Responsible AI application in creative fields means ethically augmenting human artistry, focusing on enhancing efficiency and insights rather than replacing creative talent or infringing on intellectual property.
- Sandeep Seth: Building resonant brands necessitates a deep understanding of consumer values and aspirations, forging authentic emotional connections through storytelling, and actively engaging in culture to drive relevance and loyalty.
Day 2 of the bootcamp commenced with Natalie Lee of Louis Vuitton, who explored leveraging data for enhanced customer experiences through AI and ethical practices. Nanette Wong of Fenty Beauty and Fenty Fragrance discussed marketing beauty in the digital age by merging culture, community, and inclusivity to connect with consumers. The startup fundraising landscape was then examined by Saurabh Bajpai, Cristina Ventura, and Lincoln Yeh, who offered valuable advice on choosing the right investors and maintaining authentic practices. Chet Lo, the founder of his eponymous brand, highlighted the importance of creative integrity and strategic growth. Renzo Vitale of BMW Group delved into the concept of “Resonant Thinking” and its impact on innovation within businesses. The session drew to a close with Corey Moran of Google, who underscored the power of compelling video storytelling in achieving strong marketing ROI across various media platforms.
Day 2 – Key Takeaways
- Natalie Lee: Elevating customer experience relies on strategically leveraging data and AI to derive meaningful insights, enabling hyper-personalisation while upholding ethical data practices and building consumer trust.
- Nanette Wong: Successful digital beauty marketing blends cultural understanding, community building, and creative campaigns with a focus on inclusivity and authentic emotional connections to foster brand loyalty.
- Saurabh Bajpai, Cristina Ventura, Lincoln Yeh: Navigating startup fundraising requires selecting aligned investors, maintaining realistic projections, and demonstrating genuine authenticity, building trust and long-term partnerships.
- Chet Lo: Creative integrity, effectively marrying customer needs with unique brand storytelling, and strategically planning for scalable growth are crucial for entrepreneurial success and establishing a distinct market presence.
- Renzo Vitale: “Resonant Thinking” highlights the importance of creating products and experiences that evoke strong emotional connections through sensory elements, driving innovation and ensuring relevance in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
- Corey Moran: Unlocking the power of video storytelling involves crafting compelling, branded content that connects with the audience and provides a clear direction, ultimately delivering significant return on investment across all media platforms.
The bootcamp concluded with a speech by Bettina von Schlippe, Vice President of Business Innovation at Media Publishares, who detailed the prestigious entitlements awaiting the Innovation Prize winner, including a S$20,000 cash award. She also presented a video from VisitMonaco, unveiling that, in addition to the monetary prize, the winner will be treated to a luxurious four-night stay at the iconic Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, a culinary experience at the two-Michelin-starred Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, and exclusive mentorship sessions with esteemed Monegasque institutions such as MonacoTech.
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