It was the grand finale of a 3 month highly intensive accelerator program! In the first of its kind here, the “Open Innovation” concept of partnering startups and corporates reached fruition, through the close partnership between Pernod Ricard China, a world co-leader in wine and spirits, and XNode, a leader in Corporate Innovation in China.

The result was a tangible collaboration between Pernod Ricard and the startups; a direct committed investment in the winner of the Ask Jerry Challenge and partnerships with the other. These came only after a long struggle where we see the 3 incredible startup successfully develop a working prototype, jointly interacted with more than 100 bars, 400 consumers and attracted more than 1200 active and recurring users!

And happy were they, when the 3 startups, stood proudly on the stage, pitching with fiery passion to a jury of the senior management and CEO of Pernod Ricard China and investors. While GIN&TOMMY achieved overall champions and clinched an investment deal, MIX&MATCH and MAFFIA weren’t far off with open talks on business partnerships with Pernod Ricard China.