FancyTech wins 2024 LVMH Innovation Award Grand Prize at Viva Technology

With each successive edition, the LVMH Innovation Award has undeniably established itself as a leading award for international startups looking to play a key role in the luxury sector, as evidenced by the exceptionally high number of applications received this year. Over 1,545 startups from 89 countries applied this year’s event, 43% of which were founded or co-founded by women.  

Following a rigorous pre-selection process, eighteen startups presenting promising solutions for the future of the luxury goods industry have been selected to exhibit on the LVMH pavilion 

“The Dream Garden” at VivaTech and compete in six distinct categories: Image & Media For Brand Desirability, Sustainability & Greentech, Immersive Digital Experiences, Omnichannel & Retail, Operations Excellence, Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion. A prize was awarded in each category along with a special mention for the most promising Data and Artificial Intelligence solution. 

Startup FancyTech was honored with the Grand Prize of the LVMH Innovation Award.  

“In winning the Grand Prize at the LVMH Innovation, FancyTech joins  the exclusive circle of LVMH Innovation Award top prizewinners. This is an opportunity to collaborate with our Maisons and contribute to the transformation of the luxury sector. This Prize once again recognizes a startup that leverages technological advances to elevate excellence. I am confident that their expertise will match the ambition of our Maisons and anticipate the expectations of our customers.”, said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of the LVMH Group. 

“I would like to take the opportunity to show my gratitude to LVMH teams. thanks to our common passion for tech and innovation that bring us all together here. Connecting mind and machine, GenAI extends boundless imagination and creativity but can’t replace the heart and human. We feel honored to be part of this new adventure.“, said Morgan Mao, co-founder of FancyTech. 

Unique trophies made by Dior, designed with the help of Artificial Intelligence, and for the Grand Prize presented, a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk.  

In a highlight of this year’s event, LVMH asked its storied Maison DIOR to conceive creative trophies by exploiting the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The design is inspired by the concept of LVMH’s VivaTech pavilion, “The Dream Garden”. Developed by Dior visual merchandising team, these unique trophies are a masterpiece of human artistry, craftsmanship and tradition augmented by Gen AI. Each piece glimmers with a unique iridescence, embodying the fusion of creative spirit and technological innovation.  The trophies, featuring the world-renowned skills of Murano glassblowers, showcase the art of glassmaking at its finest. Generative Artificial Intelligence has been fully integrated into the creative process, as a source of inspiration, using INSPAIRE, a tool designed by Dior teams. 

To showcase and protect this precious award, Louis Vuitton has created a unique trunk for the winner’s trophy, reflecting the Maison’s heritage and expertise in custom trunk making and bespoke products.   

FancyTech wins 2024 LVMH Innovation Award 2024  

FancyTech, which also won the Immersive Digital Experiences category, uses AI-generated video scripts (Python code) to control video movements and lighting effects in video production software, based on creative briefs provided by brands. Combined with realistic 3D models, these videos can be rapidly generated in very high quality, and even feature movements impossible to achieve manually. 

All LVMH Innovation Award winners are offered the opportunity to heighten their visibility and access the Group’s Maisons’ unique ecosystem. The LVMH Innovation Award creates a conduit for creating and accelerating collaborations between LVMH Maisons and promising startups motivated by the chance to explore new business models and new technologies.  

2024 prize winners by category

Image & Media for Brand Desirability:  Ircam Amplify

Amplifying the power of sound for brands and user experiences 

The result enhances brand identity and user engagement, with a full spectrum of custom sound design and immersive installation. Their knowledge can be applied to brand identity, online experiences, connected products or objects, points of sale or events. 

Sustainability & Greentech: Aectual

Circular 3D printed store and architectural finishes using recycled materials 

Aectual interior products and architectural finishes are waste free and fully digitally produced with XL 3D printer using recycled materials. After use, they take back the product and shred it into new materials, and directly 3D prints new updated products with it.

Immersive Digital Experiences: FancyTech 

GenAI video production based on product 3D model and creative brief

CF. Grand Prize

Omnichannel & Retail: Glanceable 

AI-powered customer feedback analytics solution 

Glanceable uses AI for quick feedback replies, real-time dissatisfaction detection, identifies growth areas, offers strategy insights, recommendations & provides advanced analytics for strategic planning, enhancing decision-making & customer satisfaction.

Operations Excellence: Authena 

IoT solutions for real-time traceability and product authenticity protection 

Authena harnesses IoT and AI to redefine supply chain integrity, transforming vast data into actionable insights for authenticity and sustainability. This eradicates counterfeits, reduces by 90% product diversions and helps meet ESG commitments.

Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion: Heralbony 

Art license for enterprise with unique narratives by artists with disabilities 

Heralbony ensures quality collaboration between artists with disabilities and companies from planning to production. This creates business opportunities for artists, allows companies to integrate inclusive art narratives to promote engagement, DEI.

Special Mention: DATA, AI and Gen AI Solutions: BLNG 

Sketch-to-design GenAI and virtual studio for jewelry 

Our solution addresses common challenges faced by jewelry businesses, streamlining design processes, reducing costs by replacing traditional methods with digital alternatives, and offering personalized guidance to simplify customer decision-making.   

LVMH congratulates the seven startups that stood out in their respective categories and is proud to help them realize their dreams. 

All the finalist startups are invited to join the acceleration program at the Maison de Startups, the Group’s innovation incubator, where they will benefit from personalized mentoring to help them develop their offers and expertise in liaison with LVMH and its 75 Maisons.