Kimberly-Clark Seeks New-to-Market Ideas
Kimberly-Clark's Huggies brand launches the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program, providing inventive moms up to $250,000 total in seed capital and business resources to turn their great ideas into real-world product solutions.
According to research from Babson College, although women in the United States have been credited with starting businesses at nearly twice the rate of men, only about 3 percent of these women-run businesses attract investments from venture capital. And, in a recent survey of moms commissioned by the Huggies brand, the top-ranked challenge for those who have considered starting their own business is access to capital and financial resources (65 percent). Moms agree that the most helpful resource to starting their own business would be smaller grants for seed/start-up money, in addition to advice from other mom inventors or entrepreneurs like themselves.
According to research from Babson College, although women in the United States have been credited with starting businesses at nearly twice the rate of men, only about 3 percent of these women-run businesses attract investments from venture capital. And, in a recent survey of moms commissioned by the Huggies brand, the top-ranked challenge for those who have considered starting their own business is access to capital and financial resources (65 percent). Moms agree that the most helpful resource to starting their own business would be smaller grants for seed/start-up money, in addition to advice from other mom inventors or entrepreneurs like themselves.
"We're excited to introduce this program as it presents a completely new open innovation path for Kimberly-Clark and our Huggies brand," said Tony Palmer, chief marketing officer for Kimberly-Clark. "As the 16th largest consumer packaged goods company in the world, we see innovation as central to our future. Huggies MomInspired not only offers the potential for the Huggies brand to identify new product innovation, it also provides an opportunity to celebrate and take our relationship with our loyal moms to a new level."
In 2010, the Huggies brand will invest up to $250,000 in these mom experts as a new way to capture, support and potentially bring to market real-world solutions for parents. In order to be considered for a grant, moms must submit an application online, outlining a unique baby or child care product idea that addresses an unmet parenting need. The winners will be awarded with up to $15,000 per grant to help fund their product ideas.
Interested moms can visit http://www.huggiesmominspired.com/ to apply for a grant through June 9, 2010, and should meet the following requirements:
-- Women who are 21 years of age or older
-- Currently reside in the United States
-- Submit original, innovative and viable business and product ideas for pre-natal care up to six years of age, designed to help make life easier for parents so they can better enjoy everyday moments with their little ones. Ideas do not have to be diaper or hygiene-related.
Winning grants will be awarded by late summer 2010.