Startup activity is on the rise in America, and now Amazon is getting in on the game.
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Amazon is working with some of the top startup programs and investors in the country on a new initiative called Amazon Launchpad, saying it wants to make it easier for fledgling companies to promote themselves and sell their products on the e-commerce site. Startups will also be able to offer their gadgets to members of Amazon Prime, the retailer’s popular $99-year subscription service.
Amazon continues its pursuit of start-ups, with its newest platform designed to pave a ready-made road to selling for the e-tailer.
Meanwhile, CNET journalist Ben Fox Rubin writes that Launchpad is an additional attempt by the company to cultivate its own uniqueness.
Some of the products are already available on Amazon.com, but the program will be listed on Amazon’s Launchpad store.
Although manufacturers funded via crowdfunding and venture capitalists are among the most heavily courted – Amazon has partnered with Andreessen Horowitz, Betaworks and Indiegogo, among others – the e-tailer notes on its website that those using other methods are also welcome to apply, as are existing vendors.
Amazon will fulfill orders, manage inventory, and provide customer support for the startups. The specialized product pages include larger images and videos, and an “About the Startup” section.
In exchange, the startups pay Amazon a commission on product sales. More than 200 products from startups are included in Amazon Launchpad at launch.
“We also know from talking to startups that bringing a new product to market successfully can be just as challenging as building it”.
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