A New Era for NRF’s Innovation Lab
In 2017, NRF created the Innovation Lab to highlight the technology transformation occurring across the retail industry. The Lab became the go-to destination for retail leaders and investors to learn about the latest tech trends firsthand. Over the last seven years, it has featured more than 350 companies, primarily early-stage venture backed companies working to improve experience and convenience for consumers.
Those exhibitors have been acquired by industry leaders such as UPS, Walmart, Apple, Google, Nike, Instacart and Swiftly. They’ve secured game-changing partnerships with companies including Verizon, Lowe’s, Mastercard. Albertsons, and Snapchat and landed millions in additional investments from top firms such as General Atlantic and General Catalyst.
In 2024, retail-tech innovation is ubiquitous. The latest advances are coming from every part of the retail ecosystem.
To reflect that shift and highlight today’s innovation leaders, NRF is proud to announce the launch of NRF Innovators 2025: Retail Tech Game Changers, an annual showcase of the top 50 retail tech innovators making a real impact on the way retailers sell and consumers shop.
Like the Innovation Lab, this invite-only special exhibition will be a must-see immersive experience, featuring live demonstrations of the latest tech from around the globe.
Nominations are now being accepted
If you or a company you know is transforming retail through tech innovation, there is no greater opportunity to showcase that work than at NRF Innovators 2025.
To be considered for NRF Innovators 2025, you must meet the following criteria:
- Technologies that solve a problem for retailers and is new to the market (within the past three years)
- Technologies demonstrating the latest advances including artificial intelligence, extended reality, robotics, facial recognition, automotive, logistics, machine learning, supply chain, Web3 and data analytics
- Technologies that are live in a retailer or in the pilot phase (no concept phase is permitted)
- Cannot have previously participated in the Lab (2017-2024) unless showcasing a new product or service that is entirely unrelated to past demonstrations
- Exciting technology demonstrations that are interactive and immersive
* Please note (1) NRF seeks to include technologies working in each part of the commerce journey (sourcing, supply chain, inventory, product awareness, product consideration, customer engagement, payments, service and logistics, and loyalty) and (2) that the selection process is more competitive than ever. We encourage applicants to provide a detailed and thoughtful application that provides a 360-degree view of their organization.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and all participants are required to participate in an interview/screening call.
