LVMH unveils tech advances & award winners at VivaTech Paris

At the tech event, the luxury goods business LVMH brought together 13 of its Maisons across various sectors to create a ‘Dream Garden’.

In this space, the global retailer Sephora unveiled a series of immersive, AI-powered innovations that are designed to transform the beauty retail experience.  

Various LVMH’s prestige cosmetics brands also shared new tech innovation.  

Guerlain promoted a new, immersive experience with fragrance diffusion and a virtual reality headset. 

Bulgari invited customers to mix a fragrance, which it said resulted in a “highly personal audiovisual work of art, reflecting the customer’s emotions.”   

Meanwhile, Parfums Christian Dior shared new tools that combined technology and the imagination.

LVMH annual Innovation Awards ​

At VivaTech, the luxury French company also revealed the winners of its annual innovation awards for startups in a ceremony on 23 May.

LVMH said that it had a record number of applications this year – with more than 1,545 applications from 89 countries (compared with 1,300 in 2023).  

It selected 18 finalists in six categories: Image & Media For Brand Desirability, Sustainability & Greentech, Immersive Digital Experiences, Omnichannel & Retail, Operations Excellence, Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion. There was also a Grand Prize. And for the first time, it also created a special award related to Data and AI.  

The trophies were made by Dior, designed with the help of AI, and the Grand Prize was presented in a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk.  

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

FancyTech scoops the Grand Prize​

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault presented the Grand Prize to the winner, Chinese startup FancyTech, which offers a platform that uses Generative AI to generate videos from 3D product models and creative briefs. 

Arnault commented: “In winning the Grand Prize at the LVMH Innovation, FancyTech joins the exclusive circle of LVMH Innovation Award top prize winners. This is an opportunity to collaborate with our Maisons and contribute to the transformation of the luxury sector.

He continued: “This Prize once again recognises 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.”

FancyTech’s cofounder, Morgan Mao, thanked LVMH for the opportunity and commented: “Connecting mind and machine, GenAI extends boundless imagination and creativity but can’t replace the heart and human. We feel honoured to be part of this new adventure.“. 

FancyTech 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. 

The 2024 LVMH prize winners​

Along with FancyTech, the other 2024 prize winners by category were:

• Image & Media for Brand Desirability​
  Winner: Ircam Amplify, which amplifies the power of sound for brands and user experiences with a full spectrum of custom sound design and immersive installation.

• Sustainability & Greentech​
  Winner: Aectual, which is a circular 3D printed store and architectural finishes using recycled materials 
• Immersive Digital Experiences:​
  Winner: FancyTech, which offers GenAI video production based on a product 3D model and creative brief

• Omnichannel & Retail:​
  Winner: Glanceable, which offers an AI-powered customer feedback analytics solution 

• Operations Excellence​
  Winner: Authena, which offers IoT solutions for real-time traceability and product authenticity protection 
• Employee Experience, Diversity & Inclusion​
  Winner: Heralbony, which offers an art license for enterprise with unique narratives by artists with disabilities 
• Special Mention: DATA, AI and Gen AI Solutions: ​
  Winner: BLNG, a sketch-to-design GenAI and virtual studio for jewellery