France

Innovators/Entrepreneurs

Date of the expedition

From 10/04/2024 to 10/10/2024

Selected Track

Paired Teams

Project title

Inksider

Host Organization

Temple University

Media

Biography

My name is Hugo Lamy. Originally from France, I decided to challenge myself and broaden my vision over time and space. I have studied across three continents (Asia, Europe, and the USA), and I am very excited to build my entrepreneurship journey with NGI. I hold two MSc degrees in business and analytics, and I am passionate about art and technology.

Project Summary

At Inksider, we’re all about celebrating individuality by turning deep emotions into perfect tattoo experiences. We help users and artists bring their innermost thoughts and desires to life through tattoos, ensuring these lifelong projects are meaningful and well-thought-out. We know that unsuccessful tattoo matching  can cost lifetime regret, so we focus on simplifying that process. By doing this, we aim to get rid of the common regrets and dissatisfaction, making the tattoo journey a positive and fulfilling experience.

Key Result & Impact of the Fellowship

Development/advancement of innovative technologie

My fellowships have significantly advanced my project for several reasons. My efforts abroad have enhanced existing solutions and generated new approaches to address industry-specific and cultural challenges. Through rigorous research, advanced development techniques, and comprehensive user feedback, I have refined my technologies to ensure their relevance in an ever-evolving landscape.

Innovation is at the core of my mission. The fellowships have been a catalyst for creating impactful tools and methodologies. By immersing myself in a new environment and exploring both theoretical and practical aspects of my business, I have revolutionized my technology development processes. At Temple University, with its specialization in the psychological aspects of my business, I have surrounded myself with great professor as well as integrated empirical analysis mixed with (AI) and machine learning (ML). These approaches has provided advanced insights, predictive capabilities, and automation, significantly enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

I have also improved user interaction through AI-powered design tools that create personalized, high-quality designs aligned with user preferences. The fellowships have helped pushing the idea in depth and refine it the best way, accelerating development, and ensuring alignment with collective objectives.

This ongoing process of iterative learning and improvement positions me at the forefront of technological innovation, equipping me to tackle contemporary challenges and pioneer future advancements.

Testing technologies (demo, pilot…)

At Inksider, my fellowship work has focused heavily on running demonstration projects and pilot programs. These hands-on initiatives have given me a clear picture of how our technologies perform in real-world settings, allowing me to make quick adjustments and improvements. Testing my ideas in real life has helped me refine our solutions based on direct feedback. Temple University has been incredibly supportive, helping me apply rigorous academic and scientific methods to validate my hypotheses effectively.

These projects have also been essential in showcasing our technologies to users, partners, and investors, building our credibility and opening doors for collaborations and funding. Through these pilots, I’ve identified potential market challenges and worked to make our solutions more user-friendly. The testimonials and case studies I’ve gathered have been invaluable in my marketing efforts, highlighting the real impact of what I’ve created.

Overall, these initiatives have cultivated a culture of continuous improvement and innovation at Inksider, ensuring that our solutions remain at the forefront of technological advancements and relevant to market needs. The fellowship-supported pilot programs have been pivotal in refining our technologies, overcoming market challenges, and enhancing our industry credibility.

Strengthening Research & Scientific Validation : I-Corps

Interviews with artists have been instrumental in validating the relevance of our technologies. These dialogues have provided me with invaluable insights into the practical application and efficacy of my solution, thereby facilitating its refinement and enhancement. By engaging directly with artists, I have acquired firsthand information regarding the functionality and limitations of our technologies, ensuring they meet rigorous standards of reliability and effectiveness.

This empirical feedback has illuminated areas necessitating improvement and ensured that our solutions are congruent with the needs of the artists, thereby augmenting both functionality and user experience. Moreover, these interviews have significantly informed my peer-reviewed publications, thereby adding a layer of credibility to my work. By systematically documenting the insights garnered from artists, I have been able to contribute valuable knowledge to the scientific community, thereby establishing Inksider as a leader in innovation. The peer-review process has further validated the robustness of my research.

In summation, interviews with artists have been pivotal in driving continuous improvement and ensuring our technologies remain state-of-the-art and effective. This ongoing validation process has been crucial in achieving acceptance within the scientific and technological communities, thereby solidifying Inksider’s reputation for innovation and reliability.

Strengthening innovation & Connection in the USA

Thanks to the incredible support from NGI, I’ve been able to connect with key stakeholders across the US and even got my company incorporated with a renowned attorney in the Bay Area, Wilson Sonsini. A major milestone for Inksider is my recent acceptance into the UC Berkeley innovation hub, starting this September. This opportunity will supercharge my innovation efforts. By collaborating with top researchers and innovators at UC Berkeley, I’ll be able to harness cutting-edge technologies to drive my projects forward. This partnership will open doors for sharing knowledge and best practices, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation.

One exciting aspect of this collaboration is the chance to engage in joint projects and workshops. These initiatives will provide practical insights into how my technologies perform in real-world scenarios, allowing me to refine and perfect them. Acceptance into UC Berkeley’s innovation hub will also significantly enhance my networking opportunities. By participating in events and conferences, I’ll be able to showcase my technologies, attract industry attention, and forge valuable partnerships essential for bringing my solutions to market. Engaging with investors, venture capitalists, and R&D partners will provide the financial backing needed to turn my ideas into reality. Moreover, my collaboration with UC Berkeley will foster a culture of continuous learning at Inksider. By staying updated on the latest trends and advancements, I will incorporate cutting-edge knowledge and techniques into my work, keeping my technologies at the forefront of innovation.

In summary, my upcoming journey with UC Berkeley is expected to be a game-changer, strengthening my ties with the US, facilitating knowledge exchange, and fostering collaboration that will be crucial for the success and sustainability of Inksider’s innovative solutions. The fellowships have been transformative for Inksider. These partnerships have been instrumental in advancing my research with Temple University and now focusing on technologies and ensuring our market success. The connections and partnerships I’ve built have also provided the opportunity to engage with investors, venture capitalists, and R&D partners. This has accelerated the process of securing the funding and resources needed to bring my innovative ideas to life.

In short, the fellowships have been vital in building strong connections and partnerships in the USA. These relationships have been key to advancing my technologies, driving innovation, and ensuring the successful commercialization of Inksider’s solutions. The insights and resources I’ve gained from these partnerships have been crucial in sustaining my growth and maintaining my competitive edge in the industry.

In conclusion, my fellowships have been game-changing, taking my technology and innovation efforts to new heights. Through thorough research, global collaborations, and real-world testing, I’ve refined and validated my solutions, ensuring they meet the market standards. The connections and partnerships I’ve formed, especially with institutions like Temple University and soon UC Berkeley, have provided invaluable insights and resources that have shaped my approach to innovation. These experiences have not only advanced my projects but also positioned Inksider as an industry leader, ready to tackle future challenges with confidence. To be continued…