Sodexo has partnered with innovation specialist L Marks to launch an innovation lab for the company’s Sodexo Live! North America hospitality division, which it calls the first program of its kind in North America.

The Sodexo Live! Accelerator follows similar innovation initiatives from the global provider of integrated food and facilities management services in China, Brazil, India, France, and Sweden. Sodexo also recently partnered with L Marks for the United Kingdom and Ireland market in 2021.

The program will see the two organizations collaborate to find start-ups with scalable solutions that address service, operational optimization, and guest experiences.

“We are never comfortable with the status quo. What makes this program different is the incredible engagement and buy-in that company founders will gain access to at the highest rungs of our organization, as we ideate our offerings for some of the globe’s biggest upcoming entertainment spectacles,” said Steve Pangburn, CEO of Sodexo Live! North America.

“This collaboration will drive tangible value for the selected companies and will help Sodexo Live! keep its finger firmly on the pulse of today’s solutions for tomorrow’s live events.”

Successful start-ups and scale-ups will then be offered the chance to work with industry-leading mentors and subject matter experts and business leaders over a 10-week period to trial and fine-tune their solutions in a live customer environment, says a press release.