Frank Kumli’s Post

Today, we are launching our Open Innovation service, designed to help companies of all sizes, across all sectors in Northern Ireland and the northwest region of Ireland to unlock their innovation potential. The Open Innovation team aim to make it easy for ambitious organisations to innovate at pace, by helping them navigate the innovation landscape and collaboratively leverage R&D options and Catalyst’s expertise to solve real problems and create new opportunities. Adrian Johnston MBE, Director of Strategic Business Development at Catalyst said: "Through Catalyst’s Open Innovation service, we will offer business growth support and help companies access that competitive advantage by opening the doors to collaborative external networks, mentors and the resources they need to build their next service, product or process. Our unique proposition is to make it easy for companies across all scales and sectors to innovate at pace by acting as an extension of their team and leveraging the power of our network to get things done.” https://lnkd.in/eDrxNvQY

Since the launch of Start Bridge, my partners (David Segonds and Gregor Brandt) and I have been actively assisting innovators in their preparation for Open Innovation Pitch sessions. We have chosen to disseminate our methodology through a series of posts. Allow us to introduce the Start Bridge Open Innovation Pitch Canvas, a tool designed to offer guidance as you embark on your innovation journey. The objective is to effectively bridge the knowledge gap that too often exists between innovators and enterprises. It applies to innovators in search of an open innovation program hosted by an enterprise. But it works also if you are an open innovation manager seeking out innovators. The bottom line is that both parties (Innovators/enterprises) have to work on the alignment of their respective pitches if they want to build better connections. ❓But how does it work? 1️⃣ Be project oriented A likely outcome of an open innovation program is an opportunity for the innovator and the enterprise to launch a PILOT PROJECT. Therefore set up your solution or challenge as a project. It is easier for your audience to understand what you want to achieve and how you want to engage. 2️⃣ Structure your pitch When you structure your pitch, you arrange the content in a way that is easy for the audience to understand, follow, and engage with. This involves breaking down your pitch into different sections (which cover more than the technical information!) You don't need to divulge excessive information, but make sure you address all the aspects of a potential project: the WHY, WHAT, HOW, and BENEFITS. 3️⃣ Gather feedback Encourage your professional network to comment on your pitch. Feedback allows you to identify any areas where your message might be unclear or confusing. Incorporating feedback allows you to refine your pitch over time. This iterative process helps you develop a stronger and more impactful message. You may even identify new market needs and use cases! -- We have created a template free to use for Solution and Challenge based on this canvas. You can try it out — Just create your free account on our platform (www.startbridge.io) --