Big corporates are realizing more and more that innovating fast and efficient is key to survive in a competitive landscape, that’s changing faster than it ever did before.
Right corporate–startup collaborations are hugely beneficial for both sides but can be difficult to pull off. Corporates need to think hard about how to approach these innovation partnerships systematically, rather than relying on individuals to take the initiative. We see multiple ways to kick off initial interaction:
In the build-up to these occasions we often get questions on whether Startups.be | Scale-Ups.eu can help with structuring the collaboration afterwards. Yes, we can! But we found out that defining the desired outcome upfront and communicating it clearly will make a big part of that work obsolete. To help you do that we’ve lined up some tips:
Sounds easy, right? Well, it isn’t. All too often startup collaborations are seen as “the area of dreamers” with a possible unicorn behind the corner. Unfortunately, they are not. Like all contracts or outsourced capabilities, they need to be clearly defined.
Another open door! We’re looking for the sweet spot between being specific and broad, and describing the problem versus the desired solution.
Startups prioritize corporates who are serious about making deals happen and are set up to make decisions quickly. All too often corporates are not ready to cooperate with startups and might be a ‘life threatening’ waste of time. Two specific watch-outs for corporates are:
Bottom line: working together with startups is the same as working together with other types of companies (beside the fact it is a lot more rewarding). Preparation is half the work and if you are still in need of help or practical tips and tricks: Startups.be | Scale-Ups.eu is around the corner.
Interested to get started? Discover our Open Innovation service, we’ll find you the perfect match!