hen it comes to startup scouting, there’s no shortage of platforms, pitch decks or buzzwords. But finding the right startup, the one that fits your brief, budget and bold ambitions? That takes craft.
We asked five of our very own Corporate Innovation Matchmakers™ to share their go-to scouting tips. Here’s what they said:
1. Understand the frame of the problem.
Filipe says:
“Start with completely understanding the frame of the problem. If you don’t understand the industry, technology, underlying science of the system etc. – you won’t understand where exactly to look for the solution! Open Innovation is never 1+1 = 2, you need to deeply understand the context of the problem and what impacts, it’s more like 1 + 1 = 3.”
2. There’s always a startup for that.
Neal says:
“Doesn’t matter the brief, there’s always a startup that can help solve your challenges. Tweak your search terms, find new angles and build on your previous search. Think outside the box and attack the brief from several directions. There’s always a startup for that.”
3. Agentic Scouting is the future.
Aidan says:
“Agentic scouting is the future. Why spend hours trawling databases, when you can get an AI-powered scouting agent to do the work for you. Faster, more efficient, more accurate too!”
4. Stay plugged in.
Darla says:
“Stay updated with industry news constantly through subscribing to industry blogs, listening to podcasts, and attending relevant events.”
5. Stay plugged in.
Alizey says:
“Don’t just look for the ‘best’ startup. Your gut feeling and instinct can matter just as much as numbers and data. Follow what sparks your curiosity, the weird gem overlooked by others and the story behind the startup!”
At Co:cubed, we match the world’s most ambitious corporates with the startups shaping the future. From early discovery to decision-ready scouting reports, we help our clients find the perfect fit—fast.
Want to learn more about how we scout smarter? Get in touch with Neal, our Head of Open Innovation: neal.tantisukrit@cocubed.com
