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From Open Innovation to Open Innovation 2.0: How to Make the Leap
In 2008, LEGO took a bold step beyond its own walls with the LEGO Ideas platform. Fans worldwide could submit and vote on new set designs, some of which would go into production. This wasn’t just about new products—it sparked a global community of co-creators, shaping...
5 Silent Killers of Open Innovation—and How to Spot Them
Why do some of the world’s biggest companies end up blindsided? The problem is often internal. Silent killers inside companies often undermine innovation, leaving even industry giants vulnerable. Companies like Yahoo and Adobe, once leaders in their fields, fell...
Bridging the Gap: How Luminr is Navigating the Complexities of Corporate-Startup Collaboration, in conversation with Mark Janes
Luminr brings competitor intelligence to every business - in real time - this is not something people had access to in a centralised manner before. It used to be a case of collecting information from various teams, it's now all in one place on a bespoke dashboard -...
Inside the World’s Most Successful open innovation Labs
Ever wonder how some of the most groundbreaking products come to life? Nike’s A.I.R. technology, Coca-Cola’s iconic fountain dispenser, and Nivea’s bestselling “Invisible Black and White” deodorant all share a common thread: they were developed through open...
5 AI myths holding back corporate ambition—and how to overcome them
AI is shaking up the way large corporates approach open innovation, their startup scouting, and collaboration. However, several persistent myths continue to hold back its full potential. These misconceptions can limit ambition and slow the adoption of AI-driven...
What’s next for Dutch Corporates as they struggle with startup innovation?
Amsterdam, NL – March 15th, 2024 – Recent data from The World Intellectual Property Organization Global Innovation Index shows that the Netherlands finds itself at a crucial juncture in its innovation journey. Despite its reputation as a hub for innovation and...
Corporate Innovation Secrets from BBC & Sky
Last week we had a bean spilling Corporate Innovation Secretes session with Serena Martin, known for her strategic roles at BBC and Sky, now leading Co:cubed's Brand Expansion Practice. We put the spotlight on how big businesses are adapting to today's market...
Co:cubed plans Expansion into the Netherlands to unlock the power of the startup ecosystem for Dutch Corporates
Amsterdam, NL – March 11th, 2024 – Co:cubed, the leading facilitator in corporate-startup collaborations, is thrilled to declare its forthcoming expansion into the Netherlands, spearheaded by Rienk Franken, former Venture Lead at ABN AMRO. This strategic endeavour...
The Crucial Role of Corporations in Combating Water Scarcity
With 3.5 billion people grappling with water scarcity, the scale of the challenge is undeniable. The anticipated doubling of water technology investments to $55.2 billion by 2030 raises both hope and questions. Which technologies hold the promise of transformative impact?
How Partnering with Startups Can Propel Corporate Innovation Post-London Tech Week
When a conference like London Tech Week (LTW) wraps up, the focus for corporate innovation leaders has to shift to planning next steps and turning inspiration into impact. Our Innovation Director and Head of Scouting - Denise McQuaid - attended the conference last...
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The secret to building corporate innovation communities
In the face of rapid technological change, innovation has become a strategic imperative. Yet, innovation leaders often face resistance within their organizations, turning this crucial task into a challenge. To delve into this, Co:cubed gathered innovation leaders from companies like Citi Group and Sky. The rich discussion offered practical advice on fostering an innovation culture, underlining that while the road to successful innovation may be tough, the rewards are transformative.
17 Startups for 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Our Mission Helping the world’s biggest companies, solve the world’s biggest problems, powered by 12 million startups. "We exist to connect the dots and forge partnerships, solving corporate...
Closing the ‘Ambition Gap’ in 2023: How We’re Helping Corporates Achieve Their Sustainability Goals Powered By Startups
Just 100 companies have been the source of 75% of the world’s global emissions over the last 30 years and currently, all of those companies are falling short of their climate pledges. Collaborating with startups who already have the solutions, then scaling those...
Four ways startups can help corporates achieve their sustainability goals
Given tightening legislation around sustainability reporting and disclosure, growing investor pressure and stronger buying preferences from consumers, there is an increased need for the world’s leading companies to accelerate the development of sustainable...
The power of Co: a new model for innovation at corporates.
The power of Co: a new model for innovation at corporates. At Co:cubed, we're passionate about helping the world's biggest brands connect to the world's most innovative startups. And there's never been a more important time to do this. In fact, over the last 12...
Brands that don’t collaborate can’t truly innovate. Six tips for making startup collaborations successful.
Collaborating with startups can be a great way for brands to innovate, but it's not always easy. Here are six tips from six startups on how to make these collaborations work: We asked 6 startups for six tips on how to make collaborations with brands work. Featuring:...
Overcoming Risk Aversion: How Established Brands Can Benefit from Working with Startups
Established brands can become very set in their ways. And that's one of the best reasons to work with startups and bring in fresh new thinking and fresh new types of experiments. We asked 5 startups, “what advice would you give to corporations about embracing risk?...
Key Lessons from my £40m failure
Listen to the episode here: https://www.honeyiblewupthebusiness.com/e/v8591l98-lessons-from-40m-of-failure-with-jeremy-basset Transcript: JB: My first graduate role was with Unilever, where I started in 2003, but my ‘innovation career’ was launched in 2009, when I was...
Adapt or die: corporate innovation in a post-COVID world
Adapt or die - that well-coined startup phrase now has a more poignant meaning. Literal ironies aside, in the midst of a global pandemic and economic meltdown, never has this mentality been more relevant in business. It doesn’t take an economist to predict the...
Welcome to a new growth era
Large corporates have traditionally grown through two mechanisms: organic growth and acquired growth. However, with organic growth proving difficult and acquired growth becoming expensive, we see a third route to growth emerging: collaborative growth. Here’s why…...
From pilot to scale: You’re experimenting with startup technologies, but how to scale
Between 2008 and 2016, the fintech startup Leverate announced ten partnerships that each “cost tons” and “took all the brainpower and sweat [Leverate] had”. Commenting on the partnerships in July 2016, Leverate co-founder Itai Damti revealed that, over time, each of...
Startups are the solution to corporate environmental sustainability. Here’s why…
In early 2018, the UK government pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste from the UK by 2042. Interestingly, when unveiling the plan, the government focused not solely on reducing the supply of plastic, but also on...
The key to attracting better startups? It’s defining your partner brand.
As more and more slide decks on the benefits of startup partnerships make it to corporate board rooms, more and more corporates are seeking to collaborate with the burgeoning opportunities in startupland. All those doing so face...
Why it’s time to end startup charity
All too often we see corporates taking an almost-charitable mindset when it comes to partnering with startups. Corporates, the logic goes, are established and experienced powerhouses with more to offer startups than a group of hoodie-wielding misfits might ever offer...
Why corporates must involve everyone in innovation
When first starting my career, I interned with what was then the world’s most disruptive tech-giant: Microsoft. By the time I first shuffled into Microsoft offices, the company had been exploring highly profitable and previously...
Collaborative Innovation made simple
To remain relevant in today’s rapidly changing world, it’s vital that corporates have strong conduits to the disruptors at the forefront of change. At Unilever, we called this the ‘Foundry’ - Unilever’s platform to connect and...
Why the future of your business looks a lot like Hollywood
What does the future of your organisation look like? Will it be here in 20 years? Will your corporate be a dominant force in the industry, stronger than it is today, or will it slowly become small and irrelevant? Will it be able...