by mafaldachaves | Oct 11, 2017 | Corporates, Startups
In 1964 someone said there would be no market for television.
“Television won’t be able to hold onto any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.”
This was no other than… Daryl Zanuck, the co-founder of 20th Century Fox, one of the biggest producers of televised content.
Let me give you another example.
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
Said Thomas Watson, president of IBM in 1943.
More recently, someone had hesitations about the first iPhone at its launch.
“500 dollars? I said that is the most expensive phone in the world. And it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard.”
This was Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft in 2007.
What can we conclude from these incidents?
- As a CEO or co-founder of a large company, if you sound confident, you can say whatever you like!
- But also that the future is very unpredictable, and increasingly more so. When it comes to technological innovations and digital transformation, not even those with access to information on industry knowledge and trends or current industry leaders can anticipate what is going to happen.
As the speed of change increases, unpredictability is becoming the norm rather than the exception. This game of trying to predict the future is getting old. It’s almost turning mystical, like looking into a crystal ball. It has become too risky for most companies to put all their bets on these unreasonable certainties.
Nowadays, with so many future possibilities, the only way for an organization to remain competitive is through a continuous desire to learn and a willingness to test things.
It no longer makes sense for a company to look inwards, to what is known and familiar, in search of innovation and transformation. Or even to focus on developing new solutions and technologies in-house. Most of the ideas that arise, probably have or are being developed by someone who more focused and specialized. Most of the time, these teams are startups looking for opportunities to collaborate and who dream of seeing their solutions used by customers.
Companies possess industry knowledge, resources, access to a large customer base, but they seek new ideas, the opportunity of testing and experimenting without too much risk and becoming agiler to be able to do this. That is exactly what startups have to offer. In turn, they are looking for industry knowledge, resources, and access to a large customer base. All things that corporates can offer.
If these two happen to have a profile on Tinder, I’d say it is a perfect match. But as you know, even for the perfect match, relationships are never easy!
This is why at Beta-i we have open innovation programs. We do what tinder does. We facilitate these “dates” between startups and corporates. Through our programs, clients can attract the most innovative ideas, from all over the world, technology-based startups, who are excited and ready to collaborate and adapt their solutions to your business reality. Our programs, which often happen at a global scale involve the entire organization and bring together diverse business areas to create interdisciplinary teams. This way we foster an environment for deep cultural transformation to occur in a natural way. And it really works! Our clients can prove it.
There’s one last statement, that I’d like to share with you.
“Neither Redbox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition.”
Can you guess who this was? You’re right, it was Jim Keyes, president of Blockbuster before it’s doom!
Had blockbuster collaborated with Netflix or Redbox, or other startups of the sort, they could now be one of the biggest providers of online entertainment content.
Don’t make the same mistakes that were made in the past. It’s time to collaborate with startups and not miss the opportunities of the future!
If you want to know more about our open innovation programs, have a look here!
by mafaldachaves | Sep 12, 2017 | Uncategorized
Novartis is a perfect example of a big corporation embracing collaboration, instead of fighting the startups trying to disrupt their market. To do so, Novartis is partnering with Beta-i and Deloitte Digital. Together, we have created techcare, an accelerator looking for startups with innovative technologies, products or services to reimagine the future of medicine.
I am a program manager at Beta-i and have managed other startup programs in the areas of healthcare and insurtech. I know that a company like Novartis, a science-based healthcare company striving to change the practice of medicine, will provide startups with an excellent opportunity. Techcare will allow startups to test and validate their solution, learn more about the industry, and connect you with key decision makers during the one-week Bootcamp.
I have personally seen the direct results accelerators have on startups’ growth. Based on direct feedback from startups of previous accelerators, our programs differ because they are short and intensive. Not wasting entrepreneurs’ time when they need to be elsewhere. They provide direct contact with key decision makers from day one and learnings based on knowledge sharing rather than the standard workshops. In one week, startups take a step back, re-evaluate their business model and bullet-proof their solutions with insightful questions and honest feedback from industry leaders.
Novartis is looking to collaborate with startups to solve the following business challenges:
- EARLY DIAGNOSTIC AND PATIENT REFERRAL
- PATIENT ACTIVATION AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
- VALUE & OUTCOMES
- COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS
What’s in it for you?
Mentoring: From Novartis, affiliated healthcare experts (international), and experienced entrepreneurs.
De-risk testing your solution: Speed things up with the help of Novartis. Test and validate your solution with industry experts, focus on problem-solution fit, and tweak and adapt your solution to market needs and clients.
Get relevant intros: Direct access to Novartis network.
Grow beyond borders: Leverage on Novartis International presence.
Power up: Power up your startup by enjoying the joint synergies between Novartis, Deloitte Digital and Beta-i.
Are you ready to join Novartis in reimagining the future of medicine?
Apply to techcare here.
by mafaldachaves | Mar 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
Hi, I’m Mafalda and I’m the Program Manager of Protechting. I’m here to talk to you about the second edition of Protechting, but first I want to tell you something.
I’m new to this startup world, but what I’m not new to, is being new to a new world! Having done a degree in Neuroscience, gone on to do a master’s in international business lectured in London, San Francisco and Shanghai to working at a top consulting firm with large corporate clients and frequent trips to Africa, I know all about different worlds. But what I have found here is different in every aspect. This world is alive! There’s passion behind every idea and there’s a genuine eagerness to make things better everywhere you look.
Everywhere I turn I hear stories of entrepreneurs trying to be the next Airbnb for connecting insurance providers with clients, or the next Facebook for patients to share lifestyle and health information with doctors. But, behind some of the jargon, there are also ideas that just work and there are people trying to solve real problems. So, what if your idea, even if it doesn’t sound like the “sexiest” business on the market, solves a real problem and could make the life of quite a few people better and easier and improve business?
If this sounds familiar, then we are looking for you! Protechting is not just an acceleration program, it is a chance to build real business relationships. We are looking past the jargon; we are looking for real solutions to real problems. Calling on all startups with a working prototype who are ready to roll-up their sleeves and get to work in testing and implementing their solutions in real situations with real data, real clients, and real expert industry knowledge.
In the second edition of the program, Fidelidade and Fosun have partnered once more with Beta-i to find the startups with the best solutions in the areas of Prevention and Protection, Services in Insurtech and Fintech and in Health. In this program, you will benefit from working with the largest insurance group in the Portuguese market and with a leading investment group taking roots in China with a global foothold, as well as with Luz Saúde, one of the most advanced and profitable healthcare providers in Portugal. Along with access to vast industry knowledge, you will benefit from Beta-i’s 7 years of experience in working with startups and entrepreneurs as well as having run over 20 acceleration programs.
During the 8-week-long program, you will have access to the best mentors in the industry and successful entrepreneurs, workshops and work alongside other startups and meet like-minded people in networking and social events organized weekly. The 3 finalists selected at the end of the program, will get the chance to go on a Roadshow to Shanghai and pitch their solution to some of the largest investors in the world opening doors to new markets and investment opportunities.
With Protechting we want to break down barriers between startups and corporates, we want to bring two worlds together in one place of collaboration, enabling startups to work directly with and learn from those in the industry and leverage on their experience and client base. There is only one possible outcome, learning, developing an even better solution and a more successful startup. Win-win! Are you ready to join? Apply here.
