Helping clients innovate through open source networks

Big Idea Group

BIG Idea Group

• Founded in 2000• Network of over 11,000 inventors• Licensed over 60 products, about 25 already in

the market• Clients include: General Mills, Staples, Sunbeam,

Thomson, Kraft, etc.• Three companies started based upon our work

Innovation is on the mind of every CEO

• “50% of all innovation will come from outside our walls.”—A.G. Lafley, CEO P&G

• “Innovation is what consumers are looking for.”—Steve Reinemund, CEO PepsiCo

• “The only source of profit, the only reason to invest in companies…is their ability to innovate and differentiate.”—Jeffrey Immelt, CEO GE

Other competitive edges disappearing

• Manufacturing outsourced to China

• Increase of private label brands• Pricing efficiency on the rise

(Google, eBids, etc.)• Product lifecycles shortening—

everyone always wants to know what’s new

• Globalization efficiencies

What is open source innovation?

Open teams of best-of-class collaborators coming together around specific

innovation opportunities

• Flexible• Accountable• Efficient• Productive

Client innovation questions

• How do I find "white spaces" for growth?• How can I "open the funnel" and expand my flow of great ideas?• How can I systematically screen and select the best opportunities?• How can I quickly develop concepts into products?• How do I integrate innovative marketing with innovative product development?• How can I build entrepreneurial ventures to exploit innovations?• How can I re-energize brands through innovation?• How can I better manage and monetize my IP assets?• How can I make innovation more systematic?

Structures and processes

Metrics and incentives

Growth goals and boundaries

1. Identify areas of opportunity

2. Create discrete ideas in specified

areas

3. Screen and classify ideas

4. Take identified ideas forward

5. Formally launch and grow

Project Teams

Flawed ideas killed

Resource allocation

The business of innovation

Sustaining: Validate & Execute

Disruptive: Test & Adjust

Senior Management

How can I find innovation white space?

White Space Workshop

White Space Field Study

pulls together what your organization already knows

spots new innovation "fishing holes" by intensive consumer observation and interaction

Great product innovation starts with focusing on unmet or poorly met consumer needs

How can I increase my flow of great ideas?

Idea Hunt

Idea Slam

Idea Quest

Idea Challenge

network of 11,000 inventors attacks a white space brief

intensive ideation session with internal and external experts and lead users

customer innovation contest

internal innovation solicitation and recognition program

Clients want to go beyond traditional R&D and use a mix of external and internal resources

How can I screen & select best ideas?

Innovation Seminar

Innovation Review

Team

provides frameworks and processes that teach how to quickly triage opportunities

permanent or temporary teams; reviewers can be internal, external, or mix

Clients want to quickly sort a long list of innovations to focus on those with highest potential

How can I quickly turn ideas into saleable items?

Marketing Design

Physical Design (narrow)

Physical Design (broad)

marketing, positioning

specific issues or one phase

comprehensive: visuals, proto, engineering, etc.

Clients want “wow” products efficiently designed for market success and cost-effective production

World-class ID from blue-chip firms & value-oriented offshore resources:

How do I integrate innovative marketing & PD?

Branding

Packaging Design

Launch Marketing

positioning, naming, brand development

packaging, POP, retail experience

advertising, promotion, PR, community development

Clients want powerful, coordinated marketing programs that are as innovative as their products

We offer comprehensive, world-class marketing communication services:

How can I build ventures to exploit innovations?

Venture Services

Venture Equity

fee-based

for equity

Clients want to take ideas to the marketplace in a way that minimizes risk and maximizes return—

internal, JV, or external

We help by creating entrepreneurial organizations and templates for running those ventures:

How can I re-energize brands by innovating?

Brand Revitalization Services

Brand Revitalization Equity

fee-based

for equity

Clients want to invigorate brands for growth without diverting resources or focus

We create value for neglected brands by adding world-class innovation and marketing:

How can I better manage & monetize my IP?

Valuation

Investments

Corporate Finance

appraisals, analytics

capital fund, sale/license back

M&A advisory, IP auctions

Clients have underutilized intellectual property and underdeveloped IP strategies

We offer services focused on protection, monetization strategy, and merchant banking:

How can I make innovation more systematic?

Innovation Seminar

Innovation Consulting

frameworks, process

custom consulting

Clients want processes and structures to create deep, repeatable innovation capabilities

Consulting services focused on practical solutions and immediate results:

Hunt Case Study

• Search for innovations to address innovation white space

• Open source: Call to BIG’s 10,000+ inventor network for ideas

• Ideas processed, evaluated, winnowed • Monetization and development strategy

determined• Three months - 75k

Brief

• General Mills Snack Group hires BIG to hunt for healthy kids’ snacks

• Brief is written• Inventor materials

prepped• Hunt publicized

Call for Innovation

• 250+ inventors submit over 800 ideas• BIG processes, evaluates, selects best

Idea Triage

GMI Internal

• 5 concepts targeted• Good fit for existing

business processes

New Venture

• 1 concept incubated as a new business by BIG and partners

• Better exploited by small entrepreneurial team

Structures and processes

Metrics and incentives

Growth goals and boundaries

1. Identify areas of opportunity

2. Create discrete ideas in specified

areas

3. Screen and classify ideas

4. Take identified ideas forward

5. Formally launch and grow

Project Teams

Flawed ideas killed

Resource allocation

The business of innovation

Sustaining: Validate & Execute

Disruptive: Test & Adjust

Senior Management

Summary

• Innovation is more important than ever

• BIG/Agency can be your key strategic partner to undertake and coordinate the often complicated, daunting challenge of innovation