Hélène Maxwell

Don’t underestimate weak signals

Change is constant in our world; new business models, technologies and startups come to fruition every day. Companies are forced to future-proof their businesses if they want to avoid being disrupted. The secret weapon for preparing for the future is to spot signals of change early – before the ripple turns into a wave. Interpreting these signals and acting swiftly in the right way will give you a strategic advantage.   

Analyzing a single signal isn’t of much use. But collecting many weak signals and uncovering underlying patterns is. This is the basis of our proprietary foresight analysis methodology at Aster Fab. We are convinced that through our startup cluster analysis, we can help corporates to better predict and shape their future.

I like to compare scouting for startups to fishing

It’s a numbers game – you’re better off using a fishing net than a fishing rod. Yet many corporates still use a fishing rod when it comes to open innovation and scouting for their perfect partner. They throw their fishing line into the startup ecosystem hoping to catch a fish that matches their needs and, as soon as they catch one, they stop fishing. Chances are that there are dozens – if not hundreds – of other, better-performing startups doing exactly the same thing. That’s why I recommend that Open Innovation departments approach startup sourcing like Venture Capital funds do – with a fishing net. By sourcing and analyzing thousands of startups worldwide, the more likely you are to find the best startup out there for you.

Trust is essential in Open Innovation

Open Innovation has replaced the traditional ‘us v them’ paradigm by structuring win-win relationships with external players. For me, long-lasting relationships are a result of openness, trust and commitment.