As part of their business strategy, Ecover was looking to enter the North American soap market, targeting millennials and the Gen-Z customer segment. In addition, Ecover was looking to determine consumer interest in utilizing an in-store liquid dispenser to purchase sustainable household products like liquid soap and detergent. Thus, they had approached UC Berkeley students – an  ideal age demographic to work with as they belong to their target customer segment; many of them are living on their own for the first time and are buying their own household products to clean, do laundry, and do dishes. Ecover understands that if they attract new customers while they are young, they can achieve lifetime brand loyalty. 

This challenge was very open-ended and flexible, and we pivoted and changed many of our ideas over the course of the semester as we conducted more and more research. There were a few dimensions to this challenge: researching a refillable soap dispenser, exploring the ecommerce market, examining the benefits of a mobile app and analyzing social media strategies to better market the brand. These four key parts are related in that they all involve ways in which Ecover can market products to Gen Z consumers who are technologically savvy and enjoy online shopping and social media browsing. Moreover, these ideas took into consideration the impact of minimal packaging and ways in which environmentally friendly products can be advertised to younger consumers. 

We were initially focused on evaluating the impact of a refillable liquid soap dispenser. The problem we were trying to tackle is plastic waste from excess soap packaging. We considered Ecover’s plans to distribute in store refillable soap dispensers in North America and conducted ethnographic research in order to determine consumer interest. We used our research to create customer profiles and concluded that Ecover’s ideal customer would likely be someone who is middle or upper class, politically active, socially conscious and located in a metropolitan or suburban area. We conducted around 700 Instagram surveys and found that the main pain points in attracting customers to use a refillable soap dispenser would be convenience of location and weight or carrying soap bottles or containers. We realized that Gen Z and millennials may be compelled to utilize a refillable soap dispenser if the experience was personalized, easy and incentivized. We suggested to Ecover the idea of a rewards system so customers could receive a discount every time they bring in their own bottle and use the refillable soap dispenser instead of buying an already packaged product on the shelf. 

The main pain points in attracting customers to use a refillable soap dispenser would be convenience of location and weight or carrying soap bottles or containers.

Amrita Bhasin

Consumers would ideally bring in glass bottles and fill up liquid soap in store using the dispensers.

At this point, we transitioned from a hardware dispenser oriented-project to an ecommerce-based project. We did this because we realized that eco-friendly soap product boxes are revolutionary, and by focusing our project on ecommerce, we could challenge a traditional brand and push them to a different business and marketing model for Gen Z that would create lifelong brand loyalty. We considered the fact that young people enjoy buying products online, especially during COVID-19’s restrictions on in person shopping. We realized that offering an online option to purchase sustainable household supplies like soap is necessary in order for Ecover to reach younger consumers who prefer the convenience of regularly ordering products online. Given the problem of Ecover’s minimal online presence, we suggested that customers purchase refillable bottles online at a one time fee for the bottles. Ecover could then ship customizable soap tablets with minimal packaging that work with the containers. This solution is efficient because it cuts down on the amount of plastic waste involved in regularly buying plastic bottles of liquid soap. In addition to the soap tablets, we came up with another solution involving subscription boxes. Personalized, plastic free subscription boxes filled with eco-friendly soaps and detergents could be purchased online by customers. The idea of a biweekly or monthly subscription service would ensure that customers are engaged and regularly buying from Ecover. Moreover, we emphasized the importance of the subscription boxes being personalized and customized for each customer. For example, the boxes can have the customer’s name on them and personalized stickers explaining who put the order together so consumers can see the people behind Ecover’s brand. Sustainability metrics cards can show natural resource savings personalized for the customer’s order. This will allow the customer to see the tangible, environmental impact behind their purchase and loyalty to Ecover products. 

Ecover can offer rewards to customers who mail back used packaging to Ecover facilities for recycling. Ecover can also reward customer loyalty by offering discounts after a certain number of orders as well as free, inexpensive gifts in the box that encourage environmental sustainability. Examples of gifts include metal straws, Ecover branded totes and Ecover branded water bottles. 

Moreover, instituting a referral program and giving free Ecover credit would attract new customers and grow Ecover’s online presence and ecommerce model. 

We supplemented Ecover’s ecommerce subscription model with the idea of a mobile app given the problem of Ecover not having a centralized way for customers to purchase personalized products online. Using Figma, we designed and wireframed a mobile app that would enable online ordering. The mobile app screens walk through the customer journey from signing up, picking and customizing scents, choosing a subscription option and paying. 

Social media is becoming a great source of ecommerce and online marketing for many brands. Ecover’s problem is that they do not have a strong social media presence or following among Gen Z and are not utilizing the many functions social media platforms like Instagram offer to companies and brands. As a result, we came up with a list of recommendations for Ecover to reinvent their social media presence. For example, we suggested taking advantage of Instagram Shopping, so Instagram users could buy products with the click of a button while browsing on social media. We also recommended launching a social media campaign on Instagram and partnering with sustainable influencers as well as other environmentally friendly brands such as Method in order to expand social media awareness and online interactions. In addition, Ecover should stick to a green color theme and aesthetic with regards to posting photos, so social media users better associate Ecover with environmental sustainability. Ecover should also utilize the Instagram Stories function more often as a way of promoting products and should conduct product giveaways for users who tag friends in the comments. This will enable Ecover to expand their social media reach and bring more users onto their page who will then be able to browse and buy products as well as learn more about Ecover’s mission. 

In conclusion, our role in the challenge as Gen Z involved targeting young consumers who serve as a new customer base for Ecover. We considered Ecover’s existing customer segment and constraints of price and accessibility that we determined through our research. Through a new ecommerce model and the concept of subscription boxes as well as free products, incentives, referrals and discounts, we mitigated and worked around this to make household cleaning products seem exciting and compelling! This project allowed us to better understand the importance of political and environmental branding in marketing, particularly when attempting to attract Gen Z customers. Our research and ideas show the importance of sustainability and environmentalism among household cleaning products and brands such as Loop, Grove and Blueland that built up a credibility toward the product box subscription model. Existing models suggest that there are many strategies companies can take to show consumers that they value environmentally friendly products and are actively working to create plastic free packaging. Ultimately, Ecover differentiates itself by targeting Gen Z and millennials and offering customization and personalization as a part of its product boxes, features that attract a younger and more technologically savvy market. 

L’article Where to start when launching a digital soap brand: the case of Ecover est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

Vietnam is already a driving scene for innovation solving environmental and social challenges. Digital applications to enhance waste collection (mapping collection points, providing sorting information) had a substantial impact on the dominant informal sector (+50% of the waste collection). Furthermore, innovation can be low tech, like a water drops system to optimize water irrigation and mitigate salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

The Covid-19 crisis is forcing us to adapt? So is the environmental emergency. Let’s use this crisis as an opportunity for change, our daily life and working methods had to change and adapt. At Schoolab, we believe that innovation is key to address complex social and environmental issues as part of supporting Vietnam’s wish to change into a more sustainable country.　

Created in August 2019, Deplastify The Planet (DTP) is a one-of-a-kind project-based class offered jointly by UC Berkeley (SCET) and Schoolab where students work with companies on real-life challenges. With a single goal in mind: deplastify the planet. Each team of students is paired with a corporate partner and spends the entirety of the semester brainstorming, building, testing, and solving the environmental and social challenges.

Youth builds the path of sustainable development

In Oct 2020, we teamed up with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. They shared with us their desire to give an opportunity to students, introducing them to an alternative, original way to conduct research and innovation.

One of the greatest successes of this project was getting a large number of enthusiastic responses from students with various profiles and a fresh perspective to join the program. More than 25 among them expressed frustration about the polluted environment in Vietnam.

I consider this issue as one of the most important problems in the world as well as a serious danger to our ecology and even to all the plants and creatures. Thus, reducing plastic waste has always been my main purpose throughout my 4 years of studying the major about the environment. Therefore, with the title of the program “Deplastify the planet”, I don’t want to miss this opportunity to participate in this meaningful program. I’m always ready to dedicate my knowledge and efforts to make this world cleaner.

Nguyen Phuong Khanh, senior student from the Faculty of Environment & Natural Resources at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology

Despite a busy academic schedule, they all found time to study solutions. We provided them with Schoolab’s unique methodology to make research fun and effective. Design thinking is indeed a great tool to help to grow a concept out of an idea. Students can effectively gather knowledge and insights in order to create concrete prototypes and overcome the challenges they were assigned. 

Inspiration from sustainability speakers

During the 3 months of the program, we had the chance to welcome experienced speakers with expertise in the field of innovation & sustainability. Among them, Ms Nhi Thoi, managing director of Change VN, and Mr Pham Huy Duc, an engineer from Concept Green VN, Mr Binh from UNICEF, Mr Taku from KAMEREO, Ms Linh Le from AYA Cup, Ms Thuy Chung – Plastic & Microplastic expert, Mr Thien Phu & Mr Pham Hieu – plastic collection and recycling specialists. shared many inspirational stories for students: about their approach to sustainability, their long struggle with many challenges that they have faced… We also invited Nguyen Hoang Son, a student from Green River, to present the results of his project with the application of design thinking. 

Sustainability in business

Companies involved in sustainability are not exclusive to Europe. Many Vietnamese enterprises know that in the near future, the talents that they will recruit and their future customers will have to be committed to sustainability. They are willing to become role models to inspire other companies as well.

Deplastify the Planet is an amazing opportunity for students to learn by working on real-life challenges while corporate partners find a fantastic way to get new ideas, access a prime pool of talent, and communicate on a brand’s mission. They can work hand in hand finding alternatives in the circular economy, reducing waste, recycling, education and optimization.

Together, they find a more valuable way to innovate and solve the plastic issues we face today while inventing new ways to achieve a less plastic-dependent future.

What projects are we working on?

With corporations, students, and professionals working together to capitalize on differences and reveal creativity.

• Mekong desalination: finding solutions to mitigate the impact of salinity in soils of the Mekong Delta.
• Reduce plastic take-away: finding alternative materials, new user experiences to reduce polluting packaging in take-away and delivery.
• Deplastify HCMUT: identifying solutions to improve plastic waste management within HCMUT campus but also raise awareness on plastic.
• Food waste reduction: finding upstream and downstream solutions of the supply chain to turn food waste into resources.
• High value plastic waste: students identify sources of qualitative and exploitable plastic to input current Vietnamese infrastructures in order to produce recycled products.

Why you should join the next session of RDTP

Join us in March/April 2021 and:

• Develop new business ideas based on your key challenges in a short time through the creation of prototyping and testing new concepts
• Gain a fresh perspective on your business mission, services and products by collaborating with Vietnam’s top students and talents from diverse background and expertise
• Benefit from Schoolab’s proven innovation skills, built through 15 years of acceleration and creation across Europe, the Silicon Valley and Asia
• Develop a creative culture and mindset, skill-up your collaborators on a project-based method while sharing diverse viewpoints with other companies
• Improve your brand by working with various communities and attract new talents with an innovative acquisition channel.

L’article In Vietnam, a youth leadership to deplastify the planet est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

Innovation consulting firm or studio and innovation lab: what difference?

When a company wants to hire an external organization to support its growth and innovation chain, it can go to a traditional innovation consulting firm or an innovation studio such as Schoolab. What is the difference between an innovation consulting firm and an innovation studio? 

Get your in-house teams into skills with an innovation studio because innovative methods are often put in place, such as the Design Thinking method. Thus, the teams are an integral part of the project, thinking, designing and implementing concrete and launching. While an innovation consulting firm will instead rely on external experts or consultants, this will not encourage the sharing of skills and the appropriation of ideas by your teams. In addition, the studio or innovation centre benefits from an ecosystem from which it can draw in order to assemble a multidisciplinary team on your projects. For example, you can move faster in launching your innovative product with the participation of students, startups, researchers or intrapreneurs.

Reason #1: Co-build its innovation strategy with experts

The method of accompanying an innovation studio puts at the centre the co-construction and horizontal collaboration of all stakeholders in an innovation project. Even upstream, you will be able to define together the objectives of the innovation strategy: innovate in your products, integrate new tools or management methods, change working methods or places, anything is possible. Then, an innovation roadmap will be created to be able to project you in the realization of the mission. Then, this is the main advantage of using an innovation studio, is that you will be able to test your innovative project or product very quickly. Thanks to the Design Thinking method used at Schoolab, for example, user testing is always done for rapid and iterative prototyping.

“It’s really a method that allows you to work effectively with a specific goal. This anchors the notion of an iterative loop and ensures that we don’t create a product that is disconnected from users,” explains Pierre Granier, Head of Cross-Cutting Projects at Schoolab.

Reason #2: Generate innovative product concepts by organising a corporate hackathon with students

Since 2017, more than 20 hackathons have already been organized by Schoolab with various partners such as large groups, public bodies and large schools. This has brought together more than 3,000 participants and achieved more than satisfactory results with innovative product or concept launches.

A hackathon allows you to create an emulation around your project and to have it worn collectively for a specific purpose and above all quickly. Whether in 24 hours or 48 hours, organized hackathons are also a way to boost your employer brand by recruiting new talent.

Practical case of innovation strategy via hackathons

Last year, Schoolab worked with the EDHEC school in Lille to organize and animate its big hackathon for the new year. The accompaniment was done in 360 degrees with the design of the event and the identification of the school’s themes. Then, the Schoolab team created many editorial resources to assist students in understanding the issues discussed. Finally, it was a hackathon that lasted 30 hours and brought together 700 participants such as designers, investors or engineers with 3 finalists who were able to pitch their final project.

Reason #3: Launch innovative products with agile Lean Startup or Design Thinking methods

The innovation studio Schoolab has been supporting large groups in their innovation strategy for several years through innovative methodologies that allow them to work differently to bring out disruptive ideas, design innovative products or develop a new offering.

“The Design Thinking method allows the user to be placed at the centre of the problems and above all to practice listening and empathy,”says Yves Lehmann, Partner at Schoolab. “For example, for our early stage startups, the Schoolab method has made a real difference. And personally, I find it super rewarding to hang out with people who “talk” about design thinking… and nice too.”

Reason #4: Launching open innovation partnerships with startups

Going through an innovation studio will be an opportunity to train you in open innovation and integrate it into your project management methods. The ultimate goal is to demystify the world of entrepreneurship but above all to seek synergies with innovative startups. With Schoolab support in open innovation or open innovation, for example, you can better understand the strategic issues in your sector and above all determine the potential for development to stay on the margins of trends and not be fooled by the competition.

It is above all a way to innovate more quickly and to set up a project that could have taken several years in just a few months, with rapid prototyping and testing with real users.

The approach of a startup hackathon is also part of open innovation to learn methods that have proven their worth in agile startups and also to forge partnerships. In the end, this allows for a better acculturation of your teams to this method of reflection. Finally, you also have the opportunity to launch an innovative product by partnering with a startup.

Reason #5 to choose an innovation studio: Go on Learning Expedition in the most innovative hubs on the planet

The aim of the learning expedition is to show a place of innovation for an unprecedented moment of immersion in the heart of a strategic center that has seen the birth of the most beautiful innovations, in France but also in Silicon Valley or in other countries. For example, you can do a learning expedition to Station F in Paris to discover their startup support program, see inspiring conferences or meet entrepreneurs who will share their journey. Or you can do a LEX in Silicon Valley to discover the latest technologies of 3D printers or biotechnology for example. Schoolab organises the tailor-made course of your learning expedition from A to Z.

Practical case of Learning expedition in fintech in Africa

In 2018, a major banking group has called on Schoolab to organise a LEX in the fintech sector in Africa. The aim was to grasp the challenges of new innovations that will shake up the banking sector in the years to come.

Use the Schoolab Innovation Lab to accelerate your innovation strategy

Choosing an innovation studio to accompany you means surrounding yourself with a strategic partner such as Schoolab. The studio is a pioneer of Design Thinking in France and a major player in innovation for 15 years. Contact us now to discuss your innovation issues and strategies.

L’article 5 good reasons to move from an innovation consulting firm to an innovation studio est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

So, the real questions come down to how do you stand out as an innovator and entrepreneur? Which skills could become your best allies? This article will describe the 3 essential skills that Le Bridge program could bring you. Fortunately, we can help you diversify your profil as an entrepreneur and an innovator, so you can stand out on the job market.

Navigating uncertainty through experiential learning to grow the entrepreneurial mindset

In fact, if there is one thing that universities do not prepare us for, it is the uncertainty of our future. At university, you are in a safe space surrounded by familiar peers, campus faculty and teachers. Besides, the skills and notions have been practiced by many others before you. However, what happens when you are out in the open as an entrepreneur? First, you may find yourself starting a business that has most likely never been launched before. Second, you will enter a market that you barely know and hardly control. Eventually, the gap between theory and real-world practice needs to be filled.

Turning your entrepreneurial fears into strenghs

As young graduates and entrepreneurs, you may know the key concepts on how to lead or innovate. Nevertheless, applying these in the real world is not so easy. In reality, the environment is not as predictable. Often times, your possibilities are endless, and therefore overwhelming. At Schoolab, our ecosystem allows you to have a peripheral vision on all fronts: the startup world, the corporate world, and the academic world with partnerships with top universities. Eventually, navigating uncertainty is not so scary and overwhelming anymore. In other words, it becomes empowering to innovate, create, and lead. In our programs such as Le Bridge or La piscine, we turn your fears into the strengths of your project, not its restrictions.

I am so thankful for the coaching I received at Schoolab which pushed me to always go further. They allowed me to acquire the mindset to reach the success of my venture. No one else was going to do it for me, I had to get out in the dirt and push myself.

Laurent Pan, Bridge 2019, Secret de Peau

A global entrepreneurial mindset for opportunity spotting

Nowadays, students join the best business and management schools to work alongside with the top experts and leaders. Nevertheless, young entrepreneurs and innovators have not been exposed enough to various perspectives and adventures. As a matter of fact, observing and understanding the behaviors of your potential customers and competitors is anchored in real-life experiences.

Eventually, evolving in different environments may be the key to become an empowered innovator. Besides, the skills of adaptability allow you to draw fast connections between questions, problems and ideas. On the long term, practicing these skills may be the key to spot the opportunities of tomorrow.

3 countries, 3 experiences, 3 networks to launch innovative projets

As part of Le Bridge, you not only join a cohort of international leaders from all corners of the world, but you get to be immersed in three countries thanks to Schoolab’s global reach. From the growing and fast-moving pace of the French tech, to the original gold-mine of opportunities of the Silicon Valley, through the emerging markets of Vietnam Asian hub, you will learn how to navigate and adapt to each cultural differences. Indeed, it will open your mind to a wide range of perspectives, that could eventually be turned into opportunities.

Interestingly enough, Le Bridge program may be the only program in which the immersion process is executed on a double front. In fact, you are fully immersed on a personal and professional level. You interact with international team members, but you get to work directly with corporations, startups and investors from all over the world. At the end of the program, you’ll reach the status a a global entrepreneur.

“When I arrived at UC Berkeley and saw the list of classes, I felt like I had already covered all of these topics back in France. Once class started, I could not believe how different their approach was, not only on the pedagogical level, but also on a business aspect. The American way of thinking is so different and their concept of innovation goes beyond anything I had seen before. I am very thankful for this perspective that I gained, which made me much more valuable on the French market”

E

Emmanuel Kinzonzi

Bridge 2019, Safnath Panea

Innovation at the services of tomorrow’s landscape

Entrepreneurship nowadays goes further than finding a way to escape the traditional and rigid job market. Indeed, it is so connected to innovation that you are not only working on a personal project, you are participating in the reshaping of the future. Moreover, having a long-term vision is key to understand the market in which you are planning to integrate.

A forward thinking approach to innovate for the planet and the people’s wellbeing

Schoolab incorporates Design Thinking into all of their trainings, which automatically drives all of the projects towards a forward thinking approach. Thus, opportunities can be better spotted. Eventually, it is about rethinking and anticipating needs and challenges. Alternatively, it is about offering solutions no one has ever thought before. Most importantly, it has to do with getting ready for the crises ahead.

“Knowing that I can be part of tomorrow’s solution is an incredible motivation to push my project to its creation and its success. It automatically puts me at the forefront of innovation at the service of the people.”

E

Emily

Bridge 2018

For instance, our program Deplastify The Planet, offered to Bridge students at UC Berkeley, is at the forefront of using innovation to solve companies biggest environmental issues. This collaborative mission between the great researchers of UC Berkeley and the successful corporations of the Silicon Valley is the perfect practice field for young entrepreneurs. It brings them legitimacy and expands their professional network. Schoolab has made it its mission to accompany students and companies into the reshaping of tomorrow’s world. More specifically, innovation works at the service of the planet and people’s wellbeing.

L’article 3 essential skills for the innovators of tomorrow est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

Shibuya QWS, the Japanese innovation hub

Tokyu Group undertook a deep renovation of the Shibuya district in Tokyo, with the ambition to make it Tokyo’s – and more broadly Japan’s – innovation center. For this reason, they founded Shibuya QWS, dedicating the whole 15th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square building inaugurated in November 2019 to this innovation lab.

Shibuya QWS – the acronym for “Question with Sensibility” – is a place where mindful and creative people gather, where ideas cross many types of borders, where art meets innovation. They built a network of corporate partners, the most prestigious universities of the Tokyo area, and innovation actors.

The purpose of this project is to make Shibuya the Japanese “Silicon Valley” on the same level as London’s Silicon Roundabout or Paris’ Silicon Sentier. With their first need being how to implement concrete operations, Mr. Ryosuke Toura, Executive Officer of Tokyu Group, was quick to entrust  Schoolab and Knowledge Associates Japan to start a long-term collaboration.

The Hackathon: our first operation to help QWS achieve their goal

Our first step with Knowledge Associates Japan was a 2-day hackathon. This hackathon would account for an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for longer-term programs in order to build a lasting relationship with Shibuya QWS. Scheduled for June 2020, the situation with COVID-19’s pandemic situation made it evolve to a fully digital experience.

The struggle of the COVID lockdown in France and Japan turned the initial plan into a 2-week digital program thanks to the fruitful collaboration with Naoki Ogiwara, CEO of Knowledge Associates Japan. Thanks to 3 collaborative online tools, we were able to completely digitize the Hackathon.

Two corporate enterprises with different challenges

Two large Japanese companies were participating in this hackathon called “Innovation across generations”: Tokyu Corporation and DeNA – Delight Ventures Inc.

Sustainability in the heart of Tokyo

Tokyu Corporation’s main mission is to open up towns and provide them with rail access and other real estate infrastructure. One of the main issues of the company’s Design Future Lab is the circular economy. Achieving a circular economy is inevitable to solve environmental issues like global warming, air and water pollution, and waste problems that are urgent issues for all nations.

Their challenge for this hackathon was to build an understanding of the Tokyu ecosystem (residents, places, economic activities, systems, and interactions) to improve the circularity of energy, wastes, and cutting unnecessarily consumed goods.

Providing solutions for Japan’s growing ageing population

DeNA – Delight Ventures Inc. is a venture capital fund that aims to lower the barriers for entrepreneurship in Japan with a particular focus on social and environmental challenges, helping to put the Japanese innovation ecosystem on the global map. For this 2-week hackathon, Delight Ventures wanted to explore a solution to support the growing eldery population in Japan (and in the world).

Innovation across generations: a successful Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

To build teams that would create and iterate fast and efficiently, we brought out Schoolab’s best recipe: mixing corporate managers with students coached by experienced consultants and successful entrepreneurs from Schoolab’s global network. For this to happen, we called on students from some of Tokyo’s best universities: Tokyo University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Keio University, Waseda University, Tokyo City University, and Tokyo University of the Arts.

Since the beginning of August and during 2 consecutive weeks, 4 multi-disciplinary teams of students and corporate managers discovered new opportunities and designed low-fi prototypes around Circular Economy & the Silver Economy. In the end, 20 to 30 students and 6 corporate employees worked side by side to answer Tokyu and Delight Ventures’ issues.

For them, we designed a tailored program, fully run in both English and Japanese, made up of 2 coaching sessions and 4 sprints for methodology learning and fast execution: design thinking, observation analysis, creativity and conception, rapid prototyping for some of them. I was thrilled to see the participants’ commitment and enthusiasm in every part of the program!

The Demo Day where participants from opposite sides of the world come together

After 2 intensive weeks through Shibuya QWS’ Design Hackathon journey, it was time for the 4 teams to showcase their works. We invited world class jurors from all backgrounds and countries: Julien Fayet, Co-founder & Managing Director of Schoolab; Alex Odajima, CEO of EDGE of Innovation, LLC; René Carraz, Associate Innovation Professor at Toyo University; Taro Sengoku, CEO of Rewired and Director of Future Center Alliance Japan; Atsuko Hirobe, Program Manager at Shibuya QWS.

They would vote for the projects according to 4 criteria: observation & insights, creativity & originality, test & prototype, and of course, pitching skills since it’s the international sport in the startup ecosystem.

The Demo Day gathered participants from two sides of the world online: we were amazed to see it happen live. It turned out to be quite a flawless experience.

• Team Keyaki (powered by Tokyu) came up with Mask-CO, a mask-recycling device – quite useful in this COVID context.
• Team Fuji (powered by Delight Ventures) introduced Sooner market, to help elderly people with grocery shopping and social interaction.
• Team Matsu (powered by Tokyu) used the straw millionaire tale (Warashibe Choja in Japanese) to create the Warashibe Locker to swap things that you no longer need with useful objects.
• Team Sakura (powered by Delight Ventures) wanted to support elderly people by helping them understand the use of a smartphone in a safe and responsible way. The purpose of their solution, Smartphone School.

Shibuya QWS x Knowledge Associates Japan x Schoolab Asia: what’s next?

Thanks to this hackathon, we were able to create synergies between corporate enterprises, universities, and entrepreneurs. This was a competitive event in which collective intelligence made possible the creation of functioning products that can therefore be developed and implemented in your own company.

We are currently working on the second version of a hackathon that will take place at the beginning of 2021: we are now ready for any situation and cannot wait to reiterate the experience! Schoolab’s collaborations with Japan, have only just begun.

If you want to join this fabulous journey alongside the best of Japan and France’s innovation community to accelerate your business with new ways of thinking and creating, let’s get in touch

Quentin and Yves

Contacts

Quentin Frécon
CEO
Schoolab Asia
quentin.frecon@theschoolab.com

Yves Lehmann
Partner and Japan country manager
Schoolab
yves@theschoolab.com 

Naoki Ogiwara
CEO
Knowledge Associates Japan
naoki.ogiwara@knowledge-associates.com

L’article A digital innovation journey: in the heart of Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Square, from Paris with love est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

Have your plans come to a screeching halt due to the covid-19 pandemic? After getting over the initial shock of the global pandemic (with the resulting travel restrictions and quarantine), we found that some of our projects were not just salvageable but also great opportunities to expand our digital capacities.  

This was certainly the case for our Silicon Valley Deep Dive program. Schoolab had been commissioned by BPIFrance (the sovereign fund of the French government) to organize a week-long learning expedition in the Bay Area for some of France’s top deep tech scientists-entrepreneurs to learn from the Silicon Valley ecosystem. With travel now impossible, we moved the program to take place digitally via Zoom.

Our goal for this program was simple – to bring Silicon Valley resources (via digital transmission) to France and to optimize the participants’ learnings to increase their chance of success as an entrepreneur. We were able to fulfill our goal through the new digital format to which we pivoted.

With that said, we’d like to offer 4 tips for enhancing the quality of a digital education event: 

Tip #1: Keep in mind the participant experience when planning logistics

The original in-person program would have consisted of 1 week packed with talks, workshops, and site visits to leading Silicon Valley companies and institutions. In switching over to a digital format, it would be unreasonable (and quite painful for the participants) to schedule a full day of digital events. So, we decided to spread the program out to 2 days a week, over a 2-week period.  We portioned the sessions into bite-sized time slots – with each of the session days no more than 3 hours of programming. 

A benefit we found for spreading the sessions out was that it gave participants time in between sessions to digest the material and work on assignments where they could apply the learnings. This allowed for the material to sink in beyond just a superficial level.

Tip #2: Include activities that raise the level of excitement and visibility for the participants 

One of the challenges we faced was that program participation was optional, and sessions were scheduled for evening time slots in France.  We were aware that these factors, along with “Zoom fatigue” and competing obligations, would increase the risk of program dropout rate. 

As a part of keeping participants engaged, we created a thematic activity that served both as a motivator and a common thread for the sessions. We offered access to an opportunity coveted by entrepreneurs around the world – the chance to pitch to Silicon Valley venture capitalists (“VCs”). To make it even more interesting (and to take into account the shorter time slots we had to work with), we had participants compete for the few available slots to pitch. Select participants then pitched and received feedback from Silicon Valley VCs Nuno Concalves Pedro (Strive Capital) and Bertrand Schmitt (Red River West). All participants further had the opportunity to connect with the VCs during the Q&A portion of the session.

This pitch activity also created the FOMO (fear of missing out) effect. Participants were encouraged to utilize coaching and material from prior session workshops to improve their pitches. Missing one of the sessions would put a participant at a disadvantage, as they would miss out on the tools offered at the sessions that would help improve their business propositions. Further, the information presented at the sessions built on the previous sessions.

The pitch session not only raised the excitement level for the participants, it kept them engaged throughout the program. 

Tip #3: Offer opportunities to interact with speakers in an impactful way

What differentiates participation in a live event from watching a recorded webinar or YouTube video?  The benefit of interacting in real-time with experts and colleagues.

As mentioned, our goal for this event was to connect France with Silicon Valley resources and know-how. One way we achieved this was through connecting the participants with mentorship exchanges with experts. This included real-time coaching on their customer discovery strategies from Todd Morrill (NSF i-Corps Faculty Director) and rapid-fire group mentoring sessions with Patrick Consorti (Schoolab Executive-in-Residence, Silicon Valley investor, and former CISCO executive) and Leah Edwards (Venture Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures and former Director of Stanford University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies). 

In spite of not being able to attend in person, the participants experienced an enriching exchange, beyond what they would be able to access through just videos.

Tip #4: Provide a balance of receptive vs. active participation opportunities

How many times have you caught yourself mentally checking out in the middle of a lecture? With digital events, participants may be even more prone to disengage while they are sitting behind their computer screens. Even if they are “paying attention”, their minds may wander and their energy levels will likely dip when sitting in a receptive mode for a long period of time. 

In contrast to receptive learning, “active learning” improves retention, as it involves a greater number of neural connections and takes advantage of neurological crosstalk. Incorporating active learning optimizes participant retention of knowledge.

Keeping this in mind, we incorporated opportunities for the participants to actively engage in their learning process. This was done through the virtual pitch sessions, the rapid-fire mentoring session, and the breakout room sessions where participants engaged with each other in small groups. 

Through this, we found that a digital format may even be better than a live format for the purpose of active learning. For instance, if run properly, digital breakout rooms can allow for deeper interactions between groups. 

With the unpredictability of the circumstances related to covid-19, there will likely continue to be a need for taking learning expeditions to digital platforms. Even after this pandemic is resolved, digital activities will be more prevalent. We hope these tips will help you with the success of your digital education events.

L’article Digital Education: 4 Tips to create online learning events est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

The million-dollar question everyone is asking right now. This global pandemic has spread a feeling of uncertainty across industries, cultures and individuals. Nobody really knows what tomorrow will look like, but discussions on the topic are far and wide. We have taken a glimpse into the future with 100+ industry and community leaders and have identified themes that may point to some clues.

For the past two months, Schoolab has been conducting an introductory workshop to Design Fiction “your life after Covid-19” focusing on challenged industries. Participants spanned many organizations, age groups, and across continents. Their input provided interesting insights into what we may expect in the near future.

What is Design Fiction? Using narratives to envision long term change

Design fiction is a design framework and process that leverages futuristic scenarios to anticipate shifts in an industry, company evolution or impact of a technology. The process uses current technology trends and research to predict probable, possible and plausible futures. Based on these futures, fictional scenarios are created and used to reinvent products, services and to find new avenues for innovation. Based on these new concepts, a roadmap is created using retro-engineering methods uncovering concrete actions that can be taken today.

An Introduction Workshop: What does this look like?

We designed over multiple iterations, a one hour sample digital workshop that allowed participants from all over the world to discover the process. Using the interactive whiteboard Mural, teams were able to interact together and visualise their ideas, concepts ans story.

• Step 1: What is most exciting about 2030

In a short icebreaker, we asked participants to list three things they are the most excited about for 2030. A voting session toke place and the most voted idea was discussed.

• Step 2: Reinvent the cruise ship industry of 2030

We proposed futuristic scenarios of society to participants and asked them to act as executives of Princess Cruises and reinvent the cruise ship industry of 2030. (What happened in March to “Princess Cruise” has put this industry in a very difficult situation. It was the perfect example – as most people had heard the story and understood the challenges the cruise industry would face.)

• Step 3: Presenting creative findings to the group

Finally, all teams presented their most creative idea along with a first step that had to be actionnable today.

3 insights on how people envision the future

The future is green

The first step of this exercise unveiled the general positivity our participants had regarding the future, specifically about environmental and social issues. The most popular responses in the icebreakers were not about technology, but about behavior changes among societies. Concepts such as “greener cities”, “clean energy”, “social justice”, “sharing economies”, circular economy” or “universal basic income” were all brought up multiple times. The concept of universal basic income was raised in 30% of the workshops and voted the best idea 100% of the times it appeared.

Tech is linked to positivity

In all required steps of the workshop, technology was almost exclusively linked to positive environmental or social impact. A few examples of responses that came up multiple times are “personalized medicine”, “predictive health care”, and “AI in education”. Interestingly enough, when participants where asked to vote for the best idea, the non-tech ideas made it to the top in 9 out of 10 workshops.

Systemic thinking

We also found that proposed solutions during the workshop followed a common pattern of being conceived in a systemic way. For the core exercise in the workshop, participants were given a futuristic scenario for which they were to rethink the future of cruise ships. Out of the 30 teams who worked on the topic across 10 workshops, all teams proposed solutions that had a better environmental impact than current cruise companies and that incorporated new stake holders (regardless of the futuristic scenario they were given). Moreover, the timeframe of how cruise ships are used grew in 80% of the proposed solutions. Ideas such as “mobile neighborhoods”, “emergency clinics”, “giant mobile gardens” or “on-water education hubs” are examples of the creativity we witnessed in this exercise.

What this experience taught us about how design fiction can help our clients?

At Schoolab we have been developing and using the design fiction framework for the past five years. It was built to help organizations anticipate their future and set up strategic roadmaps to thrive in the coming years. However, a small survey issued to participants after the workshop gave us significant insights about how organizations use or plan to use these types of speculative design methodologies within their organizations.

1. Discussing the future as an enabler for long term thinking within teams

80% of respondents who are using or plan to use design fiction do so to foster teams by reducing anxiety towards the future. Offering a more confident and optimistic vision of where an organization is heading helps employees feel empowered and needed within a professional environment

2. Discussing the future as an enabler for creativity and thinking outside the box

Another popular response was that design fiction was an excellent tool for creative thinking when planing ahead. The key aspect of the methodology here is the fictions. When you create stories that are designed to be narratives, people let their imagination take over.

3. Discussing the future as an enabler for deeper connections

This last finding was the most surprising to us. When discussing futuristic scenarios, we realized that people let down barriers of the present. People from different companies opened up on a personal level to discuss a world in which they were not competitors but allies. As actors of change, our actions of today will impact our world of tomorrow, participants worked together to imagine a more sustainable society.

It is difficult to say how this situation will transform our world, but this experience leads us to believe that organizations will have a growing need to support employees in thinking long term. In a professional environment where offices, homes and geographical location take on a new dimension, the importance of finding ways to connect people around common values, visions and goals is crucial.

How is your organization empowering employees?

The black swan has finally arrived. A tough time for our organizations, institutions and ourselves. But also a necessary time to think long term and together as a whole. Design fiction is a great tool to facilitate that discussion

Mathieu Aguesse, CEO Schoolab US & Design Fiction Expert

L’article Predicting the future: 3 key take aways from a design fiction workshop est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

Definition of a startup incubator

A startup incubator is a program to support innovative projects called early stage. Generally an incubator is characterized by its values, its target, its price and its offer. An incubator always includes a coworking space and accompaniment. Although this accompaniment can vary from the end to double depending on the structure.

Finally, it is aimed at early stage start-ups, i.e. companies with less than a year or two of existence. 

The characteristics of incubators are very different from one incubator to another. It is important to find out before choosing your incubator. This first choice you make for your start-up will have an influence on its development. 

Thanks to my incubator I was able to move quickly towards a solution. Thinking I was still in a Product/Market Fit process I continued the interviews but I found myself pitching at leads! 

Louise, founder of Rayonne

Choosing your startup incubator: find a partner with the same values

To choose your incubator, it is important to understand its values. Not all incubators fit all types of profiles. Some will be very competitive, while others will be more user-friendly. If you like competitive spirit, pitch contests, and startup jargon, the incubator made for you will not be the same as if you are looking for an atmosphere of collective intelligence, collaborative help and benevolence. The image of the nation startup is not necessarily suitable for everyone, and many incubators distance themselves from this sometimes superficial approach to entrepreneurship. 

Startups that have gone through an accelerator have a survival rate 1.5 times higher than other startups.

SES Center study 2015

Choose the specialization of its accelerator (or not)

Generally incubators have different targets from each other. Each incubator targets a specific segment of innovation, whether it is sectoral (related to the activity of your company such as Biotech), thematic (a contemporary issue such as social innovation or technological innovation), related to the maturity of your project, or your profile. Some target student entrepreneurs, while others target retraining executives. There are also programs reserved for young graduates of Business Schools (HEC, INSEAD, AUDENCIA, EDHEC, NEOMA) and Grandes Ecoles (ParisTech Arts and Crafts, Polytechnique). Understanding what an incubator’s target is is about whether your startup is eligible for this program, but also whether you’ll feel good about it. Human fit is important so that you get the most out of the support that the incubator provides.

An incubator has as many experts as experience. It’s condensed and it allows you to progress a lot in record time.

Pierre, founder of Celestory

Choosing your incubator: The price

Make no mistake about it! An incubator that is free often means that you do not access all of its services or that incubator takes stakes in your business. No incubator is really free. It makes sense, since the team that leads it has to be able to live. Choosing an incubator that takes stakes in your business means that if your startup succeeds, you will still have to contribute a share of your turnover to that incubator. The advantage is that the incubator is free at the entrance, the downside is that you will always have to pay shares to it. If you believe in the potential of your startup, we recommend you join a paid incubator that leaves you in control of the distribution of your profits. 

Startups that have entered an accelerator have a turnover 1.2 times higher than other startups.

SES Center study 2015

Entrepreneurs: Choosing your accompaniment

Personalised support is the most differentiating element between the different incubators. A project owner who has just started usually has a lot to learn and very quickly. It is crucial for him to be accompanied so as not to get lost in the amount of information to be assimilated. Creating a startup is sometimes a perilous exercise. You have to learn how to do your business model, your business plan or your fundraiser. It is important to be surrounded by project leaders and experts who are present on a daily basis to help the founder move forward, but sometimes simply to support him or her morally. The quality of this coaching often makes the difference between the innovative companies that will succeed and those that will disappear after only a few months of existence. The support allowing entrepreneurs to structure and accelerate their development.

“Everyone has ideas but few people have the opportunity and/or the courage to get started. I have discovered passionate people who are driven by the simple fact that they believe in their idea. I don’t need much means, then. It is from this belief that they draw mad energy and give themselves the means to succeed.”

M

Matthieu Raffier

Coach at Schoolab

Choosing an incubator, Choosing your offices

“It is very gratifying to see a project come to life, evolve and know that it will have a positive impact. Especially when you know that it will bring value to users and that we have contributed, even modestly.”

E

Etienne Gatti

Coach at Schoolab

Incubators give more or less space to their entrepreneurs. Some are co-working spaces, others open space. From offices to catering spaces to wifi, make sure the premises and associated services live up to the incubator’s promise. For this reason nothing beats a visit to the premises before making a decision. It also allows you to meet the team of young entrepreneurs who run the space, and ask all your questions about the incubation program. Think of it as offices are also places to live. You will meet many people and rub shoulders with entrepreneurs and program operational teams on a daily basis. Get in touch with these people quickly. This is the best way to find out if the incubator is right for you.

All incubators highlight their network, sometimes called the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Be aware, however, that the promise of contact made by incubators is sometimes far from reality. In general, the larger a network, the less responsive it is. However, it is the responsiveness of a network and its level of expertise that make it the quality. An incubator network consists of experts, investors, financiers, large groups, designers, mentors, business angels, and large groups. Experts train entrepreneurs on specific themes related to entrepreneurship. Mentors accompany entrepreneurs on strategic thinking. Large groups are watching out for high-potential start-ups and sometimes bring opportunities. These three players in the network are therefore fundamental for entrepreneurs. But make sure the incubator activates them well.

One of the great riches of an incubator is the diversity of the profiles that make up it. This brings wealth to the exchanges and promotes iteration.

Edwin, founder of Smartsitting

How to choose your startup incubator or accelerator in Paris?

Our advice: 

1. Make a list of the criteria that are important to you 
2. Make a list of the incubators you want
3. Create a scoring grid, ranging from 1 to 5 points for each criterion on your list. 
4. By making the sum of the points, you will have a ranking. 
5. Candidate first in incubators with a good score. 

Pro Tip: Calling for an Incubator According to us, the best way is to call people who have gone through the incubator you want and ask for a transparent return.
This is often an effective way to make an opinion.

L’article How to choose well your startup incubator? est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

“To minimize the risk of failure, large companies tend to rely on a few projects, but on a large scale, with significant financial and human investments, and with an ambition for near-immediate returns. Yet no one knows exactly where the most profitable innovations will emerge from. Risk-taking and risk management are inherent in innovation.”

E

Etienne Gatti,

Pole New Business Manager

Use rapid prototyping methodologies to reduce the cost and time it will take to develop new products

Until a few years ago, the development of a new product often involved the creation of industrial moulds costing tens of thousands of euros. Today, under the impetus of startups, the rules of prototyping have changed a lot. The important thing is not to create a perfect prototype but a functional prototype, i.e. usable by your targets. Creating a first prototype with cardboard and glue is often enough to validate as a team the direction to take and see very quickly the blocking points. This first prototype can be made at a minimum cost, in order to be tested as quickly as possible. You don’t have to spend a fortune in one direction, if from the first user test you realize you need to change your product radically.  Think “out of the box”: go to a fab lab, try a 3D printing, use tools like Google Form or Wix to test your idea in a week…

Prototype idea in 2H: create a web model on the insta page, or for a physical product a prototype in cardboard or Lego!

Streamline product development steps

Two-thirds of business projects are delivered out of budget and out of time. To better manage your projects, here are three tips:

• Cut your project into sub-stages. This is the iterative method theorized by Eric Ries in his book “Lean Startup”. The advantage? It will be easier to make milestones and therefore make sure you create the product your consumers want.
• Focus on a single consumer need: use fast and cheap prototyping techniques to test your concept “in real life” by showing it to consumers.
• Work with freelancers on short assignments, with specific deliverables rather than a continuous contract. Select them on their expertise, but also on their speed in taking ownership of your business objectives.

“Avoid at all costs the Swiss knife product that wants to meet all needs at once! This complicates the project and will slow down the release of the 1st working prototype.”

J

Julien Fayet

Founder of Schoolab

Promote internal innovation, empower teams

An innovation project is an opportunity to learn how to work in Agile mode

Whether in project mode with internal teams or via an intrapreneurship program, innovation projects are only viable if they are supported internally by the hierarchy, but especially by the teams directly impacted. With the right knowledge of innovation methods, teams can learn to reduce their own time to develop new products. Through training in design thinking methods and support throughout the project, you can use innovation projects as highlights to change the corporate culture.

L’article Innovation: How to divide by half product development time ? est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.

What’s an Ice-breaker?

An ice-breaker (or “ice-breaking”), literally “icebreaker”, allows participants of a training session to learn to (better) get to know each other. The goal is to dispel any embarrassment, quickly create the foundation for the connections needed for collaboration, and simply set a team in motion. An ice-breaker usually comes in the form of a playful exercise or a moment of sharing and listening.

Ice-breaker #1: Tag yourself

For this very simple ice-breaker, the animator prepares one or two slides in advance with images or gifs representing moods or character traits. You can add captions to make them more explicit. At the start of the remote session, the moderator displays them on his screen or gives participants access to slides. Participants must then choose the image that suits them the most, and they explain why. For example, the images may represent the different types of teleworker: the greedy, the one who works in pajamas, the one who takes sports breaks, etc.

Tip: Choose funny and colorful images or gifs, and don’t hesitate to incorporate “negative” feelings (grognon, sad, nervous…). Everyone should be able to express themselves, especially people who have complicated emotions!

Ice-breaker #2: Watch me…

There is no real need for preparation for this ice-breaker. At the beginning of the session, the facilitator asks each participant to take a photograph with their smartphone or webcam, and then share and comment on the photo. This can be the place from which he or she works, his socks/shoes, the view from his window, an element of his interior decoration, a book from his library …

Ice-breaker #3: The Wish-list

This ice-breaker is particularly suitable for a team that will see each other on a regular basis. The facilitator asks participants to write down on a slide, or a Trello table for example, the list of things they want to do during this containment period. Answers can range from cleaning your bathroom to learning a new language or reading a novel, etc. Each participant must then categorize their wishes into three columns:

• What he or she is committed to do
• What he or she will try to do
• What he or she would like to do knowing full well that it will not be done

Participants then share with others what they have noted. At a future session, everyone will be able to give news of their progress. Other participants can then ask questions, give encouragement, or talk about tips for getting started.

Ice-breaker #4: Meet my cat

Working from home surely means that your employees’ pets will be within reach of webcams! For this ice-breaker, it’s simple: each participant shows and presents his fur companion, feathers or scales. What is his name, his age, his temperament: all anecdotes are welcome.
Participants who don’t have one can choose to present a figurine, a plush, a green plant… Regardless, the goal is above all to share a memory, and to create interaction between people!

Ice-breaker #5: Who’s Who

This ice-breaker requires a little preparation, but can become very rich in exchanges. Be careful, it is especially suitable for small groups of 3 to 6 people. In advance, the facilitator asks the participants to give 2 to 3 statements, if possible surprising, about their lives. For example, “I’ve run more than 10 marathons,” “I hitchhiked across Canada,” “I met Lady Gaga,” etc. In a Trello table, the animator creates one column per participant, plus a column “affirmations” with a map per affirmation.

Participants in turn choose an affirmation (which is not theirs) and must guess which person it belongs to by moving it to the corresponding column. Once all the statements have been attributed, each participant reads aloud those in their column and must say whether it is correct or not. It will be an opportunity to share the stories behind these unusual facts and generate discussions among all participants.

Achieving ice-breaking remotely

The advice to follow in order to achieve a successful ice-breaker in distance are the same as for a situation in the present:

• Choose the right exercise based on the degree of familiarity between participants
• give clear instructions
• listen, and moderate or, on the contrary, restart discussions
• pay attention to time

From these few rules, all that remains is to start, test and look for what will best suit a given team. In any case, there are many other ice-breaking exercises, and nothing prevents you from imagining your own animations!

L’article 5 ideas for remote ice-breakers est apparu en premier sur Schoolab.