How to Spur Innovation Inside Your Company with an Internal Event

Innovation can be costly, but a new consulting organization, co-founded by Shane Reiser and Carie Davis, offers events that empower employees to identify and act on ideas for new products and services. These "hypothesis-based innovation" events are designed to engage cross-departmental problem-solving while saving money. The approach is based on the principles of lean startup methodology, which was developed through Startup Weekend, a two-and-a-half-day event where participants pitch ideas and work together to develop them. Companies invest in these events for five main reasons: driving innovation, filling an innovation pipeline, approaching innovation from a new angle, changing culture around innovation, and building a reputation as an innovative company. To run a successful event, companies need to create an open and inviting atmosphere, appoint a facilitator, select participants, provide food and drink, announce the event, hold the event, encourage follow-up, and provide next steps.