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Author: Matthew Heim

10 Jan

Drive Innovation: 8-Steps to Launch and Run a Startup Accelerator

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Your Primer for Startup Acceleration [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]Startup acceleration has been getting a lot of buzz lately in the realm of strategic innovation. Startup accelerators are emerging as almost commonplace with larger companies, and are used to foster innovation, support new, blossoming ideas, and build mutually beneficial relationships with those external entities that promise to bring new disruptive capabilities to market. Companies that cannot set up their own accelerators have access to a number of third-party Accelerators-as-a-Service. Startup acceleration, which differs from startup incubation, is designed to be a short sprint, allowing companies to select a few candidates based on specific needs or domain expertise, and provide the selected startup candidates with resources and time (typically 3-6 months) to develop a proof-of-concept, or pitch, resulting in either a go or no-go decision. Startups that are selected through the acceleration process may either be incubated (typically 1-5 years using various forms of funding), be...

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18 Dec

Strategic Pipeline Management

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you one of the many innovation executives who struggle to determine which projects you should be working on first, and which ones should have the highest priority amongst others?  If so, then you are certainly not alone.  In fact, three out of five executives interviewed find this to be one of their top 5 challenges when managing their innovation pipeline.   Some innovation executives do not have a formal relationship with the business units (BU) or categories and are unable to gain a clear understanding of the potential business impact of a new development requirement.  Others struggle to determine which projects should be prioritized higher than others based on their return on investment (ROI).  Either way, there are a few simple steps that the innovation team can take that will help clarify innovation initiatives, deploy the right resources, ensure proper transitions, prioritize initiatives with the highest strategic impact, and assign...

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16 Dec

Ezassi vs Big 4 Consulting

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Open Innovation
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Big Consulting Houses vs. Boutique Firms for Innovation The Costs and Risks of Making an Uninformed Choice [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]We all know, and possibly worked with the Big 4 consulting houses, which include PriceWaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte. These firms have thousands of consultants and are designed to drive high profits through a Matrixed Organization, as well as what is known as a Leverage Model.  Think of the Leverage Model as a pyramid, with the senior-level partners at the top, managers in the middle and associates at the bottom.  As the pyramid would symbolize, there are many more junior-level resources – in fact, they are designed to hold a ratio of between 12- or 15-to-1. Having worked for two of the four big consulting houses at both junior and senior levels, I know that these firms will claim to be able to produce deliverables on virtually any topic or discipline.  Because...

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20 Nov

Idea Management as an Innovation Strategy

by Matthew Heim
in Idea Management Software, Innovation, Innovation Software, Innovation Strategy Services
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Strategic Idea Management: Your Edge for Transformative Innovation [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]It is undeniable that innovation is likely the single-most impactful means of staying ahead of the competition. However, generating innovative ideas and turning them into actionable solutions requires more than just creative thinking—it demands effective management of ideas, collaboration, and alignment with strategic goals. This is where idea management software and supporting business practices come into play.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="Idea management software is a digital platform designed to capture, develop, prioritize, and implement ideas from employees, customers, or stakeholders." title_tag="h3" width="75%"][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]When leveraged effectively using integrated business processes, KPIs and collaboration, it becomes much more than a tool for idea collection—it evolves into a strategic asset that generates business growth, improves efficiency, and enhances organizational culture. Here’s how and why idea management can be a powerful strategic tool across the entire enterprise.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Idea Management for Innovation:  [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Fosters a Culture of Innovation One of...

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13 Nov

Product Lifecycle Management

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Product-Lifecycle Management 2.0 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] A Kaizen Approach to Market-Driven Innovation [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]In today’s competitive business environment, companies are under constant pressure to innovate, streamline processes, and improve product quality. One powerful way to achieve these goals is by applying the principles of Kaizen—the Japanese concept of continuous improvement—to Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). By viewing PLM as a Kaizen loop, organizations can foster a culture of ongoing innovation and refinement, ensuring that products evolve in line with customer needs, technological advances, and market demands. In this blog, we’ll explore how managing Product Lifecycle Management as a Kaizen loop can drive better results, improve efficiency, and lead to the creation of superior products that resonate with customers.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] What is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)? [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]Before we dive into how PLM can benefit from a Kaizen approach, let’s define what PLM is.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][qodef_blockquote text="Product Lifecycle Management is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from inception, through...

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08 Nov

Innovation Analyst for Technology Research

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Software, Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation, Technology, Technology Landscape, Technology Scouting
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Risks of Sole Reliance on LLMs and AI in Technology Discovery: Why Human Expertise is Still Essential [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text] LLMs and AI tools are inadequate as primary technology discovery tools. A human analyst to validate technology search results, conduct crucial subject matter expert interviews, and evaluate unique ideas from experienced, creative employees and stakeholders through open innovation challenges will prove to be the best approach to a fully developed innovation management strategy. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In today’s world of rapid technological advancements, businesses are constantly racing to identify and adopt breakthrough solutions that can give them a competitive edge. AI-driven tools like large language models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful engines for uncovering information, scouring vast data sets in seconds, and generating insights that would otherwise take weeks to gather. However, as efficient as these tools are, they can create a false sense of security in the New Product Development arena. Successful technology discovery demands...

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technology market fit
25 Oct

Technology-Market Fit

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Strategy Services, Intellectual Property, Technology, Technology Landscape, Technology Scouting
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Revitalizing Dormant IP: Strategies for Monetizing Overlooked Assets [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text] Get Off Your |IP| Assets and Make some Money! [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]New product research is at the core of all manufacturing companies today, but what most don’t realize is that, regardless of industry, they are sitting on up to 50% of their intellectual property assets with no plans for their use.  This often results when a company pursues technologies specific to one product, and that technology is not a fit, causing it to be shelved with no further plans for its use.  In other words, they are missing out on any opportunity for alternative revenue streams for the company.  Many companies will intentionally sit on their IP assets in order to safeguard themselves from others who may try to pursue similar capabilities, keeping them at bay with the potential for a prior-art lawsuit, but most of these underutilized assets are a result of a...

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26 Sep

Use Your 2024 Budget to Spark Innovation: How Challenge-as-a-Service Prepares You for 2025 Success

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Strategy Services
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Unlock Innovation Now and Implement in 2025 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Maximize Your Year-End Budget with Challenge-as-a-Service [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text]As we enter Q4 of 2024, many companies are looking for smart ways to allocate their remaining budget while setting the stage for success in the new year. Ezassi’s Challenge-as-a-Service (CaaS) offers the perfect opportunity to drive innovation and solve pressing business challenges before the year ends. By launching an ideation challenge now, you can gather insights and develop solutions that are ready for implementation in 2025—ensuring that your investment in innovation delivers long-term value and growth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="10px"][qodef_separator position="center" color="#e2e2e2" width="100%" thickness="2"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="30px"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/4"][vc_single_image image="17607" alignment="right" style="vc_box_shadow_circle"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="3/4"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1727268555103{border-radius: 2px !important;}"]"Launching a new ideation program can be a complex task, but using a Challenge-as-a-Service approach provides a focused, low-risk entry point. It allows companies to test the waters with minimal investment, ensuring they gain both experience and valuable insights before committing to a full-scale rollout." - Dr. Matthew...

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05 Sep

Preparing Your Innovation Budget for 2025: 8 Essential Considerations

by Matthew Heim
in Innovation Challenge, Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Innovation Strategy Services, Open Innovation, Technology Scouting
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move towards the final quarter of 2024, it’s time to start thinking about your innovation budget for 2025. The coming year promises to be a pivotal one, with rapid technological advancements and market shifts requiring a strategic and well-considered approach to R&D investments. Here are eight critical considerations to guide your planning.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_empty_space height="62px"][qodef_list_ordered] Understand Your Market in the Context of 2025 Trends Align Your R&D Strategy with 2025 Corporate Goals Assess Your R&D Capabilities for the Challenges of 2025 Leverage External Collaboration to Stay Competitive Apply the 80/20 Rule to Balance Risk Plan a Realistic 2025 Budget Explore Global Funding Sources for 2025 Plan for the Future with a 2025 Vision [/qodef_list_ordered][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][tnc-pdf-viewer-link text="8 Essentials Innovation Budget Infographic" file="//ezassi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Preparing-Your-Innovation-Budget-for-2025-Infographic.pdf"][vc_single_image image="17672" img_size="full" onclick="custom_link" link="//ezassi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Preparing-Your-Innovation-Budget-for-2025-Infographic.pdf"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="17678" img_size="full" alignment="right"][/vc_column][vc_column width="5/6"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_id="Budget1"]Understand Your Market in the Context of 2025...

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innovation leadership
21 Feb

Innovation Leadership

by Matthew Heim
in Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Innovation Strategy Services, Technology
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Innovation Leadership - Strategies for Executives [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][qodef_blockquote text="Despite a focus on disruptive innovation, collaboration is lacking between business units, and the necessary structures between corporate entities and partners are often missing, causing breakdowns in the innovation process and missed opportunities.   "][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text] The Key to Driving Enterprise Innovation? Strategy and Alignment Starting with Corporate Leadership [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Most companies today consider innovation one of their top-five strategic objectives. The C-Suite holds the key to successful innovation, which can be realized through proper vision and alignment at the top, and then rolled out to the rest of the organization through a coordinated effort.   A sustainable innovation program includes leadership roles (CEO, CTO, CIO, CFO, CMO, COO, CPO, CINO) all dedicated to collaborating and supporting innovational projects across interconnected departments.  Chief Innovation Officer and innovation program strategist, Dr. Matthew Heim, details the priorities of each executive role below.  [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1676652158771{background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}"] Executive Oversight:  Vision, Sponsorship & Accountability [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="22px"][vc_column_text]It is...

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