CALL FOR MONEY: A Social Media Service for Corporate Innovators

We live in the era of openness so here comes a straight-out call for funding for a social media service that can help corporate innovation units extract value out of social media.

What is the challenge?

Social media plays an increasingly important role when it comes to corporate innovation. Yet, most companies do not know how to use social media tools in relation to innovation and as a result they miss out on benefits such as:

• a better understanding of market or technology trends and insights

• a better feedback loop on existing products and services

• faster development cycles for new products and services

• improved marketing, promotion capabilities for new projects

• increased collaboration on and sharing of ideas and solutions

• an improved innovation mindset and skills for your employees

• better access to new, potential external innovation partners

• better relationships with existing external innovation partners

• an increased perception of your company being viewed as innovative

• increased traffic and interaction on your innovation websites and other channels

This is a long list. Can your company afford to miss out on this?

What is my project about?

I want to create a service / tool that helps companies extract value out of social media in their open innovation efforts. The service will help companies on four key elements:

1) educate employees on social media tools

2) identify and understand innovation interest groups

3) interact and collaborate virtually with these groups

4) promote corporate efforts on this

You can get an idea in this blog post: The Innovation Interest Graph: New Ideas for Bringing Better Innovation to Market Faster

What do I need? What are the benefits?

I am looking for corporate innovation units willing to support the development of a beta version with a contribution of USD 6,000 each.

In return, each contributor gets the opportunity to beta-test the service and make suggestions that are relevant to their needs. This will be a great way for employees to learn about social media. Furthermore, contributing companies get these benefits:

• A private half-day session on open innovation meets social topics and issues with me. (The session is free of charge, but I do ask you to cover my travel costs.).

• Exposure – if relevant and wanted – on the 15inno.com blog and in my upcoming book on this topic. The book is due spring 2012.

• Access to exclusive LinkedIn group where we discuss issues on the topic.

In short, contributing companies not only get an opportunity to learn and to be inspired on how to use social media in innovation efforts. They also get new channels to promote and brand their corporate innovation efforts.

Next step?

Please forward an email to stefanlindegaard@me.com if you want to discuss how your company can get involved in this project.