- Apr 7, 2009
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- Joe
As many of us here at DR know we're in an innovation desert lately. One cause is “Vendors who are skilled at consolidation, are not at innovation”. I addition to this consolidation phase we're in, I've noticed many startups in various stages, trying to come to market, but stalled on the runway.
@Matt Lasher and I were deep in a 4 hr strategy meeting and it sparked a thought of building an Innovation Lab for our automotive retail space. I’d like your thoughts.
Mission Statement: "Identify Problems to Fix, Don't Build Products to Find a Problem"
I see the Lab concept as an independent org, free from constraints that slow innovation. I see the Lab creating & growing its own ideas internally. I also see the lab as an incubator, investing in startups & assisting them in whatever they are lacking.
This week, I’m working on the business model. I see a collection of investors, preferably car dealers, investing and assisting via rapid feedback or instore testing. The network of dealer/investors plus a host of startup services should provide hyper-acceleration to cash flow positive status that can't be found anywhere else. Think a quasi Y Combinator for autos.
One of the great challenges for the lab is to create an environment that attracts talent. We know “selling cars is a team sport“, so is innovation. Not only will the Lab want to recruit talent, it’ll need to inventory the talent that our investors bring.
ANYONE with a high interest in this concept, feel free to message me directly.
More as it comes.
@Matt Lasher and I were deep in a 4 hr strategy meeting and it sparked a thought of building an Innovation Lab for our automotive retail space. I’d like your thoughts.
Mission Statement: "Identify Problems to Fix, Don't Build Products to Find a Problem"
I see the Lab concept as an independent org, free from constraints that slow innovation. I see the Lab creating & growing its own ideas internally. I also see the lab as an incubator, investing in startups & assisting them in whatever they are lacking.
This week, I’m working on the business model. I see a collection of investors, preferably car dealers, investing and assisting via rapid feedback or instore testing. The network of dealer/investors plus a host of startup services should provide hyper-acceleration to cash flow positive status that can't be found anywhere else. Think a quasi Y Combinator for autos.
One of the great challenges for the lab is to create an environment that attracts talent. We know “selling cars is a team sport“, so is innovation. Not only will the Lab want to recruit talent, it’ll need to inventory the talent that our investors bring.
ANYONE with a high interest in this concept, feel free to message me directly.
More as it comes.