Unleashing Startup
Innovation
Spinning the Flywheel
November 4, 2022
In Person in Silicon Valley
November 4, 2022
In Person in Silicon Valley
Take on the future through startup partnership!
To withstand and thrive in uncertainty, your company needs to peer into the future and get ready for it to arrive. Partnering with startups makes sense as a way to mitigate the cost and risk of experimentation, and to take advantage of entrepreneurial mindsets and energy. But how to go about startup partnership given corporate strategy, structure and culture? There’s a lot of friction at the start, … what if you could inject enough energy in the right way to move through the sticky phase and get the startup innovation flywheel spinning?
For this annual event, the Corporate Accelerator Forum curates thoughtful practitioners who lead serious approaches to startup innovation, at all different stages of spinning the flywheel. Come learn with and from peers in the field!
Unleashing Startup Innovation | Spinning the Flywheel focuses on corporate-startup partnership. InnoLead’s West Coast Impact conference (November 2 and 3) focuses on corporate innovation in general. Chances are you need both! To make it easier to join both conferences, attendees of Unleashing Startup Innovation receive a 20% discount to Impact, and Impact attendees receive a 20% discount to Unleashing Startup Innovation. Register for either conference first to get started!
For six years, CAF has worked with large corporates who partner with startups in order to move faster. In 2022 we created Click | the Startup Accelerator for Corporate Partnership, to help startups partner with corporates so they can go bigger. The evening before our November 4 event, join us for a friendly, low-stakes gathering of startups and corporates. Expand your network, have fun, see how the other half lives, and ask your burning questions in a non-transactional setting.
Who you will meet at Unleashing Startup Innovation
Our intimate gathering is curated to focus on corporate innovators who work with startups. Most attendees are on the journey of corporate-startup collaboration: considering, starting, operating or winding down a startup partnership program. We are industry-agnostic. In addition to active practitioners, you’ll also meet key experts from the innovation ecosystem. We keep the numbers low so you’re certain to make a real connection with everyone.
Companies You May Meet
Discussion Hosts
Global Head of Illumina For Startups
CEO Corporate Accelerator Forum
Builder of high impact Cross-Industry ecosystems
Senior Director & President/CEO Emeritus of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute.
CEO & Founder at JONES
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF INNOLEAD
Agenda
Agenda subject to change, watch this space!
Spinning the Flywheel – A flywheel stores energy in kinetic form — in other words, once you put energy into it by making it spin, it won’t want to stop. A body in motion tends to remain in motion. How do you get the flywheel of startup innovation going, and how do you keep it in spin?
We begin our programming promptly at 10 AM. We hope you’ll join early for some extra connection time.
9 AM Optional
Informal social time, light breakfast on site
10 AM
Programming starts promptly — Understanding the Landscape
11:00 AM
Discussions — Where does the kinetic energy come from?
12:00 PM
Lock In the Learning
12:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 PM
Discussions — How do we know it’s working?
2:30 PM
Lock in the Learning
3:00 PM
Break
3:15 PM
Discussions — How do we keep the wheel spinning?
4:15 PM
Lock in the Learning
4:45 PM
Relax with a glass of something nice! Self-organized dinner to follow.
What to Expect at Unleashing Startup Innovation
Carefully crafted based on the science of learning, each discussion round at Unleashing Startup Innovation centers around a compelling theme. You’ll choose between one of three conversations, each hosted by an innovation leader with a powerful story, challenge or framework to share. You’ll speak as much as you listen, and you’ll hone your ideas against strong minds grappling with similar challenges in different settings. The Chatham House Rule creates space to speak freely about reality on the ground. You’re participating the entire time for a matchless learning experience.
Practical, field-tested tools
Real-world stories
High-touch, “sticky” learning environment
Rich visual reporting
Our curated event is by and for corporate innovators who work with startups. Participant input enhances the event. It’s our standard practice to prepare for this intimate experience by getting to know every attendee. Once you register, we will reach out to schedule a brief onboarding conversation so we understand your needs, goals and experience.
As always, you’ll find:
Social time for one-on-ones and small groups
Carefully crafted interaction with the full community
Dive deep into specific strategic considerations with the guidance of seasoned practitioners
Everyone in the room is familiar with the front-lines of corporate-startup collaboration and innovation
Each discussion host is selected for the power of their story, challenge, framework or opportunity
We capture the most important findings graphically for max retention on your part and max value for your stakeholders
Pricing
Price sensitive? If you’re in corporate and engaging with startups, we want to see you. Contact us for discount and volunteer opportunities.
Contact us
CAF is a membership-based community by and for corporate innovators who work with startups. CAF Members are the heartbeat of Unleashing Startup Innovation and receive integrated benefits at no additional charge. If you collaborate with startups from within a large corporation, or if its time for you to do that, we invite you to apply for membership.
Need a taste first? Pay the a la carte rate above and we’ll apply it to your Annual Membership when you join within one quarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Members and experts collectively have decades of experience, and we’d be delighted to include you. If discussion and idea-testing among seasoned voices appeals to you, you’re in the right place.
Yes! The CAF community and offerings can help you prepare so when the time comes you can hit the ground running. And in the meantime, your questions and awareness of the landscape can contribute to the group’s thinking.
With no experience and no current connection to a corporate doing this work, you won’t be able to contribute much or make much immediate use of what you learn at Unleashing Startup Innovation. That said, we have a limited number of spots for volunteers — this is a high-touch role that allows you to meet and support the community. Contact us to inquire!
This is a no-sales environment. If you’re coming to contribute, it’s a possibility! Please contact us to inquire!
Companies we have worked with
We want to hear from you!