Yves Pigneur

Nice visit of the HUB SIngapore with Khairu and interesting discussion with Grace Sai (founder) and Katrin Andrews (Operations wrangler).

“HUB Singapore is a home for people who want to use entrepreneurial ideas to create sustainable impact. We are curators of spaces, community and content for inspiration, action and collaboration. (more), HUB SIngapore is member of the global HUB (web), one in Zurich (web)!

The 2012 teams showcased their solutions and business models for the selected projects they tackle with the last 4 months, corresponding to brackish water filtration (EcoWater), aquaculture and fish farming (Tasty Fish), processing at the source of fish fillets (EZFilet), fast potato-harvesting machine (Quick Harvest), and cooling materials for buildings (Frugal Coolers) . I met these 5 great teams (mix of students in engineering & business) in October when I was providing them with the basics in business model design (see post): nice to see the evolution of these projects and the spectacular prototypes.

The Frugal innovation lab is about applying creativity and pulling together technologies to solve an outstanding specific problem and doing it frugally (see post). Prototypes are developed by working closely with customers in the emerging markets. At the same time the teams create business models and test their viability.

meeting with Fang Gang, associate professor at Hangzhou Dianzi University (web), one of my co-author and PhD student in Lausanne (graduated in 2009):

see Fang, G., Pigneur, Y. (2010) The configuration and performance of international innovation networks: some evidence from the Chinese software industry, International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 7(2), 167-187 (PDF)

a talk, meeting and discussion with Chinese media about the BMGEN story, the business model innovation and design thinking for designing business models, organised by Louis Yuan and China Machine Press, the publisher of the Chinese version of BMGEN.

long Skype discussion with Boris Fritscher on how to add indicators and calculations on a business models, with the same power as a spreadsheet but with a stronger and direct connection with the 9 building blocs of the business model canvas.

Also related to the discussion we had with Pieter from Amazon Web Services (see previous post)

We also addressed the issue of business model evolution and chatted on how to define a “business model algebra” with its possible operators. More later …

Business Design Summit, an exclusive event for visionary leaders, executives,entrepreneurs, and consultants at Classic Remise Berlin on April 19-20, 2013,

WHY IS THIS EVENT HAPPENING?

“People improving todays businesses and building tomorrows need new, practical, strategies to deal with today’s brutal new business environment. A handful of visionary business thinkers, educators, authors, and world class entrepreneurs know this. Separately, that’ve been crafting a new business toolbox and playbook. What if all that knowledge, experience, and all those tools came together? … (more)

received, read and analysed the manuals sent by Mark Lundy, related to the “LINK Methodology: A Participatory Guide to Business Models that Link Smallholders to Markets” (web), original, appealing and well-designed methodology, inspired by the BMGEN canvas. Mark is senior researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CATI), at Cali, Colombia

“The LINK methodology argues that inclusive business practices in an era of tightening global supplies and natural resource limitations, such as agriculture, is simply good business. Well-managed, inclusive businesses have to potential to create a win-win situation: farmers gain access to markets, knowledge, and technology and increase their income and resilience. While buyers – beyond considerations of CSR and the creation of ’ethical products’ – are better able to source key raw materials to their specifications at a competitive cost … (more)

The LINK Methodology (intro) proposes four key tools: 1) Value Chain Map, 2) Business Model Canvas, 3) New Business Model Principles, and 4) Prototype Cycle. The case studies and illustrations of social business models are great. Several tools are based on the business model canvas, revisiting some concepts (key tool 2), such as a chain of business models. I am not convinced by all of the extensions proposed in the manuals but the questions are good and should generate nice discussions on eco-systems of business models.

crowdsourcing funding …

Erik Wallin is launching the “The startup adventure”. The Erik’s project aims at sharing and collecting knowledge about the incubation processes and the culture in and around some of the best incubators in the world. His journey would last for six months in 2013, researching one incubator one month at a time.

Talk, panel and conversation with Saul Singer, a nice storyteller, author of the bestselling Start-Up Nation; an event organised by NUS Enterprise (NEC) and a panel moderated by Prof. Wong Poh-Kam. The reading of his book had been suggested last year by a friend of mine, Michael Bloch.

“Start-up Nation” addresses the trillion dollar question: How is it that Israel ’ a country of 7.5 million, only 64 years old, in a constant state of conflict since its founding, with no natural resources’produces more start-up companies than large nations like Japan, India, Korea, Canada, and the UK? How is it that Israel has, per person, attracted over twice as much venture capital investment as the US and thirty times more than Europe? more

talk and discussion on business models and design thinking at Design Singapore Council (web), invited by Thierry Do and Jawn Lim.

“The mission of the DesignSingapore Council is to develop Singapore into a global city for design where design innovation drives economic growth and enhances the quality of life. The DesignSingapore Council promotes and develops the design industries as a creative cluster, encourages the adoption of design by enterprises, and nurtures a climate of co-creation and innovation through design … more

Thierry Do (linkedIn) is also an adjunct Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore. He is co-developing with the “Engineering Design and Innovation Centre (EDIC)” team a design-centric curriculum for the faculty that aims to equip all engineering students with design thinking skills to help spark design-driven innovation.

Dr Jawn Lim (linkedIn) is Doctor of Design & Technology at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and was trained as an architect and project manager while working at Frank Gehry and other architect studios.

The talk aims at learning about and applying the visual business model canvas to describe, challenge, and design business models. The concepts are illustrated by examples of business model innovation. Design thinking attitude and techniques are emphasized for exploring, prototyping and testing business models.