Solutions for Innovation

Crowdpolicy has an integrated approach to boosting innovation in businesses, organizations and bodies in the public and private sector. Our approach aims to enhance the competitiveness and extroversion of these bodies, the transition to quality entrepreneurship based on innovation, the integrated digital transition and the creation of added value with the engagement of the crowd. The methodology we follow is based on the gradual implementation of the proposed solutions, the continuous assessment of the pilot applications and the multiple repetitions until the result is achieved. The approach of Crowdpolicy to boosting innovation consists of the following: Creation and enhancement of various business innovation ecosystems (e.g. fintech, agrotech, civictech, insurtech, martech, IoT, health etc.). Creation of labs (citylabs for Municipalities) or Innolabs (for businesses) on ideation and teams development. Implementation of lean product development methodologies to develop products and services, as well as agile and scrum methodologies to develop new software products and services. Implementation of lean startup methodologies to support new teams, new businesses, startups and social enterprises. Development of social economy models. Organization of innovation competitions Crowdhackathons. Development of MVPs for teams, startups, businesses and bodies MakeyourMVP. Design, support and operation of accelerators and structures for the maturing of teams and ideas. Support of the processes by the Crowd.

Bootcamps are workshops during which the participants (e.g. executives of a bank, candidate teams for an accelerator etc.) are invited to solve a problem in a structured way with the use of modern development methodologies such as lean, design thinking, agile etc.

The goal is to organize the participants in groups other than those within an organization, enable them to familiarise with new technologies and ideas and learn how to work using new collaborative lean methodologies. This is the first step in order for an organization’s executives to come together and grasp modern methodologies for developing business models and products, thus promoting innovation.

During the bootcamp, the participants follow a specific way of dealing with the problem they wish to solve. Based on criteria such as human needs, a technologically feasible implementation and business sustainability, they find out what features and attributes their product or service should have in order to deal with the problem in an efficient and effective way.

The main principles of the methodological approach are:

1. Understanding the problem
2. Observing the users
3. Understanding the findings – results
4. Generating new ideas
5. Creating a prototype – experimenting
6. Testing, implementing, improving

Bootcamps are addressed to executives from private and public organizations as a first step towards enabling the organization’s strategy to be more agile, aiming at promoting innovation and effectiveness through sustainable models.

You can see the presentation of a be finnovative bootcamp program here.

Crowdpolicy organizes the innovation competitions Crowdhackathon aiming at the creation of prototype applications and business models.

These actions are “marathons for the development of applications” on various sectors of economy. The marathons are attended by young people, developers, designers, analysts and anyone who has ideas and suggestions to address practical problems or create a pilot innovative product or service while public and private sector bodies are engaged by providing the participants with open data they can use.

During a crowdhackathon, the participants discuss ideas to be implemented with special mentors involved in the process. The proposals are evaluated and the most popular ones are selected to be implemented as web and smartphone applications that can be further developed. The applications that result from the competition are available as opensource so that they can be used by any interested individual or public body.

The crowd plays a vital role in all the processes of the marathon; this is why it is called crowdhackathon.

For more information and details about all the crowdhackathons and the winners you can visit the following link: https://www.crowdhackathon.com/?en

The Innovation Lab is an initiative that promotes innovation and sustainable development. The goal is to develop innovative business ideas and transform them into profitable outward-looking businesses. At the same time, it enables the development of the ecosystem of youth entrepreneurship through various actions so that young people are encouraged to acquire skills and evolve ideas that can transform new businesses.

The lab brings together new businesses, young people with ideas and vision, experienced business executives, and networks the market with fresh and innovative ideas.

During the labs, the participants follow a specific methodological approach in order to deal with the  problem they wish to solve and ensure the best of results.

The main principles of the methodological approach are:

1. Understanding the problem
2.  Observing the users
3. Understanding the findings – results
4. Generating new ideas
5. Creating a prototype – experimenting
6. Testing, implementing, improving

The participants enjoy certain services that guarantee the success of the enterprise. More specifically, there is

• Branding and community awareness
• Venue and program setup and operation
• Community activation and ecosystem engagement
• Acceleration cycles of 3,6, or 12 months (tailor made lean, design thinking mentoring)
• Open events
• Platform to support teams, startups, scale-up companies or mature companies to use and integrate APIs
• Pilots in segments, ie tourism, municipalities, transport etc
• 3 rollout projects per year
• 360 management support and collaboration with internal, external and international partners