The edge | A journey towards entrepreneurship

Traditionally, consumers have been brought into the innovation process primarily to validate new product concepts. On the other hand, pioneers of design thinking are now soliciting consumer insights and ideas to jump-start the fuzzy front end of the innovation process. According to a Business Week report, Getting good consumer insight is the fourth most cited obstacle to innovation for the world's most innovative enterprises. The old methodology of trawling through quantitative and focus group research reports is outdated, and the idea that 'consumers can't innovate' is being turned upside down. Conventional consumer research is no longer enough to create a competitive edge. This approach has forced many enterprises to think more creatively about how and when they engage with their customers. Increasingly, businesses are trying more radical and innovative approaches to gain upfront ideas and inspiration from consumers rather than just falling back on traditional methods. Michael Aechtler, Head of Innovation Services at Drees & Sommer Michael Aechtler has been Head of Innovation Services at Drees & Sommer SE since February 2019. He is also the founder of Next Entrepreneurs Organization gUG, in which Generation Z develops innovative solutions for the future together with startups. Previously, Michael Aechtler was Head of the Startups & Young Business Committee at the IHK Region Stuttgart. He also gained experience as a consultant at MOSAIQ MEDIA GmbH and LINGNER Consulting New Media GmbH. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/piraiee/message

Dear friends, We planned a workshop on cultured meat, plant-based meat, and insect-based proteins with food, drinks, and great networking before having our guests on the stage. Due to covid-19, followed by the lockdown and social distancing, we moved an online version to a clearcut podcast style. You can tune in and listen at the place of your convenience, add a voice message to the podcast, and many more. This is the first virtual edition. Your feedback and comments can help us make it better and more appealing to you. Ola Lazar, the founder of FoodForward FoodTech accelerator, is our guest for the 30th edition to discuss "The future of planet-saving plant-based eating. Ushering plant-based food into the mainstream ". Ola is an entrepreneur, foodie, former food writer, cookbook author, and tv host. Ola founded Gastronauci.pl, a food review site that reached over 1.1 million users monthly with no paid marketing, then successfully sold her startup to Zomato. Currently, she is the founder of the FoodForward FoodTech accelerator. They aim to facilitate cooperation between startups and exciting ideas for using technology in the food industry. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/piraiee/message