Innovation Matrix
4 Innovation archetypes - 16 Formats
HUNTER High investment BUILDER
Co-create business Top-down Transform organizations
Innovation
Venture
Structural
Innovation
transforma-
fund partnership lab
tion
Co-
External Internal Center of
development
incubator incubator excellence
track
External focus
Internal focus
Business first
People first
Co-experi-
External Internal Community of
mentation
accelerator accelerator practice
track
Co-creation Design Innovation
Scouting
session sprint training
EXPLORER Low investment EXPERIMENTER
Discover connections Bottom-up Spark interest
About this tool
There is no ‘silver bullet’ in corporate innovation. Different organizations will require other
printsize: 11”x17” innovation capabilities. The Innovation Matrix helps you to create clarity on your current
boardofinnovation.com/tools and future innovation ambitions and activities. Allowing you to make effective decisions.
Innovation Matrix
4 Innovation archetypes - 16 Formats
EXPERIMENTER BUILDER EXPLORER HUNTER
Spark interest Transform organizations Discover connections Co-create business
Internal accelerator Innovation lab External accelerator Venture fund
An incubator separates An Innovation lab is a separate An external incubator is a program A (corporate) venture capital fund
intrapreneurs outside of the entity that hosts internal ventures to support the validation of invests in external opportunities
organization to validate the with high potential before they are external startups. that could create growth outside of
solution fit of ideas. profitable. Key metrics: the core of the organization.
Key metrics: Key metrics: # validated start-ups Key metrics:
# projects accelerators
# successful lab ventures
# commercial collaborations # successful ventures
# intrapreneurs/teams # employees in each venture # new value created
Community of practice Innovation transformation Co-experimentation track Structural partnership
A community of practice is a cross- The Innovation transformation A co-experimentation track is a A structural partnership is a formal
functional group of innovation team is a central group of joint test between 2 or more collaboration between 2
ambassadors. innovation leaders responsible for organizations to validate the companies with the aim to launch
Key metrics: knowledge development. solution fit of an idea. multiple joint ventures.
# practitioners/ambassadors Key metrics: Key metrics:
Key metrics:
# people impacted # transformed processes
# validated pilots
# successful partnerships
# projects launched # business synergies # licensed IP
Design sprint Internal incubator Scouting External incubator
A design sprint is a short track to A sandbox is a virtual or physical Scouting startups is a An external accelerator is a
answer business questions through space to grow internal startups methodological process to identify (physical) environment to support
designing, prototyping, and outside of the core organization relevant startups in your field, the growth and evaluate the value
testing with customers. and validate the market fit. validate their potential and of external start-ups.
Key metrics: Key metrics: engage with their founding Key metrics:
# solution created & selected
# validated ventures
members. # validated start-ups
# business challenges addressed # intrapreneurs/teams Key metrics: # commercial collaborations
# start-ups scouted
# meetings with founders
Innovation training Center of excellence Co-creation session Scouting
A short learning track to grow the A center of excellence is a formal A co-creation session is a short A scouting initiatives aims to
knowledge and interest of group of experts , that coordinates ideation with customers or regularly scan a specific
employees. innovation initiatives, to embed partners to turn mutual problems opportunity area for interesting
Key metrics: innovation in the organization. into ideas. start-ups.
# employees trained Key metrics: Key metrics: Key metrics:
# mature/satisfied participants # innovation experts # ideas co-created & selected
# start-ups scouted
# people impacted # business synergies # lessons shared
Governance models
INTERNAL INTEGRATED SEPARATED DISCONNECTED
Experimentation with new Building capabilities is often an Exploring connections with the Hunting for new business is most
innovation formats is most integrated effort that impacts the outside world needs to happen effective when done disconnected
effective when done within one full organization. Sharing a outside of the core organization. from the core organization. Only
part of the organization. This common practice is most effective When working together new key people from the organization
allows you to do decentralized when done in the central resources, processes and profit should act as investment
learning before scaling it op inside organization. models need to be explored. committee.
the full organization. Lead: Transformation Officer Lead: Open innovation manager Lead: Strategy officer
Lead: Internal Innovation Manager
About this tool
There is no ‘silver bullet’ in corporate innovation. Different organizations will require other
printsize: 11”x17” innovation capabilities. The Innovation Matrix helps you to create clarity on your current
boardofinnovation.com/tools and future innovation ambitions and activities. Allowing you to make effective decisions.
