The VentureFuel Visionaries What's Next Now: Building an Innovation Ecosystem
May 8, 2024
Danielle Cohn, CEO and founding partner of Wave Ventures and ex-head of Comcast Lift Labs, who built corporate startup engagement programs. She recounts designing research-driven accelerators. Conversations cover aligning innovation with business KPIs, turning pilots into commercial deals, sourcing strategy, and the team traits that make innovation stick.
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How Lift Labs Began From One Press Release
- Danielle was recruited to interpret a single press-release line promising space for startups in Comcast's new building and build Lift Labs from scratch.
- She drew on her Philly startup community experience and a blank sheet of paper to create an award-winning accelerator model.
Run Deep Research Before You Launch
- Do research broadly before launching an innovation program, including competitors, models, staffing, and frameworks.
- Danielle built 100-page strategy decks, met peer corporate leaders, and created rubrics to avoid repeating mistakes.
Set Measurable Goals Aligned To The Business
- Define clear program goals and measurable KPIs tied to company priorities (e.g., pilots, acquisitions, talent, brand).
- Danielle lists finding solutions, learning insights, employee engagement, and brand halo as core, shifting by lifecycle.