For my second book I took a look at a number of young entrepreneurs - what they are made of, what trends are they working on, etc. In this presentation I discuss what I learned from them and how these learnings could (and should) be applied to traditional businesses as well (in order to attract and retain young innovative talent). Of course it's better to have the narratives along, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd want this presented 'live' at one of your events...

1. What every business can learn
from young entrepreneurs
frederic de meyer
founder
institute for future insights
frederic@i4fi.com
www.i4fi.com
www.fredericdemeyer.com

2. if you want to know
the future…
look at your children

3. Much of what I will tell you is inspired by these guys
Web entrepreneurs Disruptive business models
Mobile
Social entrepreneurs

4. What do these entrepreneurs have in common?
Start of career 20 yrs

5. What has changed?

6. This constitutes a huge challenge…
More youngsters become entrepreneurs + GenY more mobile and demanding + Talent gap
Innovation
Create the right
Competitiveness: Leanness environment and
organization
War for talent

7. How to address this challenge
Based on the learning from young
entrepreneurs:
• be very very thoughtful with new ideas
• create a co-working environment
Create the right
environment and • cherish failures
organization

8. So you think you value new ideas?

9. The typical lifecycle of an innovative idea in the
corporate world
Idea generation Idea selection Idea celebration

10. The typical lifecycle of an innovative idea in the
corporate world
The caveats:
• Not all the good ideas get elected / implemented
• The least sensational ideas don’t get a chance
• Decision criteria often not clear / arbitrary
=> Most of the time this is demoralizing employees !

11. Let’s give this an entrepreneurial twist
Give anyone in the
company a voting right
‘pitching’ ideas from Turn the idea generators into
anywhere within the intrapreneurs !
organization, true
entrepreneurial style
… or even better:
‘crowdfund’ the ideas

12. Do you have the right
environment to nurture
innovation?

13. How these entrepreneurs deal with their
shortcomings
Co-founder Co-working Mentoring Business Founder
Angels Institute
Twitspark v v v
Engagor v
Shallibuy v v
Carambla v v v
Tapcrowd v v v
BoI v v
Outspot v
Brainspot
Ecoworks v
Youbridge v v
CTG v

14. So, based on this, why not…
Stimulate ideas that were Stimulate co-working Stimulate project-based
‘co-founded’ across spaces across divisions mentorship
divisions

15. Failure is not an option !
…or is it?

16. Even the best sometimes fail
…or pivot

17. Don’t underestimate the power of failure…

18. Don’t underestimate the power of failure…

19. Don’t underestimate the power of pivoting

20. Wrapping up
• failure is not only an option, it’s a must…
because that’s the way these young people innovate
• create an environment of co-working, co-
founding and mentorship
because that’s the way they deal with their shortcoming
• be serious about the ideas in your company
because that’s the way you will keep them motivated

21. Some homework
How would this advice from young entrepreneurs apply to your company?
• If you feel you have everything under control this just
means you’re not going fast enough and that you learn
nothing;
• Check regularly if you are ashamed of what you
delivered six months ago. If this is not the case it
means that you didn’t improve;
• Follow your passion. Do what you are good at and
delegate all the rest;
• Include different internal and external stakeholders in
your ideas and strategy;
• Be different;
• Have fun!

22. The future cannot be predicted
…but it can be made !
(ancient African saying)
www.i4fi.com
www.fredericdemeyer.com
additional questions: frederic@i4fi.com

23. Discover our services…
° thought-provoking speeches for your strategic planning session or industry event
° training on how to manage a megatrend exercise in your company
° assist you all the way in conducting an in-house megatrend exercise
° audit your business in how future-proof you –and your competitors- are in the
light of megatrends
website www.i4fi.com
blog www.fredericdemeyer.com
mail frederic@i4fi.com
Phone +32 478 68 13 08
for useful long-term planning tools: http://www.i4fi.com/useful_tools.html

24. Are you prepared to make the maximum
out of long-term trends?
“Frederic offers a unique insight of how global changes
translate into new business opportunities. This book is an
essential tool for any future-oriented manager or
entrepreneur and anyone involved in innovation strategies”
Philippe De Ridder, co-founder, Board of Innovation
“Designing and implementing a good strategy is quite a
challenge. In an increasingly complex world, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to recognize the core from the noise.
This book on megatrends will help you do this. It will give
you the necessary insights to focus on the themes that are
crucial to the future of your company. A must read!”
Jeroen De Flander, co-founder, The Performance
Factory, author of Strategy Execution Heroes
In English on
click here “This excellent book is a comprehensive overview of the
major trends and also offers a methodology to better assess
the future reality and master its consequences. The author
provides an essential guide for any strategy exercise”
In Dutch at Peter Corijn, Vice-President, Procter & Gamble
click here

25. What everybody can learn from young
Flemish entrepreneurs (in Dutch)
“Dit boek geeft een knap inzicht in de ideeën, de personen en de ambities
van jonge starters, en ik hoop dat het nog meer mensen 'goesting' geeft
om eraan te beginnen.”
Bart Becks, Founder SonicAngel, FilmAngel en Angel.me, Voorzitter
IBBT
“Starters hebben het voordeel dat ze in een volkomen ander universum
kunnen denken. Ze kleuren niet zozeer buiten de lijntjes, ze trekken
gewoonweg nieuwe lijnen in niet eerder verkende dimensies.”
Jo Libeer, gedelegeerd bestuurder Voka, Vlaams netwerk van
ondernemingen.
“Ik ga ervan uit dat zowel dit boek, als al onze acties, van onze jongeren
slagkrachtige ondernemers zal maken.”
Philippe Rogge, General Manager Microsoft België en Luxemburg
“Een bemoedigende, inspirerende staalkaart van wat reilt en zeilt binnen
jong ondernemend Vlaanderen. Een impliciete oproep tot meer
verantwoordelijkheidszin en trendbreuk in "risicoschuw' Vlaanderen.”
Filip Tack, Founder en Senior Vice-President, Nomadesk
“De voorbeelden in dit boek tonen aan dat ondernemerschapszin wel
Now available at degelijk aanwezig is bij jongeren. En wie weet wel nog meer dan bij
voorgaande generaties.Ik hoop dat velen zich kunnen inspireren aan de
click here
positieve voorbeelden in dit boek.”
Caroline Ven, Gedelegeerd Bestuurder, VKW