As one of the largest companies in the world, Verizon understands that growth comes from innovation. In early 2017, with the rollout of nationwide 5G on the horizon, their team knew it needed to do something different. It was time to step beyond being a telecommunications provider and step into a new role – a technology company with a role in shaping the next generation of solutions being built on their platforms. They knew that this transition would take a concerted effort, and would require external support to help them engage with the startup community more effectively.

We set out to build a robust, globally relevant startup ecosystem that capitalized on the existing assets in the business, and took them to the next level. All coLab ecosystem programs start with a strategic assessment – mapping the innovation landscape, working through the value chain, performing a SWOT analysis, and identifying key stakeholders. We identify what the client is already doing, then craft a custom strategy to enhance and expand the current workstreams, tying it all together into an integrated ecosystem building strategy. We then move to develop a network of partners, mentors, and thought leaders, identifying key strategic partners and engaging these partner and mentor networks to advance the ecosystem development goals. Using events and activations, we build the top of the funnel, while leveraging content + amplification to highlight activity and successes to draw in more qualified partners, startups, and mentors.