Welcome to the First Edition of Huge Thing’s Newsletter! ??

We’re excited to bring you the very first edition of our monthly newsletter, where we’ll be serving up the latest updates, insights, and a peek into what’s happening in the world of innovation!

Each edition will consist of two parts: Quick Bites, a short news section to keep you in the loop, and Brain Bites, featuring in-depth articles written by our experts.

In this edition, we’re excited to share the story of Magda Stachowiak , our Innovation Manager, who’s behind the Poznań edition of the Innovation Breakfasts. Ever wondered why we host these events? Let's dive in!

Sharing knowledge is something we’re passionate about! In this section of our newsletter, we’ve included a small section in our newsletter where you’ll find some insights and interesting facts delivered by our team, as well as from other market experts from around the world ???

?? VC funding for the blue economy sector has quadrupled over the past 8 years and, according to Dealroom data, it’s one of the markets seeing the greatest growth in investor interest. However, it still holds a small share in the startup ecosystem, with investments totaling around $3 billion in 2023. For more insights on #BlueEconomy, check out Mateusz Szymański ’s article for MamStartup ?? https://tiny.pl/5-mchxy6

?? Although the CVC market in our region is far less developed than VC, it holds significant growth potential. To provide the necessary knowledge, we at Huge Thing organized the first edition of the CVC Academy, and recruitment for the second edition is starting soon. You can read more about this, among other things, in an interview with Tomasz Czapliński , Managing Partner at SpeedUp Group, for MamBiznes ?? https://tiny.pl/539ysbd3

?? It's no secret that the IT department in many companies is often seen as a barrier to implementing new ideas. But does it have to be that way? Rossmann proves that innovation can start and grow right within the IT department! How did they make it happen, and what were the results? You can hear all about it in the latest episode of our podcast, Huge Talks by Huge Thing ?? https://tiny.pl/ddv7js3r

?? Last chance to apply for the Female Founders Fundraising Academy, supported by the #Visa Foundation! Get 8 weeks of hands-on workshops, 1-on-1 mentorship, and VC speed dating. Plus, connect with the CEE startup network and join the Female Founders Club. Find out more details and apply! ?? https://hugething.vc/fffa/

Sharing Experiences and Knowledge Among Innovative Companies ??

Collaboration is part of our DNA at Huge Thing. And maybe it’s surprising, but we don’t just share knowledge and experience with our clients, but also with our broad network of contacts. Exchanging ideas might seem like an unusual approach compared to the traditional approach, but it brings numerous benefits for both companies and the entire market.?

So, what’s in it for us when we step outside our own walls? ??

For starters, faster innovation. Sharing experiences allows for the effective identification of best practices and the creation of innovative solutions. Collaborating with other companies, including competitors, provides access to fresh perspectives and new ideas — things that are hard to come by when you’re working in a bubble. Learning from competitors' mistakes and successes (lessons learned) helps organizations avoid costly errors and shorten the time to market for new products and services, which is a competitive advantage in dynamic industries.

It’s also about better risk management and solving problems together. Competitors often deal with the same challenges, like navigating new regulations or responding to market shifts. By sharing insights on these issues, can help better prepare for potential crises and collectively tackle them faster and more effectively. Whether it’s through joint lobbying efforts or exchanging tips on adapting to new rules, working together helps everyone stay ahead of the curve.?

On top of that, exchanging best practices helps to streamline processes and — again — boost efficiency. By seeing firsthand which tools, technologies, and strategies work best, companies can quickly adopt and integrate them into their own operations. Plus, looking outside your own industry, organizations can also draw inspiration from innovations implemented in other industries, often leading to unique and unexpected solutions in their own environments.

In the end, even though it might seem a bit paradoxical, collaborating with competitors often benefits not just the companies involved but their customers and the entire market. Instead of fighting for the biggest slice of the pie, we work together to make the pie bigger for everyone.

Building a Community of Innovators ??

We've made it a regular practice to organize events like the Poznań and Warsaw Innovation Breakfasts, bringing together innovators from a wide range of industries — from finance, retail, and energy to fashion and pharmaceuticals. These gatherings break down boundaries and foster open exchange, offering a chance to explore the culture of innovation and learn how to nurture it through process improvements, technological shifts, and social changes. They provide insights into how others tackle challenges, offering inspiration that we can bring back to our own work.

The upcoming Poznań Innovation Breakfast will take place tomorrow, on October 1st, followed by the Warsaw event in November. Recognizing the benefits of collaboration, this time we invited Sense Consulting — a company that’s usually our competitor — to co-organize the Poznań edition of the Innovation Breakfast.?

Our experience shows that these events help us build genuine connections. Many of us at Huge Thing found our way here through the relationships we’ve built at gatherings like this, and it’s the same for our clients and partners.?

So if you’re an innovator interested in being part of this exchange, we’d love for you to join us! Reach out to me at [email protected]

What are your thoughts on collaborating and sharing knowledge with competitors? Let us know in the comments!

We are curious what would you love to see us share next time? ?? Fill out the form and let us know your thoughts! ?? https://forms.gle/ieYeYRoBgtPy4hTc9

See you soon!