What is it

Through the White Label Innovation Program, we enable you to conceptualise, create and operate your own Innovation Program.

The method

The XO.company proprietary software, alongside strategies, frameworks, communication channels and a global network, will ensure the desired output.

The Goal

The goal is up to you. It can be to promote your organisation within a specific ecosystem, create a network, collect data, source to a program or as a lead generator.

CASE: GLOBAL STARTUP AWARDS

XO.company has founded and operated the world’s largest independent startup competition since 2012. It collects more than 35,000 nominations per year across all continents, divided into 19 regions.

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Value creation

An XO White Label Innovation Program is always built around a competition, which functions as the heart of the program from which you build additional elements that serve your agenda and goals.

Use the program as a vehicle to collect data from the competition. Collect data from all the types of stakeholders defined by the program, such as startups who participate to be selected for a program, the jury members who might be ranking them, e-mails or Facebook IDs from the public voting (if public voting is part of the framework), and more.
Create quality networks based and relationships between the stakeholders from your program and your organisation by inviting them to the program in different roles. Use the communication channels and associated event activity to strengthen the relationships and create ambassadors for the program and your organisation.
Create a brand with a strong narrative as a communication vehicle to reach target groups outside the reach of your main organisation, serving an internal strategy. Position the program brand next to your main brand or position the program brand as a more independent brand.
Use the communication channels from the program brand to communicate offers and specific narratives directly related to the program or messages you want to expose to the program's network.
Combine and, if needed, adapt your existing sales funnels to the networks, datasets (mailing lists) and the communication channels of the program to increase sales.
Use the program to create awareness and to attract the exact innovation ecosystem stakeholders you are interested in for different types of event activities.
Use the program to source startups, ideas, and talent for your corporate or governmental venture-building program.
Get access to investment opportunities through the data from startups collected from your competition.
Use the program to source the right leads to participate in an accelerator program as well as other stakeholders you would like to involve in the accelerator program.

Driven by software

XO.company has developed proprietary software to support the success of your innovation program. It is the foundation of a successful innovation program and can handle user management, data collection, data export, ranking of participants, public voting module and more.

How it works in steps

Below is an overview of the different phases and elements of a White Label Innovation Program.

How elements are named, such as stakeholders, can be unique. For example, if the competition for the program includes a rating process done by individuals, these individuals could be called experts, juries etc.

Each program can contain all elements from all phases or a selection of the elements.

STEP 1

Devoplememt of the program

The overall strategy and goals for the program. This process involves workshops designed to cover all aspects.
The creation of a competition framework that serves the agenda of the overall strategy, such as:
- Designing the categories and criteria from which you will source applicants.
- How to select the finalists, winners, Etc.
- What data to collect?
- What types of stakeholders to get involved as ambassadors, partners, jury members, sponsors/clients?
- How many rounds for the selection process?
- Should the program involve elements such as public voting?
Setting up XO IT System based on the competition framework.
The creation of all the needed brand elements to support the strategy of the program.
- Narrative and storytelling
- Visual identity
- Website
- Communication channels
- Creation of marketing plans and campaigns for the duration of the program.
- Creation of marketing content.
The development of event activities and/or programs where the participants and stakeholders will be included.
- Event activities can be exhibitions, award shows, dinners etc.
- Programs can be accelerator programs, workshops etc.

STEP 2

Execution of the program

- Sourcing startups, ideas or projects (depending on the context) to achieve the data collection and participation goals.
- Onboarding and managing success of stakeholders for the competition such as ambassadors, jury members, ecosystem partners etc.
- Posting and engagement on the social media channels created for the program.
- Updating websites
- Monthly reporting on marketing efforts.
- Growth hacking through engagement with all stakeholders and participants of the competition with the aim of making them share content. For example, by sending them packages to share.
- Creating and managing ad spending campaigns.
Dedicated inbound support function for all stakeholders in the competition.
- Finalising operational details of the planned end event activity and/or end activity in the form of an accelerator or similar..
- Inviting stakeholders.
- Onboarding vendors.

STEP 3

Execution of the end-activity

Execution of the program activities, such as an accelerator program for the selected participants.
Execution of the event activities, such as an award show for the selected participants.

STEP 4

Adjusting the program before next season

- Organising and analysing data collected from the competition and marketing efforts, such as
  - Startup / innovation data
  - Data on individuals
  - Target groups from public voting
  - Mailing lists created from public voting and the competition
Use the data to create meaningful reports for internal and external use.
Based on the gained insights, we adjusted the overall concept and goals for the program.