1. BHiveLab Agency Innovat ion Labs – 10 Steps to Success

2. BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab
ABOUT
B r u n n e r ’s i n n o v a t i o n l a b , BHi v e L a b i s r e c o g n i z e d a s o n e
of the f i rst t rue agency innovat ion labs. At our 2013
indust ry creat ive technology conference sponsored by the
4A’s , we we r e a s k e d t o c h a i r t h e i n n o v a t i o n l a b s e s s i o n
which took a look at var ious successful innovat ion lab
models. Dur ing the 1 hour session there was one
quest ion that was asked repeatedly of the panel –
How do I get started?
This deck contains my personal top 10 steps to star t ing a
successful agency innovat ion lab.

3. DETERMINE YOUR “WHY”
Any successful business needs a
crystal clear vision statement .
By nature of what a lab does,
there is temptat ion to go in
i n f i n i t e d i r e c t i o n s…b ec a u s e yo u
can. Having a clear vision helps
the team stay on point , and also
h e l p s i n d e f i n i n g t h e l a b ’s v a l u e
proposi t ion. Our mission for four
ye a r s h a s b e e n “ i n v e n t i n g n ew
ways to reach the on the go
consumer through next -
generat ion- t e c h n o l o gy” . No
ma t t e r wh a t , we d o n ’ t wa v e r f r om
that .
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

4. PLAN LONG TERM
Technology changes so fast that
i t ’s e a s y t o f o c u s 1 0 0% o n t h e
next shiny object . But thinking 3
to 5 years out wi l l help you dr ive
your st rategic plan. Decide
whether you want to be known as
a thought leader or an inventor?
A revenue producer or a break
even ent i ty or even an
investment? Through the years
our lab has grown into 4 dist inct
focus areas which were born out
of fol lowing a long term plan.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

5. DEFINE SUCCESS
Before pul l ing the t r igger on your
plan, def ine success met r ics.
This wi l l help you talk the
language that the CEO and CFO
want to hear – ROI . We used a
star tup launch canvas which
forces the ROI conversat ion. And
then we bui l t success into the
per formance and incent ive plans
of the team.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

6. SELL THE VISION
Wi thout execut ive buy- in f rom the
v e r y t o p , d o n ’ t e v e n t h i n k a b o u t
i t . L a b s c o s t mo n e y…a t l e a s t
u p f r o n t . L a b s f a i l…o f t e n .
Several agency labs have f izzled
out before gaining much t ract ion.
A commi t ted CEO or top level
execut ive team is cr i t ical .
Clear ly map out the plan – wi th
the pros AND cons – to get the
buy- in needed.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

7. START SMALL
I t ’s e a s y t o b i t e o ff t o o mu c h –
the possibi l i t ies are so endless
i t ’s mi n d b l owi n g . Ge t t i n g a n
ear ly success – for us i t was an
app cal led Tai lgate Champ which
was picked up in the New York
Times – proved that we could
create something interest ing and
news wor thy, and gave us
conf idence to move forward and
scale.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

8. ACT LIKE A STARTUP
Be nimble. Expect fai lure.
Focus on cul ture. Over
communicate. Demand an
ent repreneurial spi r i t . Pivot .
Invent . Celebrate.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

9. APPLY A BUDGET
Staff ing an innovat ion lab wi th
just one person, on average,
costs in excess of $200,000 –
a n d t h a t ’s b e f o r e a n y wo r k i s
done or equipment is purchased.
Successful labs pay this back in
spades, but that can take t ime
and commi tment . Consider
vi r tual teams to star t which can
spread the cost burden across
the enterpr ise.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

10. EMPOWERED LEADERSHIP
Innovat ion labs need to be
nimble. They of ten need to
change course. They requi re
decisiveness. I f you are going to
micro-manage the effor t , or not
empower your lab leadership, be
prepared for a tough road.
Guiderai ls should be set ,
however the team wi l l need
staff ing and budget author i ty at
least to the point where f luid
decisions can be made wi thout
mul t iple layers of approval .
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

11. TEACH
I t ’s a p r i v i l e g e t o g e t t o wo r k o n
the bleeding edge. Not
everyone is cut out to do that ,
b u t t h a t d o e s n ’ t me a n t h a t we
s h o u l d n ’ t t e a c h o t h e r s . B u t
perhaps more impor tant than
t e a c h i n g a b o u t t h e “ s t u ff ” yo u r
lab is working on – teach about
the methods you use to invent .
Share the process. For some,
this approach wi l l create future
lab team members or may even
get appl ied to other areas of the
business.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

12. ACCEPT FAILURE
Fai l ing fast has become a mant ra
of sor ts for the star tup
communi ty. Innovat ion labs need
to adopt that mindset . Our
exper ience is that 90% of our
exper iments go nowhere. But
recognizing that quickly, and
moving on to something more
f rui t ful is the key. Also, see
execut ive buy- in.
BHiveLab | How to Set up an Agency Innovation Lab

13. BHiveLab invents new ways to
creat ively engage the on- the-go
consumer through next -generat ion
technology.
CONTACT
BhiveLab.com
Rick Gardinier
412.995.9611