Is the Crowd a Disruption or an Opportunity for Large Companies?

Many are excited about the new collaborative economy, where people use common technologies to get what they need from each other. This has created disruptions for some industries, but overall, holds much business opportunity for progressive companies. Progressive companies can glean greater loyalty through crowdfunding, … Continue readingIs the Crowd a Disruption or an Opportunity for Large Companies?

3D Printing Business Models Spell Ecosystem Change

Above: MakerBot 3-D printer from MakerBot Flickr account. This blog is focused on the relationship between large companies and their communities (customers, partners, and more) as it relates to new technologies. Emerging markets generate a desire for large companies to integrate new technologies to scope … Continue reading3D Printing Business Models Spell Ecosystem Change

What 3D Printing Means to Corporations

3D design by Virtox, Dutch 3D printer designer, featured on Thingiverse. There’s no shortage of press and media attention focused on 3D printing, ranging from manufacturing metal guns to restoration of human facial parts or jet engine parts to Victoria’s Secret angel wings.  Beyond the press coverage, … Continue readingWhat 3D Printing Means to Corporations

The Five Ways Companies Can Leverage 3D Printing –and Avoid Disruption

Above photo: Showcase collection of intricate and moveable 3D Printed goods in acrylic, stainless steel. Designs by famed Dutch designer, Virtox, using Shapeways, 3-D printing-as-a-service and marketplace of designers. One Liner:  The crowd is becoming like a company in the Maker Movement. 3D printing rapidly … Continue readingThe Five Ways Companies Can Leverage 3D Printing –and Avoid Disruption

Shapeways Delivers 3D Printing as a Service, Reshaping Business Processes

An assortment of 3D printed items, accompanied by Duann Scott (left), myself (center), and Savannah, (right) at the Shapeways 3D “Factory of the Future” in Queens, NYC. Behind us are rows of high-end 3D printers, polishing machines, designers, QA teams, and operations experts.  Trying to … Continue readingShapeways Delivers 3D Printing as a Service, Reshaping Business Processes

In the Collaborative Economy, the Crowd has Built a Car

Above Image: The orange Wikispeed SGT01 Roadster: crowd-funded, crowd-designed, crowd-produced, hitting the streets in small batches now for $25k, oh, and it gets 100 miles per gallon. What if I told you the next affordable, long range, fuel efficient vehicle might be assembled in your garage … Continue readingIn the Collaborative Economy, the Crowd has Built a Car

The Maker Movement Disrupts Brands, Provides Opportunities

For my third year, I spent yesterday at the Maker Faire, in Silicon Valley.  Unlike any other year, the crowds were overflowing, suggesting this movement was growing faster than the cottage industry before.  To put this into context, the maker movement is yet (another) disruption … Continue readingThe Maker Movement Disrupts Brands, Provides Opportunities