Helping the micro-entrepreneurs take another step toward success Prof. Gregg Li, from Hong Kong 17-18 April 2014, APEC Open Innovation Platform Expert’s Meeting, Taipei

Can we create an army of regional micro-angels?

With the right open innovation platform we can create an army of resourceful, well-connected, and practical micro-angels to act as co-pilots for micro-entrepreneurs on their journey to takeoff.

Helping the micro-entrepreneurs take another step toward success

Today’s Discussion

Context

Micro-angels

HK’s Challenges

We are moving to the dawn of open networks

Source: Open Innovation Yearbook, 2013. European Commission, 2013

Your own footer Your Logo

Helping micro-entrepreneurs bridge the divide Whose role is this?

Source: European Commission, 2013

Challenges in starting a business

Context

•  All businesses begin as a micro-business. •  Over 90% of the micro-entrepreneurs will not

survive past their 5th birthday. •  Would be great if good, inexpensive, and

valuable advice is available at the start. But where do you find it?

•  We listen more to others than to our own parents.

•  The network of the micro-entrepreneurs is too one dimensional. We won’t trust strangers who don’t have our interests at heart.

Micro-entrepreneurs are always looking for experienced co-pilots… but those co-pilots who would qualify, can’t even seem to find the plane. Forget about finding an airport for takeoff!

We need an airport! …and ready our co-pilots

Source: Wallpaper kingdom

•  How can we get micro-angels interested? •  How to get entrepreneurs and micro-angels working

together? •  How can we encourage micro-angels to share their

know-how? So much copyrighted materials. •  Where are we going to get these micro-angels and

ask them to charge at cost? •  How to push for rapid prototyping across

boundaries- walking fast and taking small steps? •  Can we provide a platform for the micro-angels to

share throughout Asia? Credit for Open Sharing!

In creating a new ecosystem

Challenges

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Sept 6, 2013

Six Blind Men and An Elephant in Hong Kong

Micro-entrepreneurs ! Government ! Academics ! Youth ! Industrialists ! Senior Citizens

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www.proprofs.com

Adults  

65-­‐75  

75-­‐85  

85+  

Under  15  

An Aging Population in Hong Kong

How to engage our senior citizens in the range of 65 – 75?

Offer options in: •  Projects •  Locations

(throughout Asia)

•  Support •  Team •  Internet

ENGAGEMENT LEARNING

Provide: •  A fee for their

time, or offering them credits for equity injection. (Need to watch any abuses of their time.)

•  Companionship •  Scope from

Prototyping to Scaling

•  Credit for care?

FEES AND SCOPE

Provide •  Digital Literacy

Skills •  Mentoring Skills •  Facilitation

Skills

3 2 1

Micro-angels knows how to scale

Can we really create an army of micro-angels?

Create an Open Platform

Populate the market with class “A” Angels

Provide credit for

open sharing

8 Steps to Ignite Change 5.  Appeal to their

nobleness 6.  Show them it has been

done before 7.  Challenge them 8.  Conclude by helping

them visualize this better future

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1.  Create a burning platform

2.  Find a common ground

3.  Break the ground under their feet

4.  Show them a new way

System only changes when people think and see it in a new way…

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Are  we  actually  looking  at  the  same  elephant,  but  with  a  different  timeframe?    

THANK YOU!