Andrew Hargadon

The Entrepreneurial Leap

This series of posts (finally) puts to words the approach, the ideas, and the tools developed and tested in the programs of the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship.

Our work focuses on the first of three critical moments in the life of a new venture—the entrepreneurial leap.  This is the moment (that can take months, or more if not careful) when the original entrepreneurs make the decision whether to start a new venture or not, and take the first steps that, often unknowingly, send them down paths they may take years, if ever, to recover from.

The ongoing series of posts focusing on the entrepreneurial leap can be found by visiting The Entrepreneurial Leap >>

Designing the Revolution

Baked into most stories of technology revolutions is the misconception that new technologies disrupt older ones because of some distinctive advantage. Sometimes it’s just the opposite. From the light bulb to the computer to solar power, the fate of innovations (and of the companies that bet on them) hinges less on technical superiority than on the details of their designs. When developing new products, the challenge is to balance performance with the need to be accepted.

(to read more on The Hargadon Files, follow the link to Designing the Revolution)

From the Annals of Innovation: Nike's new breeding program

BEAVERTON, Ore. (May 08, 2013) – NIKE, Inc. announced today that scientists have successfully bred a Nike trainer with a Cole Haan saddle shoe.

Shifts happen

When quantity is a quality all its own... Some innovative work in wind turbines is interesting for both its potential and for the response it evoked.

(to read more on The Hargadon Files, follow the link)

Planning for Innovation

Innovation is hard, but sometimes we make it harder than it needs to be. It’s a lesson we could all use, but especially big companies betting millions on sustaining innovations.

(to read more on The Hargadon Files, follow the link)

Not all entrepreneurs are created, or create, equal(ly)

Maria Meyers of U.S.SourceLink offers a nice perspective on the different types of entrepreneurs in any given community and the different community resources they need to succeed.