Let’s talk about something Huge! Newsletter Edition #3 📩
This time, our newsletter didn’t land in your inbox on the last day of the month as usual and for a good reason! Last week we were offline, diving into our annual strategic workshops with the Blue Monster crew. All to make Huge Thing even more HUGE in 2025! 🚀
Stay tuned for what we have in store for you next year, and for now, enjoy the third edition of our newsletter! 💙 This time, with Maryla Wojcieszek, we’re exploring a topic that’s shaping the way startups and corporations collaborate - the crucial role of facilitators in bridging these two worlds.
As always, we’re inviting you to dive into some fresh insights and perspectives with us. And if you’re eager for more, don’t miss the Quick Bites section, packed with must-read articles from our ecosystem. Let’s get started! 🙌
The Key to Successful Collaboration Between a Startup and a Corporation? Meet the Facilitator.
Collaboration between a startup and a large organization is like the meeting of two different worlds. Startups operate dynamically, emphasizing agility and a fast pace, while corporations function within complex structures and procedures. The common ground for this collaboration often lies in a technology test, which allows both sides to determine whether the solution offered by the startup meets the corporation’s needs. However, this test is a process that requires coordination, effective communication, and mutual understanding of expectations. Here, the facilitator plays a pivotal role - a position that has been an essential part of Huge Thing’s programs for several years, focusing on testing startup technologies with large organizations, including corporations and cities.
Who Exactly is a Facilitator?
A facilitator is a person who streamlines collaboration and helps both parties execute a technology test within a defined timeframe (usually six months). Acting as a bridge between the startup and the corporation, the facilitator ensures that both sides share a clear understanding of their common goals, tasks, responsibilities, and timeline. With their support, the startup and the large organization gain the opportunity to understand each other's working styles and assess whether the technology truly meets expectations.
A technology test is not just about verifying the functionality of a solution - it’s also a chance to build trust and overcome communication barriers. Considering all of these aspects, after the test is completed, both sides can decide whether the solution meets the intended objectives and if the collaboration should progress to the commercial phase with a full-scale implementation.
How Does the Facilitator Streamline the Technology Test Process?
The facilitator acts as a guide, supporting both the startup and the large organization throughout the technology testing process. At the outset, they facilitate key meetings, such as the kick-off, to define goals and set the action timeline. At this point, making sure that both parties have the same goal and that it does not change over time. They then oversee regular status meetings, ensuring they are efficient and timely. During the process, the facilitator not only monitors the achievement of key milestones but also verifies their quality from their, external, perspective.
Additionally, the facilitator ensures transparency by making sure that notes and summaries of the main action points are taken and distributed, that responsibilities are assigned to clearly identified parties and persons and that all the parties are ‘on the same page’. This, in turn, helps to track and identify the bottlenecks within the process and react (this is, again, facilitator’s role) when things are not moving forward.
If the technology test takes place within the publicly-funded program, and any questions or concerns arise regarding formalities, the facilitator is the first point of contact. Leveraging their knowledge of the program’s rules and processes, they can address uncertainties for both parties and find suitable solutions.
Support and Benefits for Corporations
For corporations, a facilitator is an invaluable asset, as they help bridge the gap in understanding the dynamics of startups, which often operate at a completely different pace and with a distinct working style. The facilitator introduces regularity and momentum into the project execution, preventing the technology test from "getting lost" among other tasks. They also serve as a guardian of the timeline, tracking whether work is being completed according to plan and raising the alarm if delays occur on the corporation’s side.
Support and Benefits for Startups
From the startup's perspective, the facilitator acts as a protector of their interests, ensuring that the collaboration is conducted in the spirit of fair play. They review documents proposed by corporations, such as NDAs or term sheets, scrutinizing clauses that might harm the startup’s growth, restrict its technology, or limit its opportunities. With their understanding of corporate procedures, the facilitator helps the startup align its ambitious plans with the realities of working with a large organization. This results in a more realistic timeline, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and potential failures.
Individual and Joint Support Throughout the Process
The facilitator not only coordinates the actions of both parties but also provides tailored support when needed. The startup can rely on their assistance to better understand the corporation's expectations and gain insight into its operational specifics, while the large organization receives help in adapting its processes to the agility of the startup. The facilitator regularly provides both sides with constructive feedback, enabling the swift implementation of necessary adjustments.
At the same time, the facilitator acts as a mediator when differences in expectations arise. Their role is to work towards a compromise and maintain balance in the relationship between the startup and the large organization.
After the Technology Test
At the end of the process, the facilitator organizes a retrospective session to evaluate the test, identify areas for improvement, and draw actionable conclusions for both the implementation phase and for the future. Why is it important? Because ‘learning by doing’ is invaluable and allows gaining knowledge that you will not learn from books.
The facilitator is not just a coordinator but also a mentor and mediator whose presence significantly increases the likelihood of a successful technology test and future commercial collaboration. Through their efforts, the startup and the corporation can work together effectively, building a partnership that benefits both sides.
Is the Facilitator’s Role Easy?
The role of a facilitator, though essential, is not among the easiest. They connect two distinct worlds—the dynamic, agile world of startups and the complex reality of large organizations. Each of these entities has its unique goals, expectations, and pace of operation, and the facilitator must find a way to harmoniously unite these differing realities. Furthermore, decisions made by both sides often fall outside the facilitator’s sphere of influence. Both the startup and the corporation may have their own priorities or limitations that impact the technology testing process, and the facilitator must be able to respond to these variables and manage them in a way that keeps the collaboration running smoothly.
The facilitator is also at the heart of potential tensions—on one side, they safeguard the interests of the startup; on the other, they ensure the demands of the large organization are met. Often, they have to mediate, negotiate compromises, and find solutions that satisfy both sides while ensuring progress in the test. This role requires not only excellent organizational and communication skills but also flexibility, patience, and sensitivity in navigating diverse challenges.
Ultimately, the facilitator builds an atmosphere of trust and partnership. From our experience, the facilitator is one of the key elements of a successful technology test, connecting the startup’s vision with the corporation’s potential. Their involvement ensures the collaboration is more effective and transparent, giving the technology a real chance to address business challenges.
Curious to see how it works in practice? Contact us at letsgo@hugething.vc for more details on how we can facilitate technology tests in your organization and make innovation happen!
And if you’re looking for more from us, welcome to our recommendation corner! 📚 Here’s what we’ve been reading, discussing, and creating lately, and we think you’ll find it worth your while :)
📖 What does real innovation look like?
In our recap of Huge Talks by Huge Thing, Marcin Kurczab, Director of Innovation at PZU, takes us behind the scenes to reveal how PZU approaches innovation. He shares insights on why innovation should be seen as a practical tool rather than just a trend, how it can be integrated into a large organization, and what it takes to make it truly effective. Read the whole piece here 👉 https://bit.ly/4f2xY09
📖 The 5 traits of unstoppable founders!
What makes a founder truly exceptional? In the latest Mam Biznes article, our CEO Monika Synoradzka and other experts share their thoughts on the key traits of successful startup leaders, from building resilient teams to staying adaptable. Don’t miss it! 👉 https://bit.ly/4g2I9mz
📌 Join the Huge Innovators Map!
The 4th international edition of the Huge Innovators Map is here, a platform for organizations actively seeking innovation in the Polish market. Fill out the form and don’t miss your chance to be part of it! 👉 https://hugething.vc/innovators-map/
👋 Let’s meet at the next Innovation Breakfast!
We’re gearing up for another Innovation Breakfast in Poznań, that we host with Sense Consulting. Check out the highlights from our previous session on our Medium to see what went down and get a taste of the inspiring atmosphere! 👉 https://bit.ly/4fFaL4U
And if you’re responsible for fostering innovation in corporate or large organization and would like to join us, drop us a message at letsgo@hugething.vc 💌
We’re curious, what would you love to see us share next time? Fill out the form and share your thoughts with us! 👉 Let us know!
See you soon!
