Entrepreneurship and innovation: six lessons I learned in Silicon Valley

In a recent visit to Silicon Valley, it was possible to experience a stimulating environment, with innovation always present. There, success results from an entrepreneurial and collaborative culture, focused on solving complex problems through cutting-edge technology.

The greater appetite to embrace risk and the appreciation of a culture of continuous feedback that does not crucify error, but learns quickly from it, are some of the “costumes” foment innovation and sustainable growth.Whether in the BAY Area (region that encompasses the main innovation hubs in California), or anywhere else, the differential is in the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.

And of all the great lessons, which can be applied in Brazil? I share six of them here: 

1) Do not be afraid to expose your ideas: there is no fear that someone can take ownership of them. Ideas are exchanged freely, because people understand that the more they discuss their projects, the greater the chances of validating them, getting feedback, or even connecting with potential investors or even co-founders. This process creates valuable opportunities to accelerate the development of the idea, since it adds skills essential for its success.

2) Focus on big challenges: most of the people present there study and work on initiatives of great impact, with global reach. Ideas that can really change or revolutionize the way things work. The mindset is ambitious, always focused on the “Moonshot” A term used to refer to grand ideas, almost like a “iro on the moon”.

3) Do not create a product, build an industry: Disruption usually occurs when an innovative solution arises to solve a problem or meet an existing need, transforming the way we deal with that issue. Examples of this are social networks, which have revolutionized the way people interact, spend time and access information, giving greater decision-making power to the public. Another case is Uber, which revolutionized its sector by creating a model of ride-sharing through a technology platform, impacting the traditional model of taxis, without being a transport company. 

4) Go to the street to understand your customer: It is still very common to observe companies making decisions in their meeting rooms and without first “ing to the street” to understand the real needs of their customers. This does not apply only in the launch of a product or solution; this approach is valid for any phase or stage of a business. 

In this context, it is pertinent to quote Steve Blank in his book The Four Steps to the Epiphany: “There are no facts inside your building, so go outside.” Instead of creating products based on assumptions, he argues that entrepreneurs should go out and test their ideas directly in the market.

5) Do not fear to create solutions for other industries Most of the major changes in the market were caused by players, apple built computers and revolutionized the music industry with the launch of the Ipod and iTunes, as well as entering the telecommunications industry with the IPhone, completely redesigning these markets.

Amazon started as an online bookstore and revolutionized global retail by expanding the e-market and innovating in logistics. Years later, it entered the cloud sector with AWS. Airbnb transformed hospitality by creating a platform that connects owners to guests, without building a single hotel. These examples show that focusing only on direct competitors is risky, as disruption can arise from where you least expect it. Falling in love with the problems you want to solve and expanding your technical and business repertoire allows an innovative vision to transform your industry.

6) Bet on AI, it's the new gold rush:  All the companies I visited are focused on artificial intelligence. Being in person in that place reinforces that the future is much closer than you think. In fact, it has already arrived. This was exemplified in a robotics center where it was possible to learn about several models of advanced robots that, very soon, will begin to be marketed. In this sense, deep discussions about ethics, data protection, impact on the labor market and even on human interactions will often need to be on the agenda. 

The technology market is experiencing a new revolution, a scenario that requires constant reinvention, bold vision and confidence in the ability to transform the world. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a mindset attentive to the changes in progress, taking an active role in this process. With knowledge and protagonism, it is possible to follow this evolution and act as significant agents of this transformation.

Rodolfo Alfaro

Rodolfo Alfaro is Head of Agile Development at NAVA Technology for Business.

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