During a recent visit to Silicon Valley, it was possible to experience a stimulating environment, with innovation always present. There, success stems from an entrepreneurial and collaborative culture, focusing on solving complex problems through cutting-edge technology.
A greater appetite to embrace risk and the appreciation of a culture of continuous feedback that does not crucify mistakes but rapidly learns from them are some of the ‘customs’ that foster innovation and sustainable growth. Whether in the BAY Area (the region encompassing the main innovation hubs in California) or elsewhere, the differentiator lies in the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
And of all the great lessons, which ones can be applied in Brazil? Here are six of them:
1) Do not be afraid to share your ideas: There is no fear that someone might take ownership of them. Ideas are freely exchanged 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 co-founders. This process creates valuable opportunities to accelerate the idea’s development, as it adds essential skills for its success.
2) Focus on big challenges: Most people there study and work on initiatives of significant impact, with global reach. Ideas that can truly change or revolutionize how things work. The mindset is ambitious, always aimed at the ‘Moonshot’ – a term used to refer to grandiose ideas, almost like a ‘shoot for the moon’.
3) Do not create a product, build an industry: Disruption often occurs when an innovative solution emerges to solve a problem or meet an existing need, transforming the way we deal with that issue. Examples of this are social networks, which revolutionized how people interact, spend time, and access information, empowering the public with greater decision-making power. Another case is Uber, which revolutionized its sector by creating a ride-sharing model through a technology platform, impacting the traditional taxi model without being a transportation company.
4) Go to the street to understand your customer: It is still very common to see companies making decisions in their meeting rooms without first ‘hitting the streets’ to understand the real needs of their customers. This applies not just to launching a product or solution; this approach is valid for any phase or stage of a business.
In this context, it is pertinent to mention 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 be afraid to create solutions for other industries Most major market transformations have been originated by players who do not specifically operate in the area. Apple built computers and revolutionized the music industry with the launch of the iPod and iTunes, besides entering the telecommunications industry with the iPhone, completely redesigning these markets.
The Amazon started as an online bookstore and revolutionized global retail by expanding the electronic market and innovating in logistics. Years later, it entered the cloud sector with AWS. As for Airbnb, it transformed hospitality by creating a platform that connects hosts to guests, without building a single hotel. These examples show that focusing only on direct competitors is risky, as disruption can come from where least expected. Falling in love with the problems you want to solve and expanding your technical and business repertoire allows for 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 there in person reinforces that the future is much closer than imagined. In fact, it’s already here. This was exemplified in a robotics center where it was possible to learn about various models of advanced robots that will soon start to be commercialized. In this sense, deep discussions about ethics, data protection, impact on the job market, and even about human interactions will need to be frequently addressed.
The technology market is experiencing a new revolution, a scenario that demands constant reinvention, bold vision, and confidence in the ability to transform the world. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a mindset attentive to the ongoing changes, taking an active role in this process. With knowledge and protagonism, it is possible to keep up with this evolution and act as significant agents of this transformation.
