Where is the media and entertainment industry headed? To explore this question, Sky Deutschland is launching its own Open Innovation Hub. The first Play Pitch Day will take place on September 1st.
Sky is not only making television, but also in the future in innovations. At least, that is the plan that the Munich-based company has with the opening of the Open Innovation Hubs The aim of the initiative is to engage external and internal thought leaders to identify and jointly develop future-oriented innovations in the media and entertainment sectors.
Greenhouse in a protected space
With the launch of this initiative, Sky is opening up its innovation process and giving external idea contributors, startups in the founding phase, business partners, and even its own employees the opportunity to further develop their ideas and "greenhouse" them in a protected space—allowing them to grow and flourish. The best submissions will receive comprehensive support and encouragement from both its own implementation specialists and a top-notch team of mentors.
Niels Dörje, Chairman of the Play Mentoring Team, says of the new program:
"'Play' is a fantastic initiative and, at the same time, a huge opportunity for anyone who wants to actively shape the entertainment of tomorrow. You don't need a finished business plan, a team, or a prototype. Never before has it been easier to turn your idea into reality and thus influence the future of an entire industry."
In total, Sky Deutschland is investing a seven-figure annual budget in the program. A large portion of this will go toward implementing the ideas and the implementation teams (front-end/app and back-end developers, product designers, business development experts, etc.) required to realize the ideas and create prototypes. The same applies to the experts on the Play Mentoring Team, who will examine the underlying business models, financing strategies, and marketing models.
The rules of the game
- The idea counts: Neither a finished business plan nor a complete (founding) team or an existing product is necessary for submission.
- Focus on entertainment: Play has a clear focus on the media and entertainment products of the future.
- Core resources necessary for the creation of prototypes and a possible initial product are provided by Play.
- "Greenhousing" and the "Safe Harbor Principle": A bold idea doesn't automatically mean full risk for the originator. This risk is borne by Sky.
- Seven-member Play Mentoring Team: Collaboration with experienced, well-known founders and experts.
- Compensation: External idea contributors will receive a one-time payment of 25,000 euros at the start of the program.
The Play Mentoring Team
The Play Mentoring Team brings together major figures from the German and international startup scene, experienced founders and experts from the media industry:
- Niels Dörje (Chairman Play Mentoring Team), former CEO and founder of HolidayInsider
- Fabrice Leclerc, Advisor for Innovation & Sustainability (eg UNO, Nespresso, Apple), former Head of Innovation at L'Oreal
- Curt Simon Harlinghausen, CDO EMEA Starcom MediaVest Group Germany
- Merlin Jacob, Co-founder & CTO of OnPage.org (Winner of Startup Bavaria, Finalist of the German Founders' Award)
- Dr. Thomas Langenberg, Co-founder & CEO of stylondo.com, former top management consultant at McKinsey
- Freya Oehle, entrepreneur of Spottster (winner of the Victress Award)
- Martin Stolz, freelance consultant, entrepreneur
The application process
All that is required to apply is a good idea and the willingness to collaborate on its development. Submissions are made via play-hub.de. The first Play Pitch Day for external idea contributors will take place on Thursday, September 1, 2016 take place.
