The “where,” “why,” and “how” of corporation-startup partnerships
GORILLAS CAN DANCE
LESSONS FROM MICROSOFT AND OTHER CORPORATIONS ON PARTNERING WITH STARTUPS
In Gorillas Can Dance, renowned international strategy researcher and expert Dr. Shameen Prashantham offers large corporations a proven guide to partnering and collaborating with startups to improve innovation. The author delivers the “where,” “why,” and “how” of corporation-startup partnerships, walking readers through a strategic framework that you can apply to your own company to achieve exceptional results.
You’ll learn about the three strategic pillars of synergy, interface, and exemplar that will drive the strength of your next partnership. You’ll also discover that the very things that attract large corporations to startups—their nimble and innovative nature—are the very same things that differentiate them from large companies and make it so difficult for them to work together. Finally, you’ll find out where in the world to find your ideal startup partner and how to use them as a force for good in your own organization and the world around you.
Perfect for executives, managers, and other business leaders, Gorillas Can Dance is also an indispensable resource for business unit heads and corporate innovation managers seeking evidence- and research-based strategic guidance with the potential to transform their next collaboration into a gamechanger.
PRAISE FOR GORILLAS
CAN DANCE
“It’s imperative for large organizations to partner with more nimble startups to help create a better world. This book has great insights on how.”
– Paul Polman, former CEO, Unilever
“Based on over 15 years of international research, Shameen’s insightful work on partnering between established corporations and startups breaks new ground in identifying the why and how of effective alliance building.”
– Jonathan R. Woetzel, Director, McKinsey Global Institute
“Corporate innovation as we know it is dead. Current corporate innovation is delivered through skunkworks and through learning new dance moves with startups. Shameen has captured the fine details of dancing with gorillas and how to redesign modern large corporations to survive and thrive in this new world.”
– Tzahi (Zack) Weisfeld, Vice President and GM, Ignite: Intel for Startups
“Startups are a severely underutilized competitive resource for corporations. Shameen’s book is a most needed contribution to fill this gap.”
– Gregor Gimmy, Co-founder, BMW Startup Garage
IN THIS BOOK
WHY
the very thing that attracts large corporations to startups—their significant differences—also makes it difficult to work together
HOW
to focus on the three pillars of synergy, interface, and exemplar to achieve outstanding results in your partnership
WHERE
in the world to find your ideal startup partnerships and how to use them as a force for good
GLOBAL RESEARCH
from over a decade of research in multiple locations including China, Germany, India, Israel, Kenya, South Africa, UK, and US
EXAMPLES
such as Microsoft, AB InBev, Bayer, BMW, Coca Cola, IBM, Intel, Nissan (Infiniti), SAP, Unilever, and Walmart, amongst others
INSIGHTS
VIDEOS & ARTICLES
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS
FROM THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Shameen Prashantham is Professor of International Business & Strategy, and Associate Dean (MBA), at China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, China.
His research focuses on what he calls “dancing with gorillas”—how startups and large multinational corporations partner with each other as a means to improve their prospects of innovation and growth.
