Human Centered-Design / Innovation Dating

The Luxembourg Open Innovation Club (LOIC) was born out of the understanding that big companies and startups/SMEs need each other. Startups/SMEs need ways to accelerate validation, market adoption and growth. On the other hand, traditional companies need to multiply their confidence in innovation by accessing new solutions, business models, etc.

In partnership with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, we enable collaboration between startups/SMEs and big companies based in Luxembourg.

Innovation dating description

Human-Centered Design embraces all industries and sectors. It can be everywhere and it pertains to both the Digital and non-Digital world.

Corporates have well understood that using a human-centred approach to design and development brings substantial economic and social benefits for users and suppliers.

On the one hand, User Experience (UX) is all about solving problems for users (including research, ideation, prototyping/design and test phases).

On the other hand, User Interface (UI) is designing visual interfaces for interactive systems (including visual identity, visual design, interactive design and information design).

Taking into account the elements aforementioned, corporates Members classified their challenges in four topics. Startups/SMEs’ solutions should demonstrate at least one of the following topics:

Analysing users' needs through UX research

• Deep understanding of the users’ needs, expectations, and pain points
• Qualitative research (interviews, observation, etc.)Applying UX methodologies to solve
  problems

Applying UX methodologies to solve problems

• Co-creation with users
• Storyboarding, personae & customer journeys
• Prototyping
• Making efforts on the user interface design and iterating

Testing the solutions with real users and potential users

• Usability and UX tests
• Beta testing
• Measuring the UX
• Focused group sessions & other co-creation workshops for prototype testing

Demonstrating a strong customer-centric mindset

• Trainings & sensibilisation sessions to internally raise awareness
• Moving from a product-centric approach to a customer-centric approach
• Using the UX and Design Thinking approach for internal purposes

Both young and mature startups/SMEs are welcome to apply.

Early stage startups/SMEs should, however, already have a developed prototype/MVP of their solution. They should also be able to provide data on their market validation and have a strong team backing their project.

Startups/SMEs are committed to pitch to LOIC members coming from a wide range of sectors (e.g. finance, insurance, logistics, industry, energy, corporate services, etc) and various positions (CEO, CIO, CTO, etc).

Event format

4 challenges / 10 startups/SMEs / All LOIC members open to co-innovate

The LOIC selects innovative startups/SMEs that will pitch during the event, preceded by an inspiring keynote speaker.

The event will take place at 12, rue Léon Laval – L-3372 Leudelange, Luxembourg and all LOIC members are invited to join.