Idea Accelerator for Mercedes Benz

WHY

Mercedes Benz Germany’s key objectives in cultural transformation are to foster intrapreneurship through new forms of work formats, lean management, agile development tools, and top talent development programs, to reduce cost structures, innovate the future sales, services, and financing of mobility.

HOW

Mercedes Benz offered a 2.5-week idea accelerator to its employees, including pitch training, storytelling, business model design, community management, and personal development with a strong focus on future leadership skills, lean management, and communication.

WHAT

ignore gravity design and execute the 2.5 weeks program. Fifteen employees of Mercedes-Benz Germany invented and developed 100 lean approaches, new ideas, and business models for future sales, service, and mobility financing. Together with founders, mentors, coaches, and more experts, we guided them through the various stages of our Idea Accelerator – from inspiration through ideation to innovation. On the final day, the participants pitched their business ideas to a jury of Mercedes-Benz executives and startup experts, impressed by their outstanding performance. Jury board member and CEO of Axel Springer Plug & Play, Jörg Rheinboldt, said:

I am blown away by the ideas and the quality of thoughts that went into them.

Within one year, ignore gravity moved on with the participants to enable and empower an innovation community within the northern business unit of the MBVD (Mercedes Benz Vertriebsorganisation Deutschland).