Services

Five ways to move innovation from idea to action.

Each engagement is built around a defined challenge and measurable outcomes. Start with the one that fits where you are today — most clients combine two or three.

Book a scoping call Which one fits? Take the check

Engineers in hard hats beside a biochar pilot reactor at a field demonstration site

Innovation Challenges

For corporates, industry alliances and government agencies with a defined outcome and an open mind about the solution.

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What it is: An outcome-focused challenge prize run as a staged, open process. We define the challenge and criteria, recruit and support innovators, run evaluation with your experts and judges, and manage the field demonstration.
What you get: Challenge brief and success criteria
Open call, outreach and applicant support
Staged evaluation and judging
Field demonstration design
Adoption and risk-mitigation plan
Ideal when: You need a step-change in cost, emissions or efficiency and want access to solutions beyond your current suppliers.

Innovation Sprints

For teams that need a credible value case quickly.

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What it is: A compressed, focused version of a challenge that brings a small group of solution providers and your experts together to build and test a value case fast — the model we used with IMII on alternative energy for mining.
What you get: Rapid problem framing
Curated solution provider cohort
Value case for the leading solution
Recommendation on field demonstration
Ideal when: You have a time-bound decision, a board question to answer, or want to test the water before committing to a full challenge.

Solution Scouting & Pilot Validation

For operators who know the problem and need the right technology, proven on site.

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What it is: Strategic sourcing of solutions tailored to your requirements, followed by a structured pilot or field demonstration that generates the evidence you need to adopt — as with the biochar demonstration that moved to commercial production.
What you get: Targeted technology scan and shortlist
Pilot design, metrics and partner agreements
Field demonstration management
Evidence pack and go/no-go
Ideal when: You are ready to test a specific class of solution and need it de-risked before procurement.

Investment Readiness

For startups, SMEs and research teams with solutions for industry.

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What it is: We assess and strengthen your investment readiness — problem–solution fit, scalability, traction and financial narrative — and connect strong ventures to sponsors, buyers and investors in our network.
What you get: Investment Readiness Assessment
Pitch and value proposition refinement
Introductions to sponsors and investors
Access to the Challenge Ventures Startup Guide GPT
Ideal when: You are preparing to raise, entering a challenge, or moving from pilot to first commercial contract.

Challenge Dialogue Facilitation

For leadership teams, coalitions and multi-stakeholder groups facing a complex strategic problem.

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What it is: Facilitated sessions using the Challenge Dialogue System — a structured method for helping diverse stakeholders align on a shared challenge and the actions to address it — together with our Strategic Imperatives Framework for focusing open innovation.
What you get: Facilitated strategy sessions
Strategic imperatives map
Prioritized challenge portfolio
Roadmap and stakeholder alignment
Ideal when: Stakeholders don’t yet agree on the problem, or you need to choose which challenges to pursue first.

Sectors

Where we work.

EnergyWaste heat, hydrogen, reclamation and efficiency

MiningAlternative energy and cost of energy for operations

ForestryRemote sensing, automation and harvesting efficiency

Agri-food & bioClimate-smart agriculture, biochar and waste-to-value

Start here

Have a challenge worth solving?

Tell us what is slowing your operations, your emissions targets or your technology pipeline. In a 30-minute scoping call we will map whether a challenge, a sprint or a targeted pilot is the right route — and what it would take.

Book a scoping call Email us

Not sure you're ready?

Take the 3-minute Innovation Challenge Readiness Check. You'll get a score across four dimensions and a recommended next step.

Take the readiness check