See also: Newco Food Retail (in dutch).

As ULURU|Beagle we thrive on these entrepreneurial challenges. We inspire and stimulate companies to look at their core business differently and to spot new horizons. We help companies to recognize new business opportunities, but also to realize them successfully.

In our open innovation atelier new product and service concepts are developed by ULURU on the basis of consumer insights generated by Beagle. Often these new concepts include a new business and partner model, helping our clients to increase loyalty with existing customers or to find new customers. Based on the principle of ‘co-creation’ other potentially matching parties are invited in an early stage to get involved in the process. As a match maker U|B helps those parties to find and form business alliances.

First stop: Maastricht University where we talked about Food and health innovations, topics in today’s food industry and the role of the food industry (large as well as small and medium enterprises). As of today Maastricht University and ULURU|Beagle are working closely together. In doing so, we offer students (internationally) a platform to engage in interesting cases from the vast U|B network.

Secondly the U|B road trip led us to Teboza BV in Helden. A large family business that, over the years, developed into an innovative company focused on growing high quality asparagus (the white gold). Will Teeuwen pursued his dreams, frequently contradicted by his peers, and created his own opportunities, values and distribution channels.

Final destination (before going back to U|B headquarters): Ottersum, home base of the creative breeding ground Koos BV. The entrepreneurs behind this collection of innovational cells are Roger Engelberts and Judith develop new concepts through co-creation, in their own authentic way and with an open mind encouraged by the wide view of rural Ottersum.

The way the food industry operates is changing. Consumers are no longer willing to just go for another meaningless sticker with an improper product claim. Together with several innovative food companies (e.g. Jaguar Fresh Company, NEWCO Food Retail, Purple Pride) U|B is changing the current food retail landscape. One of the main goals is efficiency in the value chain by shortening it and thus creating a healthy relationship between grower and consumer.

It’s these kinds of interactions that make U|B stand out: creating and sharing value between different industries and disciplines.

Contact us if you want to know more about our initiatives and contributions (in the food industry).

U|B works closely with various universities and educational institutes such as the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Nyenrode Business University and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Exchanging knowledge and experience and having students collaborating on a daily basis on our projects guarantees a solid foundation in the social, economic and cultural aspects of our society.

Take for instance our collaboration with the master course Health Food Innovation Management of Maastricht University. This collaboration is focused on stimulating innovative entrepreneurship and creates insights and expertise in four different areas: biomedical science, consumer research, new technologies in ingredients and processing and regulations. It’s a brainstorm platform allowing students to – hands on – interact with and react on social and entrepreneurial challenges. In doing so bolstering their innovational skills and vision.

U|B has joined in similar collaborations with Unilever, Campina, Friesland Foods, Heineken and Heinz/Honig. In the area of sustainability, U|B has worked for Van Gansewinkel Group, Nuon, InterfaceFlor, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management; ProRail and Schuitema/C1000.

U|B’s knowledge and experience has led to a mode of operation that ensures an efficient handling of the time and resources of our customers and possible partners. The power of open innovation is in the interactivity and in keeping all involved parties focused and engaged throughout the process. A team of U|B coaches facilitate the dialogue in such a way that all participants remain involved.

U|B Group is part of an international network of companies that develop products and services through co-creation and open innovation (in food, sustainability, loyalty and partnerships).

This initiative intends to be different from all those cosmetic ‘marketing based’ certificates by pursuing sustainability as an integrated part of policy making and behaviour of all participating parties.
It represents an answer to the growing need of retailers and consumers for ‘pure and authentic’ information/content about food & sustainability.

From the start Jaguar – as a company – has acknowledged their part in a collective and valuable sustainability and so advising growers and other parties.

Mail us if you want to join the initiative or if you want to know more.

On January the 16th, ULURU|Beagle organizes a special sample sale for female entrepreneurs and (business) women to meet up, experience the world of ULURU|Beagle and taste new fashion. The sample sale includes a specially selected collection from brands like Religion, Gio-Goi, Fly53 and Mooks, and an intimate performance by a special artist.

The sample sale is made possible by Swop ‘n Fit, a platform based on clothes swapping, brand experience in your living room and recycling & combining old and new fashion.

We wish you a fashionable New Year!

When: 16 January 2010, 11:00 – 15:00
Where: Piet Heinkade 199, Amsterdam
Let us know if you want to come, and for more information
Call: Maarten van Lieshout at 020-3201616

Flexpark is all about flexible parking: saving space by fitting your car in the most efficient spot. You can reserve your parking space in advance based on car size, price, term, location and additional services like security and battery charging for electric cars. The result: more cars parked in the same space and fair prices. As you pay per centimeter Flexpark stimulates driving smaller cars allowing even more cars to be parked.

Technology is proven, using satnav to navigate and communicate with Flexpark and using LED to frame and guide you to your exact spot. Actually, city counsils could start right now using just a bucket of paint…

From over 3000 (!) participants from 96 countries ULURU|Beagle made it to the final 66! Do we agree with the jury on the winning concepts? Let’s just say we think our concept is certainly realistic and is bound to show up somewhere in the future of urban parking. Kanagawa maybe?

From the 17th till the 22nd of November 2009 entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs throughout the whole World gathered together to celebrate the Global Entrepreneurship Week. For one week, millions of young people around the world were challenged to embrace innovation, imagination, and creativity. Throughout this week students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, and many others have participated in a range of activities, from lectures on entrepreneurship, to business idea pitches, competitions and network gatherings.

Together, the University of Leiden, the Delft University, and the RSM Erasmus University Rotterdam hosted the Holland Entrepreneurship Week. Last week several events have been organized by the three universities to inspire, connect, and stimulate students to get entrepreneurial and become the next wave of future entrepreneurs. The goals of this week were to facilitate them with the necessary knowledge, skills and networks needed to act up on the opportunities to grow sustainable future enterprises.

Mick Walvisch (ULURU|Beagle) was invited to the kick off. At the headquarters of YESDelft incubator 80 students from Delft, Leiden, and Rotterdam gathered to participate the creative session. The participants were challenged finding an innovative business idea which could be introduced on the market. It was their opportunity to find a great business idea! To inspire and give these young future entrepreneurs a boost to get started, Mick was invited to give an inspirational lecture on creative thinking! Mick told the students that every innovation is built up on a good idea that solves a problem. By solving a problem you create value. Therefore the core essence of a fruitful idea is that it has to create value. Mick challenged the students with real world examples to leave behind their academic mindset and expose them to the ULURU|Beagle philosophy to entrepreneurship.

After this inspirational lecture, the participants started with their creative workshop, in which they were divided into small groups. Mick was assigned as a facilitator to help and guide the students through the process of inspiration and idea generation to the development of real time business cases.

Throughout the day Uluru|Beagle let the students experience, breathe, and experiment with the ULURU/Beagle Trinity and hopefully inspired the students to unleash their ideas to create and grow future sustainable enterprises.

text & photos: Thijs Markusse

This means that we’ll be working together some time (predefined upfront) and we’ll be going through some steps:

Inspiration:
Most important part is getting to know each other. What’s your fantasy, where do you come from.

In our ULURU|Beagle theatre we’ll be creating worlds just to get inspired. With all the curtains closed it’s easier for everybody to think and speak and fantasize without boundaries, yet with both feet on the floor.

Concepting:
As soon as we have a clear perspective and an (intellectual) understanding we start concepting together. Of course you’ll play an intrinsic part. Together (us and you and your team) we will be looking at the possibilities, look at the market and start making connections.

Which direction do you want to go with your company?

Implementation:
In order to have a viable proposition you have to have owners, entrepreneurs. They’ll be the ones putting the whole thing into action (of course with our help).

We have a capable team of people, able to find these entrepreneurs within the company, looking for possible hickups and opportunities.

Our hardcore deliverables:

• Insight research
• Prototypes of a working business concept
• Unbeatable business case with unique business model
• Access to our partners network in order to accelerate your business
• Big energy boost

Our business model:
As we are all entrepreneurs we want to share and multiply. Thus we invest together with you in a sustainable business future.

So welcome to ULURU|Beagle. Come to our theatre and just get inspired!