Engaging with Startups 2.0: Involving Competitors - A Telefonica Perspective

by Henry Chesbrough, Sea Matilda Bez, and Augustín Moro
01 Oct 2023

Telefónica, a large multinational telecommunication company, spends billions of dollars on internal R&D and engages with startups to accelerate its digital transformation. In 2011, Telefónica created Wayra, one of the first corporate startup accelerators and an example of “outside-in” open innovation. This case follows Agustín Moro, Head of Partnerships at Wayra. First, he navigates the challenges of integrating technologies from Wayra-sponsored startups into Telefónica. Next, in 2015, he wrestles with whether Telefónica should join a joint startup accelerator created by some of Wayra’s competitors. Finally, Moro faces complex questions about this decision as well as Wayra’s future.

Details

Pub Date: October 1, 2023

Discipline: Innovation

Business units, Collaboration, Competition response strategies, Corporate venture capital , Employee beliefs, Growth strategy, Innovation, Innovation management, Innovation sources, Interorganizational collaboration, Joint ventures, Open innovation, Partnerships, Startup financing, Startups

Product #: B6045-PDF-ENG

Industry: Telecommunication, Wireless telecommunications carriers

Geography: Europe, Spain

Length: 9 page(s)