Scaling innovation: resources and networks

"In 1994, Ferran Adria and Juli Soler (his partner) sold 20% of their business to Miquel Horta (a Catalan millionaire and philanthropist and son of the founder of Nenuco) for 120 million Pesetas. This event became a turning point for el Bulli: the money was used to finance to expansion of the kitchen and the relationship with Horta opened the door to new clients, businessmen, and politicians who helped spread the word about the creative experimentation happening at the time in Cala Montjoi."

From Ferran Adria's wikipedia entry

Once the seeds of something groundbreaking are planted and when you can feel the potential is there, resources and contacts are critical factors to expand the reach and success of your enterprise. 

Needless to say, there is a time for organic growth and there is a time for accelerated growth. 

Aiming for organic growth is perfect when you are still learning and experimenting: you can try new different things without incurring in massive costs, you can afford the luxury of taking time to think and reflect about the things that impact your business and you don't know enough about, and you can focus on ironing the less-than-perfect things that are stopping your organization from running as smooth as possible.

Aiming for accelerated growth is ideal when you are confident the bases of the business are solid and you want to push the pedal: you have the certainty of understanding how everything that impacts your business works, and you have the feeling that all the pieces that shape your organization are running perfectly. 

The question is how to increase the certainty that everything is aligned in order to move forward as fast as possible? 


Photo: Martin Klimas