Innovation succeeds when the right partners meet.
That’s why we connect established organizations with startups and innovators to shape the future together.
We Enable Open Innovation Success - Step by Step
With our proven 5-step process, we blend technology and human expertise to help you connect with the most suitable innovation partners for your business.
Needs Assessment
We start by understanding your challenges, goals, and success criteria through a thorough analysis.
Market Research & Scouting
We systematically search for innovative startups and solution providers across all relevant industries.
Shortlisting & Matching
We curate a shortlist of the top 5-10 candidates from thousands or even millions of possibilities.
PoC Management
We support you in setting up pilot projects, aligning expectations, and planning the next steps together.
Scaling & Rollout
We help you scale successful pilots into long-term solutions by providing guidance and valuable connections.
Ready to innovate?
Let’s work together to find the right innovation partners for your company and to advance your business.
Contact usWe Unlock Business Value through Open Innovation Partnerships
Scouting
Scouting: Find the right innovation partners - not just any partner.
We connect you with the most relevant startups and innovators, using a systematic, cross-industry scouting process – fast, focused, and tailored to your goals.
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Tailored scouting for your specific business challenges
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Quality over quantity: curated, high-fit matches
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Speed: first results delivered in 1-4 weeks
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Powered by expertise, network, tech, data and close collaboration with you
Challenges
Innovation challenges: attract the right solutions to your business needs.
We organize your innovation or startup challenge, ensuring you attract the right partners and solutions for your business needs. From scoping to selection, Ambivation makes the process seamless and results-focused.
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Clear needs identification and challenge definition
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Proactive scouting and targeted outreach
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Marketing & PR to maximize relevant engagement
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Systematic preselection and curated finalist selection
Monitoring
Monitoring: Stay Ahead with Open Innovation Insights
We continuously track your strategic search fields, identifying new startups, innovation partners, and notable collaborations in your market. Our expert team keeps you informed on developments that matter most to your ongoing innovation goals.
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Scouting for your search fields
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Ongoing monitoring of your long-term / strategic search fields
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Regular identification of new partners and collaborations in the market based
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Actionable insights for timely and informed decisions
PoC Management
PoC & Pilot Project Management: turn great matches into results.
We guide you and your innovation partners from first introduction through planning, execution, and evaluation of a PoC (Proof of Concept) / pilot project. Our hands-on support ensures alignment, momentum, and measurable outcomes for every PoC / pilot project.
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Structured support from kickoff to result
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Clear coordination between your team and partners
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Expertise to deliver successful, scalable PoCs / pilot projects
Further offerings
Additional offerings to complement your innovation journey
We offer additional tools, formats and expert support – built to fit your innovation journey.
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Coopsaas: Use our scouting and monitoring software (DIY or hybrid with a partner like us).
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Masterclass: Sharpen your open innovation & scouting skills with hands-on best practices, real-world cases, and valuable peer exchange.
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Membership: Get ongoing expert sparring, market insights, and tailored connections to accelerate your innovation journey.
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Innovation Tours: Experience startup ecosystems and connect with relevant innovators on-site.
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Challenge Platforms: Leverage our digital platforms to share your own innovation challenges or startup challenges.
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Event Matchmakings: Facilitate targeted personal connections at industry events and exhibitions (example)
Why Innovation Teams Choose Ambivation: Relevance. Flexibility. Enablement.
Tailored Scouting
Whether you seek startups or innovative solution providers, Ambivation delivers a systematic, tailored scouting process so you uncover the top 5–10 best-fit partners from millions worldwide. We focus on relevance, quality, and your unique needs - helping you move from overwhelming options to targeted opportunities.
Modular or Full-Service
Every innovation journey is different. Ambivation offers flexible, modular support: select just the piece you need - like scouting, challenges, or monitoring - or let us guide you through the whole process, from needs identification to pilot. We’re here to complement your team, serving as your partner.
Collaborative work
Ambivation’s unique tool suite - like Coopsaas and our challenge platforms - brings best-practice workflows, transparent project collaboration, and full DIY capability. Our hybrid model lets you choose how to work: independently, together, or a mix of both, all tailored to your team and future growth.
Satisfied Customers
Lora Ivanova
Innovation Manager
“Working with Ambivation was a seamless and rewarding experience. From the outset, the team demonstrated a high level of competence and professionalism, making the entire process of our innovation challenge run effortlessly. They have an impressive network of industry connections, which helped us engage with the right partners and ensure high-quality participation. Ambivation was efficient and pleasant at every stage, from helping us define the challenge to managing applicants and keeping everything on track. Communication was always clear and prompt, which made the collaboration incredibly smooth. We were thoroughly impressed with how well they managed the project and exceeded our expectations. Their support played a key role in the overall success of the innovation challenge. I recommend Ambivation to anyone looking for a reliable, highly competent and efficient innovation challenge partner.”
Product: Open Innovation Challenge
Case study: Open Innovation Challenge for Elia Group
Dr. Simone Planinsek
Head of Project/Innovation Management
“You can expect small, fast and flexible solutions from startups. This is a fresh cell cure for companies. Ambivation helped us to find the most suitable contacts from the large number of local and international startups. This allowed us to concentrate on the content discussions and, with Ambivation’s support, initiate the cooperation.”
Product: Startup Scouting
Case study: Startup Scouting for Nassauische Heimstätte
Sven Siering
Head of Digital Innovation Unit
“The Startup Tour with Ambivation was a great success and everything was very well organized on site. Our CEO Kai Ostermann found the day very successful and exciting, too. The 16 startups that Ambivation scoutet for us were all suitable and we found it very difficult to make a final selection. Whether collaborations with the startups will develop will be seen next year. I would definitely do a startup matchmaking tour of this kind again.”
Product: Startup Tour & Startup Scouting
Case study: Startup Tour & Scouting for Deutsche Leasing
Stephanie Simon
Project Manager Trade Fairs VDW - German Machine Tool Builders' Association
“At a trade fair, especially at EMO Hannover, start-ups have the opportunity to come into direct contact with over 2000 exhibitors who could become potential partners. In the industrial scene in particular, the trade fair is an ideal platform as you can network directly with established companies. However, some young companies still find this networking difficult and it is all the more valuable if you create sophisticated matchmaking offers like we do – implemented by Ambivation. This is because we can create a simple and fast exchange between new founders and interested investors, but also with established companies. This offers our visitors and regular exhibitors great added value, as they find exactly the new solutions from startups that they were looking for – but might not have found without the support of Ambivation.”
Product: Startup Matchmaking Format (Exhibition)
Case study: Startup Matchmaking at EMO Hannover
Open to New Partnerships? Let’s Connect
