There's a startup for that

S2 E6: Inside Keolis: How Open by Keolis is building the future of transport with startups

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:55:18 GMT

What does innovation look like when millions of passengers depend on you every day?

In this episode of There’s a Startup for That, we go inside Keolis, the global mobility operator, to explore how its open innovation program, Open by Keolis, brings startups directly into live transport networks.

Adrien Broue, who leads the program, shares how Keolis tests and scales new solutions in the field, what “open” truly means inside a safety-critical environment, the challenges that come with innovating across global cities, and what Keolis looks for in a startup partner.

If you’re building in mobility, transport tech, or urban innovation, this episode is a front-row seat to how a global operator accelerates sustainable, scalable change.

P.S. We're constantly looking for fresh perspectives on corporate-startup partnerships. If you're willing to share your experience, drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com. For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn @cocubed and Tiktok @lifeatcocubed.

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S2 E5: Making Nature Cool Again: How On the Edge is using entertainment to rewire conservation

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:10:08 GMT

What happens when you combine endangered animals, drag queens, and an ex-financier with a love of cockapoos? You get On the Edge, a not-for-profit creative studio making nature go viral.

In this episode, we speak with founder Beth Blood about her journey from finance to filmmaking, why facts don’t move people, but fun does, and how entertainment can transform how we connect with the natural world.

From animated heist films to trust-based grantmaking, Beth’s story proves that saving the planet doesn’t have to be boring. Nature just needed better PR.

🔗 Explore On the Edge: ontheedge.org

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S2 E4: Inside Novotel: How Novotel & WWF Are Leading Ocean Innovation in Hospitality

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:05:11 GMT

In this powerful kickoff to our Climate Change Action Series, Co:cubed sit down with Jean-Yves Mine, Global Brand President at Novotel (Accor Group) to unpack how the hospitality giant is turning the tide on ocean degradation. Through an innovative global partnership with WWF, Novotel is championing sustainable seafood, launching microplastic-filtering laundry tech, and inspiring the next generation with educational games for kids.

Recorded partly at the UN Ocean Conference, this episode dives deep into the Blue Economy, Ghost Gear recovery, and why ocean justice matters as much as ocean health. You’ll also hear from WWF France’s Blue Panda team and the 1000 Ocean Startups initiative, showcasing how startups, science, and global brands can work together to protect our seas. When you're ready, let's dive in! (no pun intended)

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S2 E3: Inside Bestseller: How a fashion giant gives its sales reps superpowers

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:53:10 GMT

On this episode of There’s a Startup for That, we sat down with Luca Pascucci, Digital Sales Innovation Manager at Bestseller, who’s turning bold ideas into real-world transformation across brands you know and love like Vero Moda, ONLY, Jack & Jones, and more.

Dive into the episode to discover how Bestseller give their sales teams superpower and turns Italy from a traditional to a top-performing digital market.

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S2 E2: Inside L’Oréal’s World of Innovation: How the Beauty Giant Seize What's Next

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:38:09 GMT

Explore the world of innovation at L'Oreal and how one of the world's beauty leaders seize opportunities to stay ahead of the game via startup collaborations. From innovative pigments from the automotive industry to sustainable ingredients from an agritech startup, L'Oreal holds a formula for startup x corporate collaboration success. Joining us in this episode are Steven Perkins and Maryline Paris, Technology Partnering Managers at R&I (Research & Innovation) Open Innovation.

Curious on how L'Oreal is seizing what's next? Let's dive in.

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S2 E1: January Breakthrough Briefing: Is it an AI world & we're just living in it?

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:55:03 GMT

Welcome to our new season! For those of you who have been following us, this is a new format for a new season. We are very excited to be launching our first episode of Breakthrough Briefing, a monthly innovation roundup brought to you by Co:cubed. In this episode, we will dive into:

UK Government's AI Announcement and Its Implications Across Sectors, The Rise of DeepSeek and Its Impact, Key Trends and Findings from Davos 2025, and Ganni x Ambercycle partnership for recycled textile waste. Are you ready? Let's dive in!

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Ep. 9 #IntoTheFuture: How Reckitt is Future-Proofing Its Beloved Brands

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:08:06 GMT

Dettol, Vanish, Durex, and Gaviscon. These are just some examples of beloved brands from Reckitt. As one of the world's leading FMCG giants, Reckitt realised that what got us here won't get us there. With the ever-changing landscape of customer demand and the challenge of climate change, Reckitt is now looking towards the future, helping its household brands stay relevant, and providing its business with sustainable growth.

Joining us in our very first episode of #IntoTheFuture is Jos Harrison, Global Head of Brand Experience & Design at Reckitt, who will be sharing his insights and experience on how Reckitt is preparing itself for the future. #IntoTheFuture series is where we will explore how corporates can leverage innovation to future-proof its business through new business models, new routes to market and new ways of thinking and working.

Dive in to find how Reckitt is looking to humanise sustainability challenges, evolve its brands and redefine the world of FMCG.

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Ep. 8 #SaveTheCorporate: How Adecco’s Social Innovation Lab helps people get back into work

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:46:45 GMT

Cynthia Hansen, Managing Director at Adecco Innovation Foundation (IF) shares her story with Mark and Neal of how IF went from a traditional foundation programme to a social innovation lab.

How successful were design thinking, prototype building and innovative pilots in launching impactful ventures? What lessons did she learn to scale successfully?

From helping young mothers get back into work to ensuring mature workers can earn a living again, IF’s work focuses on designing user-centric, scalable and impactful solutions.

Listen on to discover the world of corporate foundations and learn how you might apply the model to your innovation function!

P.S. We're constantly looking for fresh perspectives on corporate-startup partnerships. If you're willing to share your experience, then please drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com. For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) @cocubed.

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Ep. 7 #SaveTheCorporate: How M&S ignites innovation to stay ahead of the game

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:31:56 GMT

From Percy Pig to Colin the Caterpillar, M&S has been a household name in the UK retail space for many years. As one of the UK’s leading retailers, how do they stay ahead of the game? What are they doing to ensure they never go out of style?

In this episode we are joined by Toby Caterer, Open Innovation Manager from M&S Ignite, an open innovation function for M&S.

Toby is here to tell you how Ignite is fueling innovation passion amongst colleagues and putting customers at the heart of everything they do.

Listen on to learn M&S’s secret sauce (well… the one that they can share with anyway) and let us know what you think!

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Ep. 6 #SaveTheCorporate: How Bosch revolutionised startup collaboration

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:32:33 GMT

Corporates are facing unprecedented changes, and startups are playing a pivotal role in driving innovation. 🚀

In this episode, we are back to uncover the fascinating world of Corporate Venture Clienting.

But what exactly is Venture Clienting, and how do corporations utilise their open innovation toolbox in today's startup ecosystem? 🧐

Well, we have a special guest who's about to break it all down for us. Joining us is Christian Hüttenhein, Venture Client Advisor and Co-Founder of OpenBosch, the Venturing Clienting Unit within Bosch Ventures. 🙌

In this episode, we dive deep into how macroeconomics, technology change, and shifts in the working world are affecting corporates. Discover how corporates are adapting to this new reality, the concept of organisational ambidexterity, and why they need startups to take risky bets. Startups, after all, are built for risk! 💡

Enjoy the episode!

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Ep. 5 #SaveTheCorporate: How Coca-Cola Europacific Partners tackle Net Zero

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:59:45 GMT

Imagine a world where your bottle of Coca-cola is produced using energy from CO2, packaging made of CO2 and sugar and carbonation pulled out of thin air. Sounds cool, right? Well, that future is in the making with one of the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).

Joining our new episode is Nicola Tongue, Associate Director of CCEP Ventures, CCEP’s impact investment arm. Nicola is here to talk all things corporate venture capital and how CCEP Ventures is driving a sustainable future through discovering breakthrough technologies.

From direct air capture technology to carbon utilisation, listen in to hear how CCEP tackle their net-zero goals through impact investing and partnering.

We're constantly looking for fresh perspectives on corporate-startup partnerships. If you're willing to share your experience, then please drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com. For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @cocubed.

Enjoy the episode!

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EP. 4 #WhereDoesItHurt: How can HITS help narrow down the retirement savings gap?

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:16:43 GMT

Did you know that by the time you’re retiring, there will be a significant gap between your salary and your pension? And that that gap is growing? Because we didn’t!

Opening our new sub-series, #WhereDoesItHurt, Samyr Mezzour from House of Insurtech Switzerland, a Generali’s Innovation Garage spinout, is tasked with the challenge of providing consumers with a 360 view of their financial health to future-proof their retirement. Samyr entered our clinic in hopes that we can help heal where it hurts.

In this episode, we present 3 startups: Nordigen, Moneyhub & Otto, who could potentially help HITS tackle their challenge. Listen on to see which one Samyr swiped right for and how he can see HITS partnering with them should they want to take this forward.

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Ep.3 #SavetheCorporate: Can gorillas dance? The why, how and where of corporate x startup partnerships

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:24:04 GMT

Based on more than 15 years of research and his latest book, Gorillas Can Dance, the fantastic Dr. Shameen Prashantham is here to share his expertise and the where, why, and how of corporate-startup collaborations and the notion of dancing with gorillas (aka the corporates).

Listen on to hear about lessons and best practices from Microsoft, Unilever, Nissan and many other corporates of the world and see how you, too, can start dancing.

Find out more about Gorillas Can Dance: https://www.gorillascandance.com/

Dr. Shameen's TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3EspLV9LFg

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Ep.2 #SavetheCorporate: How VMO2 adapt to the changing role of brick-and-mortar stores

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:37:57 GMT

As consumers increasingly turn to online shopping, traditional brick and mortar stores are struggling to compete. In this episode, we are joined by Brett St.Clair from Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Daniel Martinho-Corbishley from Aura vision to discuss how their partnership helps VMO2 combat the evolving role of brick and mortar stores. From launching a proof of concept to rolling out Aura Vision's computer vision technology to improve customer experience in 300+ VMO2 stores, the pair demonstrates how a corporate x startup partnership can help traditional retailers stay competitive in a changing retail landscape. Enjoy their story and let us know what you think!

If you are interested in being featured on our episodes, please drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com.

For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @cocubed.

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Ep.1 #SaveTheCorporate: How Asda tackled food waste with Whywaste

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:10:22 GMT

Did you know that 1/3 of food produced globally goes to waste? As one of the UK’s major supermarkets, Asda is on a mission to reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030. This ambitious target requires new tools, technologies and processes that empower store associates to take action and clear nearly expiring produce. In search of an effective food waste solution, Asda met Whywaste, and a collaboration was born! In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Hudson from Asda and Martin Grådal from Whywaste, to talk about one of the world's biggest waste challenges and how a corporate x startup collaboration has led to an impactful change throughout the organisation. Enjoy!

If you are interested in being featured on our episodes, please drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com.

For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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There's a startup for that: an introduction

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:15:19 GMT

Welcome to an introductory episode of "There's a startup for that" podcast powered by Co:cubed! Hear from our CEO, Jeremy Basset, and our hosts Mark and Neal on why corporate leaders should be engaging with startups and why they should look beyond their 4 walls. But this podcast is also for startups who want to understand how they could forge partnerships with corporates and for anyone interested in new and upcoming innovation that has the potential to change the world. We hope we can inspire you in some ways or another.

If you are interested in being featured on our episodes, please drop us a line at connect@cocubed.com.

For more information about Co:cubed and what we do, visit www.cocubed.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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