Today, IDEO CoLab announces the launch of its new Startup Studio program to help accelerate the world’s best blockchain entrepreneurs and startups, in partnership with over 20 leading organizations and protocols. The program kicks off this month and builds upon IDEO CoLab’s investing and co-creation program for blockchain startups launched earlier this year.

As part of our quest to reimagine how the world’s best entrepreneurs are supported and invested in, IDEO CoLab’s new Startup Studio for blockchain entrepreneurs unbundles the traditional startup accelerator model into a collection of programs and workshops offered by IDEO and our network of partners. Together, we can address a broad range of blockchain startups’ specialized needs — from design to product, testing, brand, hiring, finance, law, engineering, smart contract development, and more.

Over the last four decades, IDEO has pioneered the field of human-centered design to help create iconic products in partnership with leading companies like Apple, Google, Nike, and Ford. We believe that the blockchain industry has now reached the point where human-centered design and collaboration are needed to realize its full potential and make the leap from millions of enthusiasts to billions of everyday users. As IDEO’s platform for collaboration, IDEO CoLab is excited to run the Startup Studio program in partnership with over 20 leading organizations, service providers, and protocols.

Starting today, blockchain entrepreneurs and startups can apply to participate in specific acceleration programs via IDEO CoLab’s Startup Studio website.

2019 Launch Partners

In 2019, we’re excited to be partnering with a network of leading organizations and Layer 1 protocols who have deep expertise, capabilities, and global reach. They’ll be able to help blockchain startups and entrepreneurs who participate in our Startup Studio programs in unique and complementary ways.

Our friends from over 20 organizations including Amazon, Atrium, Avanta Ventures, Blockchain at Berkeley, Brex, CoinList, CSAA Insurance Group, Deloitte, Electric Capital, Ethereum Foundation and ETH Global, Fidelity, GS Group, Hanwha, Messari, NEAR Protocol, Oasis Labs, Perkins Coie, she256, Stellar Foundation, Silicon Valley Bank, Tezos Foundation & TQ Tezos, and more to be announced, have joined as 2019 launch partners.

We’ll look to selectively bring on additional value add partners who can help blockchain entrepreneurs and startups in important ways. If your organization is interested in becoming a partner, please reach out.

We’ve Already Started

For the past few months, we’ve been running Startup Studio programs at IDEO CoLab with leading blockchain entrepreneurs and startups including 0x, Alto, Braintrust, Compound, Dharma, dYdX, Fairmint, UMA, and many others. We’ve helped them validate/invalidate new product concepts, design product UX/UI, and find their first launch customers. We’re excited by the impact these programs have made thus far and can’t wait to help more entrepreneurs and startups in the months ahead.

“I really did love the IDEO people. They’re obviously the best of the best in terms of design talent. It’s seriously valuable for folks like me to get to spend time with design folks like that, and to learn about their process. I knew user testing was valuable but hadn’t really experienced it before.”

Hart Lambur, CEO of UMA (participant in IDEO Product Validation Day)

If you’re an entrepreneur or working at a blockchain startup and would like to join our community or participate in our Startup Studio programs, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.