The document reflects on the positive impacts of participating in open innovation challenges experienced by various prize recipients, highlighting benefits such as invaluable mentorship, enhanced understanding of user needs, and the development of credible products. Participants noted significant advantages, including networking opportunities, funding, and motivation to explore new markets, which ultimately contributed to their product and career development. A survey conducted by Luminary Labs captured these insights from prize recipients between 2011 and 2017.

1. Prize recipients reflect on how participating
in an open innovation challenge impacted
the development of their products
Making it real —
in their own words

2. 2
Journeys
Finalist · Reach Higher Career App Challenge
The feedback from the mentors, and
continued relationship with many of
them, was invaluable. The process
helped shaped both our short- and
long-term roadmap and has helped
bring credibility to our vision.”
O N S H A P I N G A V I S I O N
“

3. 3
This exposure to [teachers and other
people working in the industry] helped
us understand the problems that our
end users are facing in order to build
better products.”
O N E M PAT H Y
“
Smart Sparrow: LifeCraft
Finalist · EdSim Challenge

4. 4
Veterans Advancing the New Paradigm for ALS/MND
Winner · PiPH Collaborate | Innovate Innovation Challenge
The questions, answers, and
comments from the judges were
probably the most reinforcing
and powerful statements we
could have had.”
O N F E E D B A C K
“

5. 5
EnduringFX
Finalist · 2012 Data Design Diabetes Challenge
[Learning more about diabetes]
opened me to the world of healthcare,
inspired me to get a master’s in Health
IT (May 2018 grad!), and provided the
revised basis for my software system.”
O N L E A R N I N G
“

6. 6
LiveHealth
Finalist · 2012 Data Design Diabetes Challenge
The first benefit was the community and
relationships we made. I still work with
some of the mentors from the
Challenge, and in fact, some of our
early investment came from [a mentor].”
O N R E L AT I O N S H I P S
“

7. 7
The Irregular
Finalist · EdSim Challenge
The challenge created an opportunity
to explore a space in education we
would not have considered otherwise.
This led to meeting new friends and
colleagues, and gave us incentive to
grow … into a new field.”
O N E X P L O R I N G N E W M A R K E T S
“

8. 8
Laborlink Trafficking Module
Finalist · Rethink Supply Chains Challenge
Getting second place in the challenge
gave us funding, momentum, and
credibility. The result is the successful
development of a scalable product that
can be used industry-wide to identify
and mitigate illegal labor practices.”
O N M O M E N T U M
“

9. 9
Hats & Ladders
Winner · Reach Higher Career App Challenge
We’ve benefited in so many ways —
from the inspirational problem and the
guidance we received from mentors
and students during the accelerator,
to the tremendous validation and
prize we received from winning.”
O N G U I D A N C E A N D VA L I D AT I O N
“

10. 10
The Irregular
Finalist · EdSim Challenge
The challenge pressed us to develop
at rates we hadn’t hit before, ensuring
we had deliverables for aggressive
deadlines. … It put us well ahead
where we would be otherwise.”
O N T I M E P R E S S U R E
“

11. 11
About the survey
From January through March 2018,
Luminary Labs conducted a survey of prize
recipients (including semi-finalists, finalists,
and winners) that participated in 14 open
innovation challenges held from 2011-2017.
Learn more: luminary-labs.com/open-innovation