Originally posted in our February 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter.
Innovation thrives when we focus both on the problem we’re solving and on those experiencing the unmet need.
This Stanford Online article presents some initial steps for fostering creativity while innovating, which align with key principles of ELI’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Discovery Process. Like ELI’s approach, it emphasizes the importance of identifying and deeply understanding problems before investing resources while also promoting testing ideas as you go.
ELI’s methodology extends this process by incorporating the social and emotional dimensions of unmet or unarticulated needs. By taking an empathy-forward approach, entrepreneurs can develop human-centered innovations that are not only viable but also deeply resonate with the people they serve.