The Killers & Drivers for the #nextlevel of the Odyssey ecosystem
At the Odyssey Next Level (un)Conference, we asked our ecosystem to give their feedback on what the killers & drivers for their and Odyssey’s #nextlevel are. We want to thank each of our members for sharing their thoughts and ideas on how to move forward and to present some of the insights from the event.
Update June 23, 2020: note that the event formerly known as Odyssey Hackathon has been moved online and rebranded as Odyssey Momentum. More: https://www.odyssey.org/odyssey-hackathon-becomes-momentum/
At the (un)Conference, entrepreneurs, developers, policy-makers, business developers, researchers, and many others shared the challenges they faced this season in order to empower each other to move forward and to move beyond their obstacles with help from the entire Odyssey ecosystem.
Moreover, for Odyssey, the Next Level (un)Conference was a great input to the Odyssey 2020 program. As it was an opportunity to collectively look back on what has been learned and look forward by discussing the ambitions for next year. We had a chance to connect the “next levels” of yourself, your peers and the entire ecosystem to get insights into the Odyssey 2020 Next Level.
Drivers: what helps us get to the #nextlevel
1. Dare to change the way we look at the world
What lies at the core of the Odyssey values is an intrinsic desire to change the way we look at the world and to take responsibility for building the future in our hands. This drive and enthusiasm are (and have always been!) the basis for what we are doing and what will bring us even further, to the next level.
2. Support from the business perspective
Odyssey brings together people with vision and drive, who are ready to fully commit in the best way possible. What makes Odyssey even stronger, is that we provide enough support from a business perspective, which is not all about money. The 2020 program will once again include a series of the Hackathon preparatory events, such as tech, legal, entrepreneurial, regulatory, and so on.
3. Collaborative spirit
Connect, co-create, collaborate. These are the 3 main pillars that are ruling our ecosystem, and which will take us to the next level. Because only through the mass collaboration — between the teams, challenges, tracks, and entire ecosystems — we can solve the complex global challenges of the 21st century.
Killers: what holds us back from the #nextlevel
- No funding model
Odyssey aims to accelerate the Hackathon solutions into adoption, which means that there is a need for a funding mechanism that will allow solutions to develop and scale.
- Focus on the solution, but not the market
One of the biggest mistakes that hold a business back is when it focuses on the solution, but not the actual (end) user and the market demand. Therefore, the Odyssey’s 2020 goal is to focus on the end users including them from the very beginning of program development.
- Technology-driven, not demand
Odyssey connects all relevant stakeholders to breakthrough solutions based on blockchain, AI and other emerging technologies. However, it should not be the main drive for reaching the end goal. As it is not about the technology, but changing the people’s mindset, culture, and adapting to the market demand, which will enable the process and bring us to the next level.
About Odyssey
Odyssey connects governmental, corporate, and nonprofit partners with innovative ideas to collaboratively address complex 21st-century challenges. We mobilize a global ecosystem of more than 6,000 members, among whom developers, creatives, startups, corporates, investors, governmental bodies, legal experts, regulators, scientists, and other key stakeholders. The past three physical editions of the event known as “Odyssey Hackathon” have drawn thousands of participants from around the world to Groningen, the Netherlands. The next edition, rebranded as Odyssey Momentum, explores the internet’s potential to unlock new levels of online collaboration and next-gen event experiences.
