Posted on

SummerHack 2021: “New Times, New Experience” Winning Solution

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

SummerHack 2021: “New Times, New Experience” Winning Solution

Facing the challenges of the global pandemic, insurers must reimagine their products and services to cater to the new challenges faced by consumers.

2

DAYS

ONLINE

2021

12

TEAMS

12

MVPs

Challenges

Under the theme “New Times, New Experience”, we asked our teams to choose from these challenges and ideate a real business solution using our Design Thinking methodology:

Ecological Footprint

How might we develop a solution/service to support ecological footprint?

Access to Insurance

How might we develop a solution/service to cater to the growing underserved population?

Embedded Insurance

How might we develop an embedded insurance solution/service to attract and serve the younger generation?

Gig Community

How might we develop a solution/service to support dynamic and engaged independent workers?

WHY?

Understanding Jason and Sarah, part of our Gig Community

With limited time on hand, Team Foresters decided to take on the challenge of supporting and engaging the Gig community, seeing that the current crisis is pushing many people to search specifically for non-traditional forms of employment that provide flexibility and additional income.

PAINS (COMMON)

  • Limited options for independent workers
  • No employment insurance available
  • All options available are co-pay structure

GAINS (COMMON)

  • Appreciate having the choice to earn through more creative endeavors
  • Enjoy time flexibility

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

Insurance companies cannot measure crucial data when it comes to self-employed gig/seasonal workers, therefore current insurance coverage options do not align with their needs and ability to pay.

How can we make it easier for gig workers to access insurance to fulfill their financial and health needs?

How can we offer seasonal workers a sense of stability despite their fluctuating income?

SOLUTION

The team ideated several solutions to offer gig workers ease and stability when it came to their insurance coverage, and together, they selected the final solution to prototype.

How might we provide a flexible insurance solution that improves the well-being of gig workers?

GIGLIFE

In essence, gigLife offers benefits and community within the gig economy, including access an exclusive community forum, learning platform, and discounts while managing credits in a healthcare spending account during and between gigs.

GigLife supports independent workers by providing benefits they may lack, a buffer when they are between gigs, and access to professionals who can offer financial and legal advice. The platform provides health benefits funded through a combination of participation fees. The platform could also provide benefits to participants by purchasing a life insurance policy and advancing a portion of the death benefit to cover the costs of the current benefits, all legalities taken into consideration.

Further, it aims to create an opportunity for organic group advocacy for the gig working community through social networking features.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

At the end of the 2-day ideathon, 11 global teams pitched their ideas to our panel of experts.

16

Countries

18

Hours

100+

Participants

12

Participating Teams

11

Judges

3

Winners

12

MVPs

1

Final Pitch Event

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

Staying Connected No Matter Where You Are – Cookhouse Labs Hybrid Experience

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

Staying Connected No Matter Where You Are - Cookhouse Labs Hybrid Experience

How can we maintain our engaging innovation experience combining virtual and in-person participants?

1

Semester

ONLINE

2021

4

University students

2

MVPs

Challenge

Define solutions to keep innovators connected, despite being in different rooms or geographical locations, either at home or in the office.

WHY?

Understanding differences between virtual and in-person experiences

SEE

  • Webcams are off during virtual sessions
  • Internet connectivity issues
  • Participants from different countries are now able to participate
  • Difficult to focus due to technological distractions

SAY & DO

  • Teams have found alternative ways to stay connected, e.g. Weekly check-in meetings
  • Would be great to continue participating in a sprint no matter where I am
  • Less engagement results in less feedback
  • Easier to plan meetings virtually

HEAR

  • Participants cannot chat during coffee breaks like before
  • Attendees have distracting background noise
  • Most people remain on “Mute” throughout sessions
  • Participants hesitate to share their thoughts during sessions

THINK & FEEL

  • Virtual meetings all feel the same now
  • Participants are tired of staring at a screen all day
  • Enjoy not having to commute anymore or dress up
  • Miss in-person conversations

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

Some participants find the virtual experience convenient, but are seeking out better ways to stay engaged during sessions.

How can we help virtual participants feel connected to in-person team members during projects?

How can we redesign our experience to ensure it feels the same virtual and in-person?

What resources can we leverage to create an exceptional hybrid experience?

SOLUTION

The team came up with 50+ ideas and narrowed their solution down to the top 2 — Video Conferencing Robots and the Cookhouse Labs Socializing Box.

Hybrid models (combining the virtual and in-person experiences) have been in our mind since the beginning of our journey. Many times our participants have to travel to other office locations or meet clients and still want to be part of the sprints. A hybrid model is a solution we want to test and implement to maintain our engaging, fun and collaborative experience.

How might we build trust and improve communication among participants on-site, remote participants, and the moderator during the whole project in a hybrid digital session?

1

DOUBLE ROBOTICS

By employing the use of video conferencing robots, we allow participants to feel more present in the Lab. These robots can be controlled via one’s keyboard arrow keys from anywhere in the world over a Wi-Fi network, and give participants an opportunity to explore the physical space from the comfort of their home. With video display on the attached iPads, this solution also overcomes the barrier of joining coffee breaks, inviting discussion and ideation despite the physical distance.

2

THE COOKHOUSE SOCIALIZING BOX

This solution promises an unforgettable social experience, complete with ingredients to make a customized cocktail or mocktail and a light pasta meal. The Box includes the tools needed, such as a branded glass, apron, and even a wooden spoon! To complete the experience, participants will be brought into a virtual culinary class hosted by a Cookhouse Labs moderator, where they can create these dishes together while still being in their own kitchens. This works to create a sense of community and acts as an icebreaker before the main event date.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

Over the course of 200+ hours, the team worked closely to understand the challenges faced by facilitators and participants during the virtual experience.

2

Personas

4

Journey Maps

7

Participant interviews

13

Interview questions

50+

Ideas

2

MVPs

1

Robotic Solution

1

Project Presentation

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

StudentHack: “AI and Big Data” Winning Solution

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

StudentHack: “AI and Big Data” Winning Solution

The arrival of AI and Big Data to the insurance industry brings many opportunities and risks, which insurers must anticipate in order to stay relevant during the imminent digital transformation of the industry.

2

DAYS

ONLINE

2021

15

TEAMS

15

MVPs

Challenges

Under the theme “AI and Big Data”, we asked our teams to choose from these challenges and ideate a real business solution using our Design Thinking methodology:

Build trust

How might we leverage big data and artificial intelligence to increase consumer confidence, trust, and tailor the insurance experience?

Risk management

How might we leverage big data and artificial intelligence to help homeowners understand and mitigate risk to help prevent losses from happening?

Insure the uninsurable

How might we leverage big data and artificial intelligence to improve existing or develop new insurance products that benefit Canadian businesses?

Respond to changing consumers

How might we leverage big data and artificial intelligence to improve the insurance-buying experience to make it more engaging and less of a one-off transaction?

WHY?

Understanding Phil, a happily married Vice President in Toronto

The homeowner’s insurance industry is vast, and Team Jedis discovered that claims have gone up in the past years. Improper management of risks, unclear policy terms and uncertainty lead to losses for both the customer and the insurance providers.

PAINS

  • Increased risk due to unclear claim process
  • Repeated paperwork when switching providers
  • Lack of clarity around risks associated with home ownership and mitigation strategies

GAINS

  • Automated claims process reduces wasted time
  • Data sharing between companies means no extra paperwork required
  • Chatbot provides quick answers to common questions

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

While the claims settlement process is a red flag, the root of the problem is the unforeseen damages to the houses due to negligence. Thus, it is beneficial to predict and prevent rather than detect and repair.

There is uncertainty around the claims procedure, with confusion around what is covered and the amount of deductible paid.

Most homeowners have other financial commitments and bills to pay from their fixed income.

The prolonged process of claims settlement and uncertainty is an added burden on the homeowner.

SOLUTION

Team Jedis ultimately decided that the best way to educate the homeowner would be to incentivize them to use an integrated mobile app that variates their premium if the home is not properly maintained and proper precautions are not taken.

Problem statement

How might we leverage big data and artificial intelligence to help homeowners understand and mitigate risk to help prevent losses from happening?

INSURACONNECT

An AI-based mobile application that integrates with smart devices (such as smart fire alarms) and constantly monitors the health and effectiveness of these devices for the homeowner.

The user is allotted a ‘risk band’ based on their profile and the status of their devices. The AI-based system will compare and suggest smart home upgrades to improve the user risk profile, frequently pushing maintenance recommendations as needed. This incentivizes consumers to maintain their homes by managing key risks, as their ‘risk band’ and premiums will be affected by how quickly the user acts on the recommendations.

In the case of incidents or damages, an automated claim will be filed via the app and a smart bot will be available to answer questions regarding the status of the claim.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

At the end of the 2-day ideathon, the 15 student teams submitted their ideas for review to a judge panel of Canadian insurance experts.

100+

Participants

16

Hours

15

Participating Teams

15

Empathy Maps

6

Expert Judges

15

MVPs

1

Winning Team

2

Runner-up Teams

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

Accelerating Innovation by Collaborating with InsurTech Startups

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

Accelerating Innovation by Collaborating with InsurTech Startups

While an increasing number of organizations are investing in these collaborations, the success of these initiatives is fairly low. We aimed to create a long-term win-win solution for both groups.

4

Days

ONLINE

2020

3

Organizations

1

MVP

Challenge

How might we accelerate and increase competitiveness through collaboration with startups, while learning from their agility and expertise?

WHY?

Understanding Betty’s experiences during the collaboration process

PAINS

  • Hesitation from corporations to test and fail
  • Not included in early discussions
  • Legacy mentality
  • Bureaucratic processes
  • Many security requirements
  • Solution may lack cultural fit
  • Time wasted arranging meetings

GAINS

  • Access to a bigger network
  • Quicker GTM
  • Improved client experience
  • Scale up sustainably
  • New revenue stream
  • More funding
  • Autonomy for innovation teams

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

Founders often spoke of time wastage when communicating or scheduling meetings with insurance organizations.

How can we reduce the amount of time lost during the communications process?

How can we create an environment that supports and encourages collaboration between insurers and startups?

How can we ensure the right decision makers are present at meetings with startups?

SOLUTION

Within 5 minutes, the project team produced 26 potential solutions to this challenge and settled on the winning solution – a dedicated committee of decision makers.

How might we identify the right decision makers to speed up the process of collaboration, improving Betty’s experience?

DEDICATED COMMITTEE OF DECISION MAKERS

The insurance organization will establish a dedicated committee of the right decision makers with business objectives and incentives. The committee will work within a well-defined project cycle to collaborate with InsurTech startups, and will meet regularly to hear startup pitches. The culture will be agile and fail-fast, and the committee will receive training from an Innovation Coachs.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

At the end of the project, the team presented their solution to the community and invited the audience to share their insights through a poll after the presentation.

16

Hours

1

Empathy Map

1

Startup Founder Persona

1

Focus Group

25+

Ideas in 5 minutes

4

Masterminds interviewed

1

Lo-Fi Prototype

1

Final Presentation

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

Empowering Small Businesses with IoT for Improved Financial Management Experience

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

Empowering Small Businesses with IoT for Improved Financial Management Experience

How might we make small businesses more financially resilient for future extreme events like COVID-19?

24

Hours

ONLINE

2020

3

Organizations

1

MVP

Challenge

Use the Internet of Things (IoT) to assist small business owners in the food industry with financial management to improve profitability and reduce bankruptcy.

WHY?

Understanding Fiona, a small business owner in Toronto

The global pandemic has been challenging for small businesses, especially those in the restaurant industry, often driving them to the point of bankruptcy and permanent closure. The data derived from an IoT solution will support insurers in creating better tailored business interruption products for small business owners.

PAINS

  • Pandemic business interruptions have led to a loss of revenue
  • Struggling to pay rent and operational expenses
  • Forced to lay off employees to cut costs
  • Estimates likelihood of bankruptcy is 9/10
  • Dreams for future expansion are shattered

GAINS

  • Wants to stay in business and increase revenue
  • Improve service to make customer feel comfortable
  • Wants to be more financially stable in the future
  • Would welcome assistance in financial management
  • Peace of mind

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

Business owners resort to cost-cutting as a result of the current economic impact, leading to many employee layoffs.

How can we empower small business owners to better forecast inventory demands to reduce wastage?

How can we create a supportive environment for small business owners during these challenging times?

How can we leverage existing resources (e.g. employees) to identify alternative revenue streams?

SOLUTION

The team ideated many IoT-powered solutions to tackle this challenge and quickly selected the winning idea: a financial planning tool with elements of community and skill development.

How might the Internet of Things (IoT) assist small business owners with their financial management to improve profitability and reduce bankruptcy?

1

CFOAI APP

A survival-driven bankruptcy solution for sustainable small businesses. The mobile app balances financial planning with community support and learning resources through the following features:

NEWSFEED

A community forum where small business owners can connect to share their experiences and learnings.

COMMUNITY FUND

A community pool where owners can seek financial support and loans during severe economic hardship.

LEARNING CENTER

This feature links to e-learning resources focused on employee skill development to keep up with market demands.

CFO AI

A machine learning assistant that monitors your inventory and wastage. The feature also reports on industry trends and provides sales forecasts.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

The team worked closely with small business owners in China and Canada to further develop this much-needed solution.

24

Hours

1

Empathy Map

7

Participant interviews

2

Masterminds Interviews

20+

HMW Statements

1

MVP

1

Startup Founded

1

Project Presentation

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

SummerHack 2020: “IoT Disruption in Insurance” Winning Solution

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

SummerHack 2020: “IoT Disruption in Insurance” Winning Solution

IoT devices offer real-time data that can be impactful in managing risk, potentially saving millions in claims disbursements.

24

HOURS

ONLINE

2020

19

TEAMS

19

MVPs

Challenges

Under the theme “IoT Disruption in Insurance”, we asked our teams to choose from these challenges and ideate a real business solution using our Design Thinking methodology:

Mobility Services

How might we develop an IoT-based customer-focused holistic mobility insurance product/service?

Small Businesses

How might we develop IoT-based risk-prevention services/products for small businesses?

Fight Obesity

How might we develop IoT-based solutions/services to prevent and reduce obesity and overweight?

WHY?

Understanding Donna, a 40-year-old high school teacher

With less than 24 hours to come up with a solution, Team ABC quickly chose the challenge of overcoming obesity. People with a BMI of 30 or over can expect to pay 25-50% more on health insurance premiums, and the team raced against the clock to find a better solution.

PAINS

  • Denied coverage due to obesity (not a pre-existing condition)
  • Too much effort required to count calories
  • Struggling to stay accountable in self-guided weight loss journey

GAINS

  • Incentivized to change unhealthy lifestyle
  • Wants to lose weight
  • Looking for a sustainable weight loss method
  • Lower insurance premiums for healthier individuals

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

Calorie Counters are inaccurate, with a total error of up to 25%.

How can we make it easier for individuals to access information related to their personal health?

What IoT tools/resources can we provide individuals to support them in accurately tracking their caloric intake?

How can insurers use personalized IoT data to help individuals manage their health and lower premiums?

SOLUTION

The team chose to use IoT sensors to collect and analyze real-time data from individuals’ food consumption.

How might we empower individuals to manage their own health while reducing the effort required to sustain this lifestyle change?

BYTE - SMART TOOTH

BYTE is a wearable oral sensor system attached to any tooth and is used to detect and measure the calories in what you eat. A small Bluetooth radio will wirelessly transmit data to a mobile device. Insurers can partner with BYTE to provide their customers with support in managing their health. The IoT data collected from the customers’ weight loss journey will be monitored by the insurer and as the customer becomes healthier and files fewer health-related claims, the insurer will reward the customer in the form of a discounted premium.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

At the end of the 24-hour ideathon, the 19 student teams pitched their ideas to our panel of experts.

10

Countries

24

Hours

100+

Participants

19

Participating Teams

22

Expert Mentors

8

Judges

19

MVPs

1

Final Pitch Event

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

WinterHack 2020: “Digital Ecosystems” Winning Solution from Team Hannover Re

Innovation Project Summary Cookhouse LabS

WinterHack 2020: “Digital Ecosystems” Winning Solution from Team Hannover Re

Insurers must keep up with changing customer demands — or risk losing out on growth opportunities worth USD $177 billion over the next 5 years.

2

DAYS

ONLINE

2020

12

TEAMS

12

MVPs

Challenges

Under the theme “Digital Ecosystems”, we asked our teams to choose from these challenges and ideate a real business solution using our Design Thinking methodology:

Reduce Loneliness

How might we develop a solution/service offering to reduce social isolation or loneliness of elderly people?

Subscription Model

How might we develop a new subscription-based business model of insurance built on Digital Ecosystems?

Building Inspection

How might we develop a highly automated service/solution for building inspection of commercial properties?

Understanding Insurance

How might we develop a solution/service allowing customers to fully understand the personal risk and coverage situation?

WHY?

Understanding Edith, a retired seamstress with a pension

Team Hannover Re partnered with startup EMIL Group Gmbh and combined two challenges: they chose to build a subscription-based business model to serve elderly populations.

PAINS

  • Unsure if app is trustworthy
  • Concerned about protection of personal data
  • Finds technology complicated
  • Feels “too old” to learn how to use app

GAINS

  • Many features now located in a single place
  • Some apps are user-friendly and easy to navigate
  • Can connect with grandchildren over technology
  • Regular notifications help create familiarity and comfort in using app

Flexible membership options

See Options

DISCOVERY

In an ever-changing digital world, seniors face unique risks and are a digitally underserved cohort with risks to manage and money to spare.

How can we create a simple user experience for seniors to easily navigate?

How can we build trust between different players in the ecosystem?

SOLUTION

The app uses technology to create a tailored interface in a connected ecosystem.

How might we empower senior citizens to live independently and manage their risks in a complex world?

BEGLEITER

The digital concierge for the Baby Boomer Generation.

Begleiter is a one-stop shop for topics around: Health, Organization, Finance, and Community.

The app uses technological innovation such as an intelligent chatbot, a dual view for a senior/junior duo to create simplicity in user experience. Begleiter connects relevant Ecosystem players. The subscription model creates trust, so modules are chosen due to fit and quality.

Ready to innovate?

Search Events

RESULTS

At the end of the 2-day ideathon, the 12 insurance teams pitched their ideas to our panel of experts.

10

Countries

18

Hours

85+

Participants

12

Empathy Maps

12

Participating Teams

9

Judges

12

MVPs

1

Final Pitch Event

PARTICIPANTS

More Co-creation Sprints

Our test kitchen has cooked-up new customer-centric solutions to industry problems and challenges through rounds of innovation sprints with our global community. Check out the results!

Find Out More

We also offer intro sessions that provide insurance professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!

BECOME A MEMBER
Posted on

Current Times and Innovation

Let me share a brief summary of a story from my perspective. It all started on March 13, 2020. That was when I was informed that I no longer needed to go to our Lab space in Toronto and that suddenly, I needed to ideate on how to we were going to deliver our planned activities for the next three months in a virtual space. AH! Sound familiar? Perhaps you don’t deliver trainings or facilitate sprints, but you also had to redesign how you presented to your clients, how internal meetings were going to take place, even how your workspace was going to look and how you were going to share space with your new colleagues (spouse, pets, children, etc.). In other words, change all, or as I prefer to say, redesign.  

So how has the current situation impacted me personally as an Innovation Coach? Here are ways in which I have used my Innovation Coach skills to get me through these times: 

Embrace creative mindset

From day one, it was obvious that I needed to put my creative mindset to work. I was expected to redesign our programs and how we delivered them while ensuring our participating members still had a pleasant Cookhouse Labs experience. It was an opportunity to let go of all limiting beliefs and get to creating ideas and putting them to test. Sometimes I was afraid of failure, but I knew that the biggest failure would be to not show up.  

Dance with change

Most of us hide from change and try to avoid it. In my area of work, what I am passionate about – creativity and solution-focused mindset — change is the constant that keeps showing up in all aspects of my life. Instead of avoiding it, I choose to create a song with it and dance to the melody. Dancing with change allows me to see the situation from different angles as I continue to move. Can you see how that is possible? How are you choosing to dance? At what speed? And which partners are you bringing along to the journey? 

Accept uncertainty

As solution-focused as I am, there was a point when I realized no one actually has an idea of when things are “going back to some normality”. That realization invited me to choose between fighting that feeling of uncertainty and feeling angry, sad, frustrated OR accepting that uncertainty had become the only certain thing around me. Accepting this fact made it easier for me to flow and look at life as many opportunities because it allowed me to play with one of my favorite two words – WHAT IF? And if you have been on our campus, you know that ‘What If’ is a door to creativity and ideation. Accepting uncertainty, asking what if, and staying solution-focused definitely made my daily work more fluid.  

Connection, connection, connection

These current times have definitely highlighted the importance of staying connected. And in the world of innovation, connections are vital because it is how we can collaborate and in our Lab, it is how we can co-create. After seeing and hearing many of our participating members share how much they miss being in their offices, it really invited the opportunity to reach out more often and stay in touch with our community, which leads to our continued purpose to #MakeInsuranceBetter as a community.  

I invite you to reflect on how these times have impacted you, changed your habits, expectations and/or ways of working. But most important, as an innovator, how have these times invited you to expand and develop your innovative skills?  

I’d love to hear from you and read how you are levering these changes for your growth.

Posted on

2020: A Year in Review

2020 a year in review

One year ago, we re-launched Cookhouse Labs in December, and what a great year it has been!  

Cookhouse Labs 2.0 introduced an Acceleration stage to our collaboration model, supporting both MVP and product development after the initial Ideation and Creation stages of a co-creation project. We’re delighted to say that Cookhouse Labs 2.0 was a major success this year, breaking traditional barriers to collaboration both locally and internationally! 

Here’s a look at some of the Labs’ incredible accomplishments since December 2019:

1. 500+ innovators joined our community this year — and generated nearly 200 ideas!

We were excited to meet innovators from all around the world in 2020! 

Innovators from all across geographies, ages, and cultures came together for our virtual events! They collaborated during co-creation sprints, ideathons and student projects, learned about various innovation methodologies in our Masterclasses, and dove deep into industry topics in sessions with seasoned experts. We were delighted to welcome innovators with diverse experiences and backgrounds including tech, venture capital, finance, law, marketing, HR, and student life!

2. Our Innovation Team hosted 10 global innovation Masterclasses

Our Masterclasses were informative, engaging, and full of high energy! 

Our participants spent time learning about various innovation methodologies from our Lead Innovation Coach, including Design Thinking, Google Sprint, and Lean Startup. Other attendees joined our Train the Trainer sessions to explore tools and communication styles they could use to facilitate their own innovation projects. In our Design Tools Masterclass, our Senior UX/UI Consultant walked participants through design theory and led them through exercises to build their own mobile app mockups. Some of our favorite app ideas included coffee orders, pet care, and late-night cookie delivery!

3. We brought together 200+ hackers from over 10 different countries

85+ participants celebrate the winning team at WinterHack 2020 — Team Munich Re! 

This year brought some of our biggest innovation events, including our 24-Hour Global SummerHack: IoT Disruption in Insurance and WinterHack 2020: Global Design Thinking Ideathon. Our teams were full of innovators of all ages and backgrounds — including insurers, students, startups, and vendors — who were often continents apart! Similarly, our Events Teams pulled these events off with incredible coordination despite being in separate locations around the world, such as China, Germany, Canada, and Pakistan!

In these truly global events, our teams tackled a diverse range of challenges and pitched their solutions to a jury panel of accomplished innovation leaders. We were blown away by the ideas that were shared at these Final Pitch Events, solving key issues such as mitigating small business bankruptcy, overcoming loneliness in the elderly, helping customers understand their policies, fighting obesity, and creating IoT-based mobility insurance products. Our winners took home exciting prizes, including a Cookhouse Labs Membership, a Design Thinking session, and tickets to insureNXT|CGN, courtesy of InsurLab Germany!

4. We fostered incredible community spirit during these challenging times

Our Lead Innovation Coach, Ibeth Ramos, interviews two salon owners from Winnipeg, Canada in the session, ”Success Stories of Small Business Owners”. 

2020 was a difficult year for the owners of small businesses, who faced major sales declines and the possibility of permanent closures. In these challenging times, we brought the insurance industry together for the first-ever virtual Back to Business Summit in September, an idea that was generated through a co-creation sprint we ran earlier in the year. The event aimed to provide small business customers with free access to experts on key business topics through 19 live and on-demand sessions. Our experts shared helpful information for owners on topics such as low-budget marketing, financial assistance programs, finding alternate revenue streams, legal considerations towards employees, and understanding their insurance coverage.

This initiative was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, motivating us to bring the event back in October with additional free sessions for the small business community. These sessions continue to be available on our official event page, and we encourage you to explore and share these with any owners you know who may benefit from this free knowledge!

Reflecting on this past year at Cookhouse Labs, it has undoubtedly been a fascinating one full of new ideas, connections, and opportunities. As we raise a glass in celebration of these achievements, we want to take a moment to appreciate our global community of innovators. Thanks to your continued support and enthusiasm, we have achieved innovation across borders on a scale beyond our wildest dreams. You inspire us to dream bigger on our journey to #MakeInsuranceBetter, and for this we are truly grateful!

Looking forward, we’re delighted to announce that our 2021 Events Calendar is now live, full of exciting Masterclasses, co-creation projects, and global innovation opportunities! As a token of our appreciation to the community, we’ve extended our 50% Virtual Discount on our Annual Memberships to December 31st, 2020, with Memberships starting at $250 CAD monthly. We invite you to check out our upcoming events and other perks of becoming a Cookhouse Labs Member — hurry, our 50% Virtual Discount ends in less than 3 weeks!

Posted on

The Most Innovative Gifts of 2020

Most Innovative Gifts 2020

‘Tis the season for gift-giving, and as we approach the deadline for shipping, we thought we’d share some of the best gifts that made our list.

To help you with your holiday shopping, we’ve created a list of 5 innovative gifts to send your loved ones this season. All of these gifts are available online, making them safe and easy to deliver to your friends and family members.

So go ahead — end the year on a festive note with our top gift picks!

1. Must-Have WFH Technology

In March, organizations around the world shifted to virtual workspaces, creating a shortage of basic work-from-home (WFH) technology. It’s not too late to send the busy professionals in your life the newest versions of necessary WFH tech to improve their virtual game, such as a Video Conference Lighting Kit or a Smart Wi-Fi Router for Wi-Fi dead spots around the house. Even further, many of us have struggled with discomfort from poor posture in the home office. Why not send your giftee an innovative Massage Roller to relax those tense muscles this holiday season?

2. Virtual Travelling Experience (VR Tourism)

Gift your favorite traveler their own VR Headset to complement a virtual travelling experience! Whether they choose to take a breathtaking helicopter ride over tourist spots around the world or visit NASA research facilities across the U.S., you can rest assured that you will have given them the gift of travel in the safest way possible this year.

3. A Gift Card from Your Favorite Small Business

Earlier this year, we ran a 6-month project to support heavily impacted community businesses during these challenging times. We invite you to play your part by sending your loved ones a gift card or purchase a gift online from your favorite local business. Some cool ideas from independent businesses include customized self-care kits, handcrafted home décor and clothing, and virtual group classes for activities such as painting, yoga, and cooking.

4. Phone Screen Magnifier

This special gift will double the size of your phone screen while maintaining the HD quality, making it the perfect gift for anyone with a smartphone. Give your loved ones a break from focusing on tiny pixels — they’ll love you for it!

5. Silk Pillowcases

Recent developments in the industry have led to pillowcases with cooling capabilities that prevent bedhead and reduce damage to skin. This holiday season, give your friends and family the gift of luxurious sleep with must-have silk pillowcases!

We hope our list has helped you create your own holiday list. From all of us at Cookhouse Labs, we wish you and your loved ones a wonderful and safe holiday this year — and we can’t wait to see you in the New Year!

Wondering what we have planned for 2021? Our Events Calendar is live and full of innovative projects, Masterclasses, and global events. Check it out here!