A radical new perspective on innovation to help aspiring entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls
One of the biggest problems faced by entrepreneurs and corporate executives alike is the conflation of entrepreneurship with innovation. The quest for innovation is often misguided by a variety of mantras, clichés and proclamations, often infused with notions of disruption and delusions of grandeur.
Beyond Eureka! debunks the myths and conventional wisdom surrounding innovation, revealing its complex, non-linear nature and identifying ways to avoid common pitfalls. Serial entrepreneur Delbourg-Delphis first defines innovation as the implementation of something new that is developed for and commercialized in a marketplace. She uses various case studies—-both smaller scale and well-known—to unpack the common misconceptions surrounding innovation and guide entrepreneurs through the uncertainty of innovating in a potential market rather than a pre-existing one.
Beyond Eureka! brings a new perspective to understanding the nature and practice of innovation based on the author's extensive experience, historical knowledge, and conceptual analysis. Innovators, whether entrepreneurs or the strategic leadership teams of established companies, will benefit from the insights and guidance.
Reviews
"Every entrepreneur and executive involved in the innovation process should read this book. Marylene skillfully and thoughtfully answers the twelve burning questions that aspiring innovators confront on the innovation journey, like 'Do you need to disrupt?' Revealing surprising insights and grounded in deep practical experience, Beyond Eureka! is a must read."—Renée Mauborgne, professor, INSEAD, and co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy and Beyond Disruption
"Marylene Delbourg-Delphis delivers a skillfully written book that delves deeply into the world of entrepreneurship. By exploring the distinction between invention and innovation, the author shares fascinating historical lessons, including her own experiences in Silicon Valley. This thought-provoking academic journey will undoubtedly inspire readers to reconsider standard approaches."—Alexandre Bayen, associate provost and professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, UC Berkeley
"In Beyond Eureka! Marylene explores innovation and value creation from the unique perspective of innovators in multiple fields, giving readers a variety of approaches to ideation and creation based on best-in-class mindsets."—Brian Solis, futurist, innovator, and best-selling author
"A must for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs! Read this book if you want to understand how innovation works and learn from the lessons of the biggest successes and failures of Silicon Valley and beyond."—Eugenie Rives, General Manager at X, Alphabet 's Moonshot Factory
"In her book Beyond Eureka! Marylene reminds us that innovation (and innovators) never operate in a vacuum. By better understanding her concept of 'innovation kairos' anyone, from venture capitalist to inventor, can improve their chances of bringing change successfully to the world."—Chris Yeh, general partner of Blitzscaling Ventures and co-author of Blitzscaling
"A profoundly original thinker, Marylene offers unique and deep insights on the why, how, who, and where of innovation in Beyond Eureka! Not just in start-ups but in labs and companies. Not just in tech but in every facet of industries. It blows up myths and provides guide posts for the effective enablement of future innovation."—Sramana Mitra, founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M)
About the Author
Marylene Delbourg-Delphis is one of the first European women to have founded (with Guy Kawasaki) a technology company in Silicon Valley. The CEO of three additional companies in succession, she has also helped over 30 companies (so far) as a “shadow” CEO, board member, and strategy advisor. A graduate of l’Ecole Normale Supérieure in France, she holds a PhD and earned minors in mathematical logic and history of sciences, which she studied under the tutelage of French academician Michel Serres. In 2018, she was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit for military and civil accomplishments.
