ECOSYSTEM for startups: Idea generation and design thinking

Minnah F. Haniffa is Head of Lyspæren Innovation House at University of Stavanger, and advisor at the Department of Innovation and External Relations. Lyspæren Innovation House is a cross-disciplinary meeting hub to foster Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. Here students, employees of UiS and external partners can meet to collaborate. Lyspæren especially aims at motivating and supporting students, on their journey to become the future entrepreneur and/or innovator. Through their entrepreneurial incubator and co-working space LevelUp, tech. facilities and makerspace, Lyspæren provides a safe arena to be creative, experiment, fail fast (and learn from it), and acquire new skills through their events and courses.

Rune Todnem By, PhD, is professor of leadership at the University of Stavanger (UiS) and has a particular interest in purpose-based processes, organisational change competences, and design thinking. After 15 years at British universities and eight years delivering the subject 'Change leadership' on the UiS Executive MBA, Rune and colleagues now work closely with practitioners to contribute to a much-needed further development of leadership theory and practice in support of innovation, the green shift, and others complex challenges and opportunities.

Valentina is an innovation advisor. She is a trained economist, has two masters and a passion for the circular economy, sustainability and innovation. She works closely with many different clients - sustainable, or on the way to becoming so. Everything to give good ideas better opportunities to succeed. She also works as a competence broker for Rogaland County Municipality. Valentina takes few or no chances - except at home. "Better to regret something you've done, than to regret not doing it", is her motto.

Camilla is a designer, with an education in design and art direction from Milan. She has extensive experience in advertising, marketing, design and agencies - with many different types of clients. This has also worked as a decor designer for Figgjo AS - perfect for someone with her delicate hand and eye for detail. And precisely this has earned her design awards. She has also represented Norway in the Young Lions in Cannes. Camilla has also designed a number of record covers, including her own - she is a singer/songwriter with a distinct sense of the blue tones, both in words and music.