Crosslab
CROSSLAB
At Crosslab we’re helping local businesses to innovate using the expertise of our students and coaches. In the second year of the International Business School our students choose for "project-based learning" within The Startup Factory and choose for real challenges at companies in Germany or The Netherlands. A full year; with several teams of six students and one coach. Starting in September but also in January witj limited students. Join us to learn by doing!
Henry Ford"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."
About us
Students from Venlo International Business school provide project consultancy solutions to Dutch and German companies. Valuable research, useful validation and free of charge. CrossLab is ideal for enterprises looking for help to improve existing business or to innovate to new business models for the future.
Powered by the professionals of “Fontys Startup Factory” all students have access to knowledge and support from experienced teachers and coaches. An enormous network as an ideal fundament to support students, employees and teachers to develop themselves. With the focus on talent development with students they feel the team dynamics while beating deadlines and achieving milestones. Team CrossLab likes to encourage these international young consultants to develop a “GreenBrain Attitude” and to understand the transformation from formal networks to informal network.
What companies might have the right learning environment to achieve improvement and innovations?
We think that smart and sustainable companies that are open to work with the principles of Design Thinking and Lean Startup connect with our students. These principles are at the core of Crosslab projects and shape the phases that students go through. It gives them a lot off freedom within a clear blueprint for a roadmap. As part of a project group of six students they will develop several learning outcomes (skills); understanding technology, recognizing business models, being entrepreneurial in learning by doing and on top of that teamwork with all kind of students and employees with different background, expectations and expertises. That’s Crosslab.
We think that smart and sustainable companies that are open to work with the principles of Design Thinking and Lean Startup connect with our students. These principles are at the core of Crosslab projects and shape the phases that students go through. It gives them a lot off freedom within a clear blueprint for a roadmap. As part of a project group of six students they will develop several learning outcomes (skills); understanding technology, recognizing business models, being entrepreneurial in learning by doing and on top of that teamwork with all kind of students and employees with different background, expectations and expertises. That’s Crosslab.
Students and employees will learn to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams of students, coaches and company contacts. All shareholders have to be agile and adaptable, are expected to empathize with different stakeholders and build their entrepreneurial mindset. Most common projects consist of finding solutions to existing customer problems and in doing so all stakeholders conduct internal/external analyses, identify opportunities and create multiple scenarios whilst taking into consideration financial/economic information. Developing talents within students and employees.
Students will deliver a final presentation (video) to Fontys assessors that counts for 50% of their grade and provide proof of developing on several personal learning outcomes for the remaining 50% of the final grade. The company might have other wishes to receive and hear the sollutions after the project. That is up to you and your team to discuss and agree.
Fontys coaches will inspire the students to develop themselves in fields that they are interested in to help companies innovate. To help students develop these skills, the StartUp Factory uses the methods of "Design Thinking" and "Lean Startup". Also the use of a special tool to organize learning outcomes: GrowFlow App. Ideal to work on your individual development whilst working in a group. The process of individual developments are supported by trained Fontys coaches and monitored by the Crosslab coordinators.
Fontys coaches will inspire the students to develop themselves in fields that they are interested in to help companies innovate. To help students develop these skills, the StartUp Factory uses the methods of "Design Thinking" and "Lean Startup". Also the use of a special tool to organize learning outcomes: GrowFlow App. Ideal to work on your individual development whilst working in a group. The process of individual developments are supported by trained Fontys coaches and monitored by the Crosslab coordinators.
To apply these project management methods to succeed in trying experiments and decide to pivot and go back to the drawing board. Or to persevere and continue to Lear Build and Measure. Visualising a prototype can be a visual or a real product. Hopefully a visualisation of a MVP (Minimum Viabel Product). This development technique for new product introduction in a market with basic features. Enough to get the attention of the consumers of your clients. To learn this you need to have a good understanding of the subsequent steps and milestones. It all starts with you and the need to develop six basic attitudes that will help you to successfully complete the design process as a team. In this visual the whole process is clear, but while doing these steps it will make real sense. The process starts wit some pre-work; Teambuilding. Than the steps are shown in the next visual.
Coordination & Contact
Crosslab projects
Crosslab Project "Emmaus-Feniks Tegelen 20/21"
In order to boost the brand awareness and to help more people in the Euregio to improve their lives a cooperation between Fontys Venlo and Emmaus-Feniks Tegelen started. (article in dutch)
Go to article