In this deceptively casual talk, Charles Leadbeater weaves a tight argument  that innovation isn't just for professionals anymore. Passionate amateurs, using new tools, are creating products and paradigms that companies can't.

The era of open innovation

The driving force behind many breakthrough inventions is shifting from corporations to passionate amateurs and users. Mountain bikes, once dismissed as homemade 'clunkers,' now account for 65 percent of bike sales in America, a $58 billion industry born from user frustration and creativity. As technology and access improve, everyday people collaborate to create new products, knowledge, and even organizational models. This grassroots innovation challenges traditional top-down approaches and transforms consumers into active producers.

Amateurs With Passion Now Out-Innovate Big Companies

business

collaboration

culture

economics

innovation

invention

media

product design

software

TED Stage Talk

Charles Leadbeater: The era of open innovation