How the innovators innovated this year

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Eureka Ranch and its sister company, Brain Brew Custom Whiskey, already possessed insight into how to innovate.

“This is like the innovation Olympics right now,” said Maggie Nichols, Eureka Ranch’s CEO. “This is the moment. If you thought it was optional before, get in line, because it’s not. And so, we practice what we preach.”

Eureka Ranch, a think-tank and innovation training company, donated online training to more than 1,000 people. Brain Brew innovated its process, pipeline, sourcing, production and distribution from making whiskey to hand sanitizer.

Eureka Ranch had trained Brain Brew’s team about how to innovate for opportunities and to overcome adversity. Brain Brew streamlined production, re-used old equipment, and shifted business models to make hand sanitizer in just days. Approximately 2.5 million ounces will have been distributed and donated to first responders, health care providers and those restarting businesses throughout the region.

“[Brain Brew] navigated changing regulations, crazed sourcing and supply chains, aligning incredible donor partners and reworking production to make it safe for employees,” Nichols said.

Traditionally, Eureka Ranch delivered its innovation training and certifications in-person or in a blended format to students and professionals. Because of the pandemic, Eureka accelerated the development and release of an online platform, the Jump Start Your Brain Innovation Hub. Eureka Ranch opened up free accounts for anyone who wanted to learn how to innovate. Each free account holder received access to an entire starter course on innovation, teaching entrepreneurs how to create, communicate and commercialize ideas.

Eureka Ranch found a new way to teach its content. That has resulted in deeper learning, more successful course submissions, and improved confidence in students. Eureka Ranch now offers micro-learning (seven minutes or less), workflows to apply instant innovation and digital tools, and courses that are completely online for continuing education, college credit or badges.

Nichols said businesses can overcome the fear of trying a new idea by doing the math, performing a quick test and building a prototype. She said the pandemic is actually a great time for entrepreneurs to make significant change in their businesses.

“Entire industries can change, and small guys can become big guys,” Nichols said. “New customers can be acquired because you’re doing different things, you’re pivoting and you’re making moves that maybe people wouldn’t have been able to do [before the pandemic] but they are now.”

Featured image at top: CEOs Maggie Nichols (Eureka Ranch) and Doug Hall (Brain Brew Custom Whiskey).

Eureka Ranch is a Goering Center core member, and the Goering Center is sharing this content as part of its Business Courier supplement for the 2020 Family & Private Business Awards. View more of the digital supplement here.