A talent for innovation
What makes Original Ventures stand out? Years of genuine, specialist experience in innovation.
We also work with other talented innovation specialists, making it easier to create exactly the right team to meet your unique needs. We’re based in Manchester (UK) but wherever you are in the world we’d like to help.
Clare O’Neill: founder of Original Ventures
Clare advises SMEs and large multinational companies on how to develop a great environment for innovation to thrive, helping to make them more robust and competitive. Driven by her curiosity and an aptitude for seeing many possibilities, she has a natural instinct for spotting and challenging assumptions. Clare has 20 years’ experience in innovation management:
- innovation strategy: developing the right environment to boost innovation performance – people, systems, culture, leadership
- strategic planning: transforming a vision into a plan of action
- mentoring: acting as a critical friend to entrepreneurs and management
- idea generation: using creative and lateral thinking techniques to generate new possibilities
- collaboration: seeing across organisational boundaries and sectors, to develop new teams
Before setting up Original Ventures, Clare was Deputy CEO at the internationally-admired innovation agency, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, where she directed original and successful initiatives such as the Innovation Manchester Boardroom. Her experience also includes leading the Business Development unit at the University of Leicester, creating spinout companies and managing the Intellectual Property portfolio; and supporting the creation of some of Russia’s first ever business incubators as it opened up to free markets in the early 1990s. In 2007 she was elected as a Fellow of the RSA for her work on developing innovative places, and she holds a PhD in Neuroscience and an MBA degree.
Testimonials
“Clare has provided extremely thoughtful, expert advice and has an imaginative way of looking at problems. She’s really helped us develop our thinking on innovation.”
“Clare demonstrates admirably a number of skills – her understanding of the complexity of how innovation happens, and breaking down a concept to show how strategic objectives can be met.”
“Clare is a highly intelligent, consummate professional. She is always full of great ideas and will find the perfect solution in any given situation.”
“Clare has an ability to make things happen, keeping all stakeholders involved and feeling valued, but still getting the job done.”
“Clare delivers – on time and to a high standard.”
