This Week in Startups E1076: The Power of Accelerators E9 Sunny Madra, Head of Ford X on innovating mobility for a post-COVID world, going from idea to product at a large corporation & more
Jun 18, 2020
Sunny Madra, Head of Ford X and a former app developer for Tinder, dives into the world of mobility innovation. He shares insights on how Ford X evaluates new ideas and sources talent while balancing risk in early-stage ventures. The discussion highlights the shift towards micro-mobility post-COVID, the evolution of transportation strategies, and Ford's commitment to electric and autonomous vehicles. Sunny also reflects on transforming concepts into products within a corporate environment, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and entrepreneurial thinking.
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Tinder's Origin
- Sunny Madra discusses his experience with accelerators, starting with Hatch Labs at IAC during the mobile app boom.
- Tinder emerged from this accelerator, demonstrating a large corporation's ability to disrupt itself.
Balancing Innovation and Existing Metrics
- Established companies face the innovator's dilemma, balancing existing business metrics with the need for disruption.
- Creating separate, unconstrained groups can foster innovation without being held back by existing business metrics.
FordX and the Changing Mobility Landscape
- FordX focuses on the broader changing landscape of mobility, encompassing new modes and business models beyond car ownership.
- The acquisition of Spin, initially a FordX project called "Jelly," highlights Ford's commitment to micromobility.
