Background Information

The purpose of BrainStore

Purpose: We delight our customers by supporting them to create and implement great ideas. And we have a good time doing so.

Where BrainStore is coming from…

BrainStore is a Switzerland based organisation founded in 1989 by Markus Mettler, a Swiss-American entrepreneur.

BrainStore deciphered the DNA of Innovation and developed a set of building blocks which allow

  • the creation of ideas at the push of button - for any imaginable topic - with the Idea Machine
  • to manage innovation initiatives
  • the improvement of innovation culture for individuals and organisations

In 2008 BrainStore - at that time with an annual turnover of about USD 7.500.000 and a staff of about 70 employees - was severely hit by the financial crisis.

After the analysis of root causes BrainStore and rebooting the company 2011 BrainStore evolved as an international network of innovation entrepreneurs.

How the Business model evolved

 From here...

BrainStore set the price for services. However, we did not know where we were creating value for our customers

 ... to here

The customer sets the price - BrainStore defines the duration and content of the work cycles (Pay-What-You Wish-Principle, PWYW). This leads to a focus on value creation and a substantial reduction of complexity

How the organisation evolved

 From here...

BrainStore Ltd was operating as a traditional organisation with classical departments, functions and typical employer-employee relationships.

 To here

BrainStore is a network of entrepreneurs who are united by the purpose ("delight customers with fresh ideas brought to life and have a good time doing so"). All entrepreneurs can take any one of the four roles (customer, champ, team member, facilitator).