How to find an innovator

If you operate in technology, you’ve heard the term ‘early adopter.’ The term describes a certain type of customer. An early adopter tries new things and quickly appreciates the utility behind new products. You hear the term early adopter in the context of technology adoption and acceptance.

The term is from the book ‘Crossing the Chasm’ by Geoffrey Moore. For the readers in the audience, you’ll remember that the early adopter is actually the 2nd stage of customer in the technology adoption lifecycle.
There is actually a smaller, albeit still important, group called ‘Innovators.’

An Innovator will pursue new technology aggressively. They have a central tendency to admire, appreciate, and try out new inventions, regardless of the current state of development. They are very forgiving about short-comings and realize that new technology has bugs. ( Most people in the Valley would consider themselves early adopters, but in fact they are closer to innovators when you consider the U.S. proper and the world as a whole. )

Companies have a hard time tracking Innovators. Here is one site that is completely dedicated to Innovators: Make Magazine (website, blog ) . If I were a business considering new ideas, I’d keep a running tab on this site. Keeping a tab on Innovators helps a company identify new trends and could even create an opportunity for an early market move. The ideas on the site are unrefined and unpolished – this is a site for Innovators.

However, with a little bit of vision, it will become quickly apparent how to find new product concepts.