Description
AREA42 task description
Task title: Product Innovator
PO number: 4500023120
Location:
- Brussels, minimum 1 day per quarter
- Remote location possible (this over-rules the stipulation in the Framework contract that “The Freelancer undertakes to provide the Services at the premises of the Customer …”)
Task objectives:
- The Product Innovator is assigned a research topic by the Innovation Lead in order to formulate a recommendation whether or not (and how) AREA42 should launch a solution related to the research topic.
The Product Innovator is also invited to propose new customer problems they deem relevant pursuing in the AREA42 lab.
Task steps:
The Product Innovator works closely together with the Innovation Lead and the head of AREA42 in order to prioritise tasks and get approval for budgets.
The Product Innovator follows the MISSION42 roadmap and executes the research activities required in collaboration with the AREA42 Operations Manager and when relevant other MISSION42 Innovators:
- validate problems through qualitative and quantitative research
- validate solutions through sanity checks before development starts
- build MVPs with the objective to gather data and learnings
In order to do so successfully, the MISSION42 Innovator will:
- Document research thoroughly for future reference
- Present conclusions and recommendations for internal approval
Task deliverables & milestones:
- The MISSION42 roadmap consists of 3 phases, each phase can take up to 3 months and can be re-started if the outcome is not conclusive.
- Phase 1: Problem Validation
- Validated problem/opportunity supported by research
- Potential solution and validation plan
- Phase 2: Solution Validation
- Customer validated solution
- Roadblocks and mitigation plan
- MVP plan and KPIs
- Phase 3: MVP
- Paying customers
- MVP performance evaluation
- Roadmap for acceleration
Next to all of the above, the lab experiment contributor is expected to:.
- Promote the vision and values of AREA42
- Lead by example
Desired experience:
We prefer team culture over individual performance. This being said, here are a few qualities we may be looking for:
- Somebody who gets the job done.
- A passion for innovation and start-ups with a good understanding of the corporate world.
- 5+ years of experience in venture building, ideally in a mix of start-up and corporate environments.
- Adaptable, with a good sense of priorities (and of humour)
- Proven project management skills.
- Excellent human relations, networker and team-player.
- Fluent in English; multiple European languages spoken is a big plus.
- Can handle success and failure, positive feedback as well as critiques.
- Understanding of B2B trade is a plus, experience with trade credit insurance is nice to have.
Salary range:
- 250-900€/day
- Job subject to contract via proUnity (AREA42 procurement platform), with monthly timesheets and invoicing
- Invoices should be CC to invoices@area42.tech
Work hours, travel requirements, etc.:
- Work up to 230 days for this SoW in 2025. As a freelancer, you are free to choose when you wish to work with AREA42 or to take holidays.
- Travels to support the development of the SoW (up to 10% of the time) (travel to be arranged and cost carried by AREA42)
- For administrative simplicity all travel assignments are arranged by AREA42 and also the costs are carried directly by AREA42.
Company description: AREA42
AREA42 vision:
We work in a smooth B2B trade environment empowered by new technologies
At AREA42, we create, innovate, and manage solutions for a fluid, risk-savvy trade environment. We support companies who want to recode trade for the digital era.
Together with disruptors, technologists and visionaries, we build a more fertile trade environment. We co-design ambitious visions. We experiment and launch new solutions. We turn innovations into new growth engines.
We are backed by Credendo, the Export Credit Agency from Belgium and the most trusted leader in trade credit insurance and surety bonds.
AREA42 Focus:
Our current investment thesis revolves around big untapped opportunities related to:
- Platforms and marketplaces,
- SMEs and freelancers,
- Innovative credit data and machine learning,
- Blockchain and other new trade paradigms.
For us, success can be measured in the upgrades we offer to trade ecosystems. We do not see technology as an objective in itself, but we believe it is key to unlock radical improvements for trade and accompanying risk. We take inspiration from diverse universes. We try to hack things, fail sometimes, learn always, and thrive when we co-innovate with partners who share our passion.
AREA42 Structure:
AREA42 is an ecosystem with 2 highly complementary zones: AREA42 innovation lab and AREA42 accelerator. Each zone contributes to a successful AREA42 innovation ecosystem.
- Our innovation lab aims at growing a high-quality network of trusted partners, open to co-innovation and passionate about upgrading trade; it takes a lean start-up approach to experiment with new ideas and incubate them to become validated product concepts with a market fit. The learnings, successes and failures contribute to the feedback-loop and are shared with our network.
- Our accelerator works like a growth factory. We take validated product concepts and turn them into new lines of business. Our accelerator team works with the same powerful means as the best high-growth start-ups in order to scale the most ambitious ventures in trade.
Our first basecamp is Brussels, but our playground is Europe and the world.
AREA42 Culture:
We are a diverse team based on 3 important values: respect, curiosity, and boldness. We believe in mutual trust, entrepreneurship, collective creativity, technological excellence and solid execution. For us, these values are essential to creating high-impact innovations, which we need to deliver successful long-term growth, which will help spread an innovation culture in trade.
Often, we do not know exactly what we are building. However, we always start with an exciting vision and we iterate as fast as possible to confront it with reality. We have faith in the science of experimentation and in the lean start-up approach. We invite and welcome innovators of all kinds to contribute and to have an impact. We share together the benefits of our successes.