In today’s rapidly changing market, long-term business success requires more than just short-term wins. At the EPICENTRE Final Gala in Naples, Albert Rivero of Worsley Acceleration Services shared how startups and corporates can align their strengths using a powerful framework: the Three Horizons of Innovation.

The Corporate-Startup Challenge

Startups are fast, flexible, and disruptive. Corporates offer stability, scale, and resources. But without the right approach, these differences can clash instead of complementing each other.

Worsley’s innovation framework helps bridge that gap: the three horizons of innovation.

1. Horizon 1: Improve Today
   • Focus: Optimize existing business
   • Impact: Short-term profits
   • Timeframe: 6–12 months
   • Resource focus: 50%
2. Horizon 2: Build Tomorrow
   • Focus: Develop new products and services
   • Goal: Avoid stagnation
   • Timeframe: 1–3 years
   • Resource focus: 30%
3. Horizon 3: Transform the Future
   • Focus: Create entirely new business models
   • Ownership: Led by corporate-level leadership
   • Timeframe: 3–5+ years
   • Resource focus: 20%

This approach ensures businesses remain relevant now while preparing for the future.

The EPICENTRE Program, backed by the EU, brings startups and corporates together to co-create innovation. Through training, mentorship, funding, and exposure, it helps startups plug directly into Horizon 2 and 3 initiatives within large companies.

Startups don’t just disrupt—they inspire transformation. With programs like EPICENTRE, corporates and startups can grow stronger—together.