Innovation+

What Innovation+ does

Innovation+ is a curated global community platform serving entrepreneurs, innovators, large organizations, and higher education institutions. Founded by James Barrood, the organization operates from the New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania region and maintains a network of 20,000+ community members and 10,000+ global leaders. Its core offerings include advisory and consulting services for companies and institutions, quarterly themed salons (CEO, Innovation, Investor, Higher Ed, and functional areas), the 'A Few Things' podcast with 112+ episodes, and educational programs including the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Virtual Teen Camp and Future Tech Experience for teenagers. The organization also delivers executive education AI briefings in partnership with Rutgers University.

The business model is professional services-based, generating revenue through advisory engagements, consulting projects, speaking fees, and educational programming. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; advisory and consulting services are quote-based, while the teen camp program operates on a registration model. The go-to-market approach is community-led, leveraging events, thought leadership content, and James Barrood's personal brand and 25+ years of innovation ecosystem relationships to attract and engage participants. Distribution channels include direct community engagement, podcast distribution across 8+ platforms, TEDx talks, and published thought leadership in outlets including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and Grit Daily.

The company has 1-10 employees and operates as a private, founder-led organization without disclosed external funding. Strategic partnerships include Rutgers University, HAX (Newark), JumpStart Angel Network, Tech Council Venture Fund, and McCarter Theatre. The organization functions as a connector and thought leader across the entrepreneurial ecosystem rather than a technology product company, with no proprietary technology stack or AI/ML capabilities disclosed beyond educational content delivery.

Name

Innovation+

Legal name

Innovation+

Website

https://innovationplus.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Innovation+ is a curated global community platform founded by James Barrood that serves entrepreneurs, innovators, large organizations, and higher education institutions through advisory services, quarterly salons, educational programs, and the 'A Few Things' podcast, connecting 20,000+ members across industry, education, government, and nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Advisory and Community Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation Leadership & Leading Growth (EDABAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI), Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship advisory
• Innovation consulting
• Community network
• Executive education
• Thought leadership speaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Somerset

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Services: Advisory services helping entrepreneurs and executives grow their companies or organizations. Consulting services that help corporates and higher ed institutions leverage the startup community to drive innovation. Strategic guidance for leaders forming or revitalizing boards. Thought leadership via keynote or panel speaking engagements.
2. Education Programs: Global Entrepreneurship Experience: Virtual Teen Camp - educational program teaching entrepreneurship skills to teenagers, including topics like teamwork, leadership, communication, design, innovation, marketing, STEAM, sustainability, career exploration, and networking.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Innovation+ provides personalized advisory, consulting, and strategic guidance services to entrepreneurs, executives, corporates, and higher education institutions, helping them leverage the startup community to drive innovation. The firm also operates a curated global community platform featuring the 'A Few Things' podcast (112+ episodes), quarterly salons across multiple functional areas (CEO, Innovation, Investor, Higher Ed, CFO, CMO, CIO/CISO, HR), 200+ ecosystem events, and education programs including the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Virtual Teen Camp and Future Tech Experience. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements and educational program participation.

Product overview

Innovation+ is a curated global community platform of engaged entrepreneurs and innovators rather than a traditional software product company. The organization operates as a community network offering multiple interconnected programs: the A Few Things Podcast as its flagship content product featuring interviews with innovation leaders; education programs including the Global Entrepreneurship Experience Virtual Teen Camp and Future Tech Experience; advisory and consulting services for entrepreneurs and organizations; and regular salon programs (CEO, Innovation, Investor, Higher Ed, and others) that facilitate networking and knowledge sharing. The company also provides speaking services through TEDx talks and thought leadership content. The portfolio functions as a unified community engagement ecosystem rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Few Things Podcast: A podcast featuring conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders from the innovation ecosystem, hosted by Jim Barrood. Over 112 episodes covering topics including entrepreneurship, innovation, AI, talent, and leadership.
• Global Entrepreneurship Experience: Virtual Teen Camp
• Executive Education AI Briefings at Rutgers

Products and services

• Advisory Services Personalized advisory and consulting services helping entrepreneurs, executives, corporates, and higher education institutions leverage the startup community to drive innovation, including strategic guidance for leaders forming or revitalizing their board.
• A Few Things Podcast Flagship podcast hosted by James Barrood featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders on topics including entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, and AI; 112+ episodes distributed across 8+ platforms.
• Global Entrepreneurship Experience: Virtual Teen Camp Week-long virtual camp for teenagers teaching entrepreneurship skills including teamwork, leadership, communication, design thinking, innovation, marketing, STEAM, sustainability, career exploration, NFTs/cryptocurrency, and networking.
• Future Tech Experience Online teen summer course covering emerging technologies including AI, media literacy, and evaluation of AI-generated content for teenage participants.
• Speaking and Thought Leadership Engagements Keynote and panel speaking services delivered by James Barrood at conferences, TEDx events, and corporate functions, with thought leadership articles published in Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Grit Daily, Life Sciences Leader, Star-Ledger, ROI, and NJBiz.

Quantifiable outcome

• 112+ podcast episodes featuring global entrepreneurial and innovation leaders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rutgers UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation+ partners with Rutgers University on executive education programs, including AI briefings and workshops. James Barrood serves as advisor and the organization hosts events at Rutgers facilities. The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is part of the New Jersey Innovation Hub ecosystem that Innovation+ supports.
• TechAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames Barrood serves as advisor to TechAid, an organization focused on technology solutions for social impact. This advisory relationship connects Innovation+ to humanitarian technology initiatives.
• Princeton McCarter TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames Barrood serves on the board of Princeton's McCarter Theatre, providing cultural institution connection and cross-sector networking opportunities.
• HAX (Newark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAX selected Newark for a new $50 million facility partnering with founders and early-stage startups in industrial, healthcare, and climate technology. This is part of the New Jersey innovation ecosystem that Innovation+ supports and connects with. Won against global competition with support from Governor Phil Murphy and investor Sean O'Sullivan.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator and venture firm with a large founder network, content platforms, and corporate innovation programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering accelerator programs, founder community, and corporate partnerships that overlap with Innovation+'s advisory and education offerings.

Direct peers

• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Membership community for founders and CEOs with peer-learning forums, executive education, and accelerator programs. Comparable because it monetizes a curated entrepreneur network through paid membership, events, and executive programs targeting the same persona as Innovation+.
• Startup Grind: Global startup community and events platform running chapters in 600+ cities. Directly comparable as a community-led organization serving entrepreneurs through events, content, and corporate partnerships, with a similar model of salons, conferences, and thought leadership programming.
• TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs): Global nonprofit fostering entrepreneurship through 60+ chapters, mentorship programs, and investor networks. Comparable as a chapter-based entrepreneur community combining curated events, education, and angel/VC exposure, addressing the same founders and executive audience.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and entrepreneur training program with a network of founders, mentors, and investors. Comparable because it monetizes entrepreneurship education and community access, and overlaps on the founder-development and curriculum angles.
• 1871: Chicago-based technology hub and entrepreneur community providing events, programs, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a regional innovation community curating members, hosting salons and programming, and connecting startups with corporates.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Global innovation community operator providing workspace, programs, and venture-client services. Comparable as a community-led organization building curated entrepreneur/innovator networks and connecting them with corporates and investors.
• NJ Tech Council (TechUnited): Regional technology trade association where James Barrood was previously CEO for five years, with 1,000+ member companies. Closely comparable because it serves the same NJ/PA/NYC ecosystem with member events, advocacy, and corporate-startup programming that Innovation+ now pursues.
• Keiretsu Forum: Global angel investor network with 2,500+ members across chapters. Comparable because Innovation+ maintains an advisory relationship with JumpStart Angel Network and similar groups, and Keiretsu competes for the same entrepreneur-investor matchmaking niche.

Emerging players

• gener8tor: Mid-market accelerator and venture fund operating across US geographies. Comparable as an emerging player combining accelerator programming, corporate partnerships, and an entrepreneur community that overlaps with Innovation+'s target founders and innovation executives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovationplusnewjersey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovation+