The British Gas Hive Story | Chris Beanland

Hive and British Gas – a Tale of Two Businesses

Chris Beanland, Head of New Products, Hive talks about the strategic rationale behind Hive, how they operate, get to market and the challenges of working as a small startup within a large corporation.

  • Hive operates independently of British Gas.
  • Uses Lean Startup Method = Customer Development + Agile Development
  • Recognises that ‘Hive’ advert is an acquired taste – “a bit weird” – but has created awareness for consumers of product and category.
  • Take approach that they spend huge amount of time with customers and potential customers, understand what they want and then try to produce that. Not technology centric at all.
  • Still a very small business.

Download Slides Here.

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