This is how a typical R&D initiative emerges and takes shape at modell.ai.
We begin by identifying a high-impact Business Problem (BP) that aligns with a feasible Technological Problem (TP). This phase includes:
Delving into current practices in a specific business domain, such as sales or marketing.
Uncovering BPs by rigorously analyzing how these practices would be rendered suboptimal if an advanced AI were available.
Evaluating BPs for their potential impact and selecting the most promising one to pursue further.
Formulating a Business Problem Statement (BPS) to clearly define the unmet business needs.
Formulating a Technological Problem Statement (TPS) that addresses the specific challenges involved in creating the advanced AI solution.
Establishing success criteria to guide the project.
The result of this phase is a pair of statements—BPS and TPS—which may evolve as new insights emerge throughout the project. For partnership-driven initiatives, we work collaboratively with partners from the outset to align and refine the BPS/TPS.
When phase 1 is conducted independently, we foster partnerships by actively engaging with businesses facing BPS-related challenges and academic researchers interested in the TPS. Our goal is to assemble a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders.
For details on how partnerships work, see here.
If project funding isn’t fully secured through partnerships, we actively pursue additional resources by:
Applying for grants, sponsorships, or other funding opportunities.
Engaging investors aligned with our mission and project goals.
To execute the project, we assemble a team with the right expertise by:
Recruiting researchers, engineers, and domain experts.
Collaborating with personnel-contributing partners to co-develop or support their teams.
During the research & development phase, we focus on:
Providing leadership.
Ensuring we are at the forefront of AI advancements in TPS-related challenges.
Designing and experimenting with solutions iteratively.
Developing, testing, and refining prototypes that address the BP.
Conducting regular check-ins and maintaining alignment with partners.
Ensuring transparency through progress updates and results.
At project completion, we focus on translating outcomes into meaningful impact by:
Assessing prototypes and intellectual property for commercial potential or broader community contributions.
Securing patents or releasing open contributions, as appropriate.
Delivering final reports and recommendations to partners.