How Open Innovation Can Transform R&D with Kevin Leland and Phil Taylor

In this episode of Village Global's Venture Stories, Erik Torenberg interviews Kevin Leland, co-founder and CEO of Halo, and Phil Taylor from Bayer Crop Science. Kevin explains that Halo is a market network connecting companies with scientists and startups for research collaborations, similar to LinkedIn but for research and development purposes. He details Halo's evolution from a crowdfunding platform for medical research to its current model, emphasizing the importance of industry expertise and resources for scientists. Phil discusses Bayer's open innovation strategy and how Halo has facilitated their Grants for Ag program, creating a network of scientists and enabling unexpected collaborations. The conversation further explores the concept of open innovation, highlighting the necessity of external partnerships for solving complex challenges and achieving sustainability goals, with examples from the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and consumer packaged goods industries.