Change the Box

Change the Box: A Guide to Dream, Incubate, and Scale Your Innovations by John Spencer-Taylor reveals powerful strategies to transform bold ideas into thriving businesses. Drawing from his experience with BrainGu, Spencer-Taylor shares practical advice on balancing creativity with commercial viability. The book also introduces the "Change the Box" mantra, emphasizing small, impactful changes that drive significant results.

Readers will learn to navigate the stages of innovation, from dreaming big ideas to scaling them for market success. With insights on maintaining company culture during rapid growth, integrating technological innovation with strategic business constraints, and overcoming common startup challenges, this guide is essential for entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders in tech, cybersecurity, and highly regulated industries.

JOHN SPENCER-TAYLOR, known as "Spence," has a diverse background in business intelligence, financial systems, and cybersecurity. His journey into the tech world began with a focus on data analytics and automation, leading to various R&D roles in both offensive and defensive cyber realms. In 2012, Spence co-founded BrainGu, a company dedicated to solving complex problems at the intersection of data and cyber. Today, BrainGu builds platforms that enhance innovation efforts in industries ranging from energy and finance to national intelligence and defense. As CEO, Spence combines his passion for creative problem-solving with a broad technological expertise to drive BrainGu's success. Outside of work, he is an avid music enthusiast and hobbyist musician.

Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Prologue

Chapter 1: The Innovator’s Dilemma
Chapter 2: Creating Focus with Constraints
Chapter 3: Only the Best Proceed to the Next Round
Chapter 4: Dream—Incubate—Scale
Chapter 5: Leading a Culture of Smart Risks
Chapter 6: Architecting an Innovation System

Conclusion
Appendix A: Platform Thinking
Appendix B: The BrainGu Culture
Appendix C: A Case Study of the WIDOW Application for the United States Air Force