Martin Ringlein of Eventbrite: Redefining R&D

Design Driven

What is the difference between innovation and R&D? For Martin Ringlein, Global Head of R&D at San Francisco based ticketing platform Eventbrite, innovation is a cliche. It’s no longer innovative to strive for an “innovative” product. Instead, Martin prefers the classic phrasing “R&D”, or research and development but with a slight twist.

The “D” in R&D is limitless. Although it traditionally refers to research and development, it can be research and design, research and diversity, research and data analysis, and so much more. The key element that ties the possibilities together is the research.

Eventbrite is continually seeking unconventional growth and attempting to predict what’s next.

“What would Eventbrite look like if it wasn’t Eventbrite? If it did things that it didn’t do if it was in places that it has never been before?” - Martin Ringlein

These are the questions that Martin and his team are seeking answers to, and while they may not have them today, it’s sometimes more important to be asking the right questions than finding the solutions too quickly.

In this episode, J Cornelius and Martin explore topics like:

1. What is the common pattern of successful R&D in any tech company?
2. Why should you be focusing on your customer’s customers?
3. How do you validate your data and research?
4. Why is it sometimes okay to rely on your gut?

Martin Ringlein is the Global Head of R&D at Eventbrite, one of the largest ticketing platforms in the world.

In late 2016, Martin joined Eventbrite pre-IPO through the acquisition of his previous startup, nvite, where he served as CEO and Chairman of the Board. Prior, Martin was a Presidential Innovation Fellow at The White House working directly within the Executive Office of the President for the Obama administration. Martin’s first company, nclud, a research and design consultancy, was acquired by Twitter pre-IPO, where he went on to become their first Design Manager, helping build and lead the R&D team. Martin is also a Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, where he invests in early and late-stage startups, such as Hyperloop One and Chime.

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