At World Innovation Lab, we often think about how a more diverse team can help us do our job better. Gaining new perspectives helps us better evaluate new investment opportunities, and makes us a better partner when working with our portfolio companies. When looking at next generation trends, we work with our Student Partners - talented students from top universities including Stanford and UC Berkeley - to monitor emerging trends and products/ companies that are serving new needs.
We recently did a deep dive into Generation Z, a demographic group that already has $200B spending power today. We combed through reports, tracked performance of companies catering to Gen Z’s, and interviewed Gen Z influencers. We looked at:
- What are the key influences that are shaping this generation?
- What are this generation’s core values, and how are they different from Millennials’?
- How do such values manifest in their consumption of physical and digital goods?
And lastly, we presented some implications and predictions on “what’s in” vs. “what’s out” for this generation:
- Out with Rich, in with Enriching
- From Easy, to Instant
- Less Authority, more Trust
- Less “Just” Shopping, more Engaging
We had the great pleasure to have our very own Student Partner Sabina Beleuz, a “graduating Gen Z” herself, share our perspectives at the A.T. Kearney Future of Store event in San Francisco. Check out this presentation; we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Image by © Nadiabormotova