In a world where innovation is often boxed within the realms of engineering and technology, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, a self-identified teacher and a Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, refuses to be confined.

Dr. Ogutu, Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University, is reshaping the very definition of innovation. With his framework, The Innovation Algorithm, he has devised a method that simplifies the process of thinking outside the box, making innovation accessible to all.

“I am a treasure hunter. I hunt ideas that are powerful and can change and transform life,” Dr. Ogutu declared in his opening remarks at an Entrepreneurship Speaker Session organized by The Education Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation on March 13, 2025.

While many in his field are content with research papers and policy debates, Dr. Ogutu said he thrives in the electrifying chaos of hackathons, the high-stakes intensity of incubation fairs, and the pulsating energy of startup accelerators where ideas are stress-tested in real-time. It was during one such event that his approach to innovation was put to the ultimate test.

While pursuing his PhD in Organizational Management at Rutgers University on a Fulbright Scholarship, Dr. Ogutu found himself in a conversation with Todd Nakamura from Google who had encouraged him to participate in an innovation competition. Todd at first dismissed Dr. Ogutu’s tech idea about simulation of teleportation, arguing it was impossible to implement given the technology at the time. He even sent Dr. Ogutu two articles explaining why it had never worked before.

But instead of discouraging him, those very articles became the foundation for The Innovation Algorithm. It is precisely when Dr. Ogutu took up his challenge and cracked those limitations that Todd encouraged him to enter his tech idea in a Google Development Group Solve for X competition. He ended up being one of seven moonshot pioneers who were selected to present their innovations at Google in New York.

According to Dr. Ogutu, the bigger discovery occurred when he reflected on what could have led an ordinary person like himself to innovate, and he discovered it was a replicable and teachable process that he then dubbed The Innovation Algorithm. You can read up on it at www.bit.ly//TheInnovationAlgorithm.

Powered by the mantra Necessity is the mother of invention, Dr. Ogutu’s approach to innovation rests on two fundamental principles: Removing psychological barriers to innovation and creating a necessity to innovate.

“Most people attempt the hardest thing first, which paralyzes their ability to innovate,” Dr. Ogutu explained. The Innovation Algorithm simplifies this process by flipping the sequence of problem-solving. Instead of fixating on new products or services, innovators must first identify a new solution pathway or approach; only then should they design products that align with this new perspective.

During the session, Dr. Ogutu detailed the steps of The Innovation Algorithm, offering a fresh take on how anyone, regardless of their background, can innovate. First, he said you need to create a powerful emotional connection between you and the problem you are trying to solve.

He urged the audience to express the problem in such simple terms that even a seven-year-old would understand the problem in its complexity.

“If a seven-year-old can understand the problem, how is it a complex problem,” quizzed Dr. Ogutu.

The other step was to interrogate the solutions other people have given to the problem you are trying to solve and create a new pathway to solving the solution from the gaps and inefficiencies of the previous pathways.

Finally, he said to complete the innovation cycle, apply a technical framework. Ensure that the new pathway is viable by anchoring it in a real-world application.

By breaking down innovation into structured, tangible steps, Dr. Ogutu dismantled the myth that creativity is reserved for a select few. The Innovation Algorithm opens the doors of innovation to everyone, from grassroots entrepreneurs in Africa to seasoned professionals in global corporations.

“Some might call this approach unconventional. Some might even dismiss it as a hoax. But I guarantee you, if you follow these steps, innovation is at your fingertips,” said Dr. Ogutu. “You need to be intelligent enough to recognize the right solution.”

Article written by Stephen Wakhu