Breaking Boundaries: Why Trans- and Interdisciplinarity Are the Keys to Startup Success

In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, traditional problem-solving approaches are often no longer sufficient. Innovative products today are not only the result of technological breakthroughs or individual fields of expertise — they require the interplay of diverse disciplines and perspectives. This is where the concepts of transdisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity come into play: they enable us to think beyond professional boundaries and find novel, creative solutions to today’s challenges.

Interdisciplinarity refers to the collaboration of different disciplines that combine their specialized knowledge to achieve more comprehensive results. It becomes especially indispensable when a problem is so complex that no single discipline can solve it alone. In startups and innovation processes, the value of interdisciplinary teams becomes evident when technical expertise meets business considerations or when design and marketing jointly shape the development of a new product.

Transdisciplinarity takes this a step further by involving not only science and academic fields but also actors from outside academia — such as users, customers, or policymakers — in the innovation process. This co-creation leads to practical solutions based on real needs, making them particularly quick to reach market readiness.

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In a Deep Tech Venture Studio, where the goal is to build and support groundbreaking startups, trans- and interdisciplinarity are therefore central elements. They help us to tackle complex problems, make business models more flexible, and identify market gaps that would otherwise go unnoticed. The ability to network knowledge from various sources allows us to respond more quickly to changing market conditions and develop robust, scalable solutions.

In this article, we will delve into the advantages of trans- and interdisciplinarity and show how we consciously address the associated challenges in our Venture Studio. After all, the potential for innovative startups lies in the diversity of thinking — if we learn how to leverage it effectively.

Why We Can’t Develop Groundbreaking Ideas Without Diverse Perspectives

One of the strongest arguments for working in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams is the variety of perspectives that flow into the innovation process. In a startup, the challenges faced are multifaceted: from technological issues to market entry strategies and financing. Individual disciplines or experts who view a problem only from their own perspective often overlook critical connections. This is where the added value of interdisciplinarity comes into play.

Interdisciplinary teams combine expertise from different fields such as technology, design, business administration, or sociology, creating a more comprehensive view of the problem. Everyone brings their specific knowledge and methods, opening up new solutions and enhancing the ability to think “out of the box.” Often, groundbreaking ideas emerge at the intersections between disciplines — where perspectives overlap and new ways of thinking are developed.

For example, in our Venture Studio, we repeatedly see how the combination of technological innovation and social science knowledge has helped us develop products that are not only technically feasible but also relevant and usable for the target audience. The ability to bring together designers, sociologists, engineers, and business experts early in product development promotes a holistic view of problems and leads to solutions that consider not only isolated aspects but the entire system.

Diversity in teams plays a key role here. Different cultural backgrounds, experiences, and approaches enrich the innovation process and lead to more sustainable solutions. Studies show that diverse teams tend to be more innovative and productive because they combine different thinking patterns and are not stuck in traditional ways of solving problems. They challenge existing assumptions and break down stereotypes, which can lead to radical innovations.

In our Venture Studio, we consciously promote this type of diversity — not only by assembling teams with diverse professional backgrounds but also by incorporating external partners and stakeholders in a transdisciplinary approach. The perspective of customers, industry experts, or even the public can often be the catalyst that transforms an idea from good to groundbreaking.

By incorporating broader perspectives, we are able to create more sustainable innovations — products that not only succeed in the short term but remain relevant in the long run because they are built on a solid, diversified foundation.

Why Isolated Thinking Is the Enemy of Efficiency

In a traditional innovation process, problems are often viewed in isolation — departments work separately from each other, and everyone stays in their own “silo.” This approach may work in some cases, but when it comes to truly complex and novel challenges, it falls short. Instead, it is becoming increasingly clear that the key to more comprehensive and sustainable solutions lies in the networking of knowledge.

When different disciplines collaborate, synergies arise that go far beyond what each individual discipline could achieve on its own. Technologies become more user-friendly through the lens of design, business models become more profitable through market data analysis, and products are better tailored to user needs through psychological insights. These are just a few examples of how networking knowledge leads to innovative, holistic solutions.

In our Venture Studio, we repeatedly see that the best solutions don’t come from a single discipline but from the combination of various perspectives. Take the discovery of penicillin, for example. If Alexander Fleming had only focused on bacterial research, the revolutionary effect of the mold Penicillium might have gone unnoticed. But through his open and curious approach — along with later collaboration with scientists and doctors from various disciplines — the potential of the mold was recognized. Technicians, chemists, microbiologists, and doctors worked together to isolate penicillin, increase its effectiveness, and ultimately bring it into mass production. This was a classic interdisciplinary approach: the inclusion of different experts led to the development of a life-saving drug that was not only scientifically significant but also tailored to the needs of patients and the requirements of pharmaceutical production.

A transdisciplinary approach further allows the creation of products and solutions that are better aligned with the reality of users and the market. Close collaboration with external stakeholders ensures that actual needs and expectations are understood early on and incorporated into the development process. This not only reduces the risk of misguided investments but also increases the acceptance and marketability of solutions.

Why Only Multidisciplinary Teams Will Survive in a Dynamic World

One of the biggest challenges in today’s business world is the rapid change in markets, technologies, and customer needs. Companies, especially startups, must be able to respond flexibly and resiliently to these changes. This is precisely where the value of multidisciplinary teams comes into play: they allow for faster responses to challenges by drawing on a variety of approaches.

Quick Responses to Change:
In an innovation process dominated by a single discipline, bottlenecks can quickly occur when conditions change. For example, technological upheavals or legal changes may force a company to adjust its strategy at short notice. Multidisciplinary teams, which bring together experts from different fields, are able to react faster and more flexibly because they can draw on different approaches and experiences to solve problems. If a problem is technical in nature, engineers and programmers will solve it; when faced with legal or regulatory hurdles, legal experts can step in. This adaptability allows teams to deal more effectively with unexpected changes.

Adaptability Through Diverse Thinking:
Multidisciplinary teams bring a variety of perspectives into the innovation process, leading to problems being viewed and addressed from multiple angles. This fosters a culture of adaptability as the members of such teams are used to thinking beyond their own field and combining different approaches. A designer might think from the user’s perspective, an economist analyzes market influences, and an engineer develops technical solutions. This combination of creative and analytical approaches strengthens the team’s ability to respond to new challenges that do not necessarily lie within their own field.

Long-term Success Through Broader Perspectives:
Long-term success in a dynamic market requires more than just short-term problem-solving — it requires a deep understanding of the entire environment in which the company operates. Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams foster a culture of looking beyond the immediate horizon. They not only understand current demands but also anticipate future challenges and opportunities because they bring a wide range of knowledge and experience into the mix.

Through the inclusion of professionals with different perspectives — whether technological, economic, social, or ecological — products and business models emerge that are not only based on short-term trends but are also long-term resilient. These teams can identify potential risks early and develop alternative approaches that might be overlooked by a monodisciplinary team. This creates a foundation for long-term success based on adaptability and resilience.

In our Venture Studio, this approach is crucial to supporting startups and ensuring their viability in unpredictable markets. By integrating experts from a wide range of disciplines, we not only develop innovative products but also incorporate them into a strategy that is resilient in the long run.

The Invisible Walls: Why Misunderstandings Are the Greatest Innovation Risk and How We Can Overcome Them

In multidisciplinary teams, communication barriers often arise because terms and approaches from different fields collide. What seems perfectly clear in one area can cause confusion in another. This can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and inefficient collaboration — exactly what needs to be avoided in the innovation process. A key success factor is, therefore, building a common language that all team members can understand and apply.

Each team member brings their own specialized vocabulary and approaches, which can result in even basic concepts being interpreted differently. For example, a technician may understand “integration” as a technological merging of systems, while a designer might see it as the harmonious combination of visual elements. These differences in understanding hinder collaboration and can significantly slow progress.

In a venture studio that heavily relies on multidisciplinary collaboration, the risk of these barriers is particularly high. Without establishing a common ground, discussions can become futile, and valuable ideas may go unheard. This means that a promising innovation process can come to a standstill because teams are unable to communicate effectively.

To address these challenges, we, as a venture studio, employ several strategies:

Building a Common Language:
We intentionally invest time in creating a common basis for understanding. In meetings, terms and concepts are thoroughly defined and explained. Different departments have the opportunity to share their terminology, and translations between disciplines are worked out. The common language develops from a mix of technical vocabulary, practical examples, and open discussions, ensuring that every team member, regardless of their expertise, can fully follow the innovation process.

Moderation and Knowledge Brokers:
We also rely on “moderators” who act as interfaces between the various disciplines. These individuals are able to simplify complex issues and ensure that all team members reach a shared understanding. They moderate meetings, clarify misunderstandings, and mediate between disciplines to ensure that communication remains smooth and the team is not slowed down in the innovation process.

By actively embedding ourselves as knowledge brokers and process facilitators in team communication, we create several key advantages:

• Clear and Consistent Communication: By using a shared terminology, misunderstandings are reduced. Team communication becomes not only clearer but also more efficient, with fewer “friction losses.”
• Faster Decision-Making Processes: When everyone shares the same understanding of the projects and concepts, decisions can be made faster and with greater confidence. Teams that rely on a common knowledge base can respond more flexibly and quickly to changes.
• Long-Term Knowledge Retention: Our approach ensures that knowledge is preserved even after a project concludes. This is especially valuable when similar challenges arise in the future. The continued availability of experience allows us to quickly draw on proven solutions and drive innovation more efficiently.

By intentionally building a common language and integrating knowledge and process know-how, we strengthen the communicative resilience of our teams, ensuring that our multidisciplinary projects are not only successful in the short term but also have long-lasting innovative power.

In multidisciplinary teams, it is also essential to create clear structures to avoid misunderstandings and make collaboration efficient. Through clear communication channels and defined roles, it is ensured that everyone in the team knows what is expected of them and how they can best contribute their expertise.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in collaboration is the lack of clarity about who is responsible for what and what information needs to be shared with whom. In our venture studio, we therefore focus on clear role distributions. Every team member knows exactly which tasks they are responsible for and who to turn to with questions or decisions. This not only creates clarity but also reduces overlap in responsibilities and ensures that important tasks are not neglected.

In addition to role distribution, we place great emphasis on structured communication channels. Unplanned or unfiltered communication often leads to information being lost or misinterpreted. By establishing specific communication paths — such as through regular meetings, coordinated communication platforms, and defined points of contact — we avoid such ambiguities and ensure that information is passed on in a targeted manner.

The integration of digital tools plays a key role in creating transparent communication structures. Communication platforms like Slack or MS Teams or Google Chat allow us to divide communication into different channels based on projects or topic areas. This way, everyone can keep track and know where to find relevant information. By using project management software, tasks can be clearly assigned and the progress of all team members can be transparently documented. This transparency not only increases efficiency but also reduces misunderstandings.

Another useful tool are digital platforms for real-time collaborative work like Mural, Miro or Conceptboard. In workshops, brainstorming sessions, or planning processes, different departments can visualize their ideas and connect them. The tool creates a shared visual language that simplifies communication and fosters the exchange of ideas, even when teams are working from different locations.

A key component of our structured approach is regular feedback loops. This ensures that the flow of information is continuously improved. Team members have the opportunity to discuss communication barriers, question processes, and work together to optimize them. This regular feedback is essential for improving both efficiency and mutual understanding within the team.

Feedback loops also help to quickly respond to new challenges before problems escalate. By enabling open dialogue and giving all team members the chance to share their perspectives, we not only improve the communication structure but also strengthen team cohesion.

No Progress Without Recognition: Why Lack of Appreciation Is Another Major Obstacle to Innovation

In multidisciplinary teams, it is crucial that everyone feels valued and respected. A culture of recognition and respect is not only good for motivation but also an important lever for efficient collaboration. Individual contributions must be made visible so that all team members feel included and appreciated.

When people from different disciplines work on a project, there is a risk that individual contributions may be overlooked or insufficiently acknowledged. This is especially the case when contributions are difficult for outsiders to evaluate or unfold over a longer period. Often, the success of a project is the result of many small steps that are not always immediately visible. It is important to highlight and acknowledge these individual successes to strengthen team spirit and motivation.

A lack of appreciation can significantly hinder collaboration. When team members feel that their work is not being noticed or recognized, their motivation to fully engage decreases. This can also erode trust between disciplines. Instead of working openly and cooperatively, individuals tend to withdraw and contribute their expertise less actively. This not only leads to poorer collaboration but also affects the quality of innovation.

In teams where expertise varies widely, it can happen that one discipline’s contribution is weighted more heavily than another’s. For example, technical achievements are often more visible, while strategic or conceptual work may seem less tangible. An imbalance in recognition leads to long-term tensions within the team and diminishes performance.

To overcome these challenges, we focus on a culture of appreciation at multiple levels:

1. Regular Praise and Recognition: A central element of our culture is the regular acknowledgment of individual contributions. We encourage celebrating successes not only at the team level but also by making individual achievements visible. This can be done through praise in meetings, as well as through written recognition in internal communication channels. A simple but effective mechanism is to share success stories and highlight each individual’s role.
2. Success Metrics and Feedback: Another approach is to make successes measurable. By continuously tracking progress and clearly defining which milestones were achieved by whom, we create an objective basis for recognition. In regular feedback sessions and reviews, not only is the project’s status discussed, but there is also room to reflect on and appreciate individual contributions. This increases visibility and helps team members better evaluate their own performance.
3. Team Building and Collective Success: In addition to individual recognition, we place great importance on team activities that strengthen team cohesion. By regularly celebrating successes together — whether through team events, collective reflections, or informal gatherings — we foster a sense of community where everyone recognizes the value of their work for the overall project. These measures help to build trust and collaboration within the team in the long term.

Our culture of appreciation is not just a matter of courtesy, but a deliberate strategy to maintain the performance and innovative spirit of our teams. By making individual achievements visible while celebrating collective success, we create an atmosphere where all team members feel valued and can fully contribute their expertise.

Long-Term Benefits: Enhancing the Innovative Power of Our Portfolio Startups

As a venture studio, we provide our portfolio startups with a crucial advantage by consistently focusing on trans- and interdisciplinary collaboration. This approach not only leads to innovative solutions in the short term but also enables our startups to continuously gain new valuable insights that help them succeed in the market. Through our close collaboration with experts from various fields, we give our startups access to thinking patterns and perspectives that they wouldn’t necessarily have in conventional teams.

Our transdisciplinary approach ensures that our startups consistently benefit from a broad spectrum of knowledge. The close integration of internal and external expertise means that new ideas and solutions emerge that go beyond the obvious. We offer our startups a platform where the knowledge and experience of industry experts, technicians, designers, and marketers are pooled to develop innovative, forward-looking business models. This broad access to expertise and networks enables them to pursue both incremental and disruptive innovations.

Collaboration in diversified teams consisting of experts from different disciplines generates creative ideas that would often not be developed in homogeneous teams. The combination of different ways of thinking and expertise leads to creative friction that opens up new perspectives and fresh approaches to challenges.

Overcoming communication barriers is not just a challenge but also an opportunity for creativity. When people from different technical backgrounds come together, misunderstandings or communication difficulties naturally arise. But this friction forces teams to find new ways of communicating and problem-solving. By embracing a common language and a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives, more creative and well-founded solutions often emerge. The dialogue between technicians, designers, strategists, and market experts not only facilitates the flow of information but also stimulates innovative approaches that would remain undiscovered in conventional teams.

Through our role as a venture studio, we promote the exchange of experiences between startups and different disciplines. We bring together technologists, marketers, strategists, and industry experts to collaboratively develop competitive business models that are not only technologically superior but also meet market needs. This holistic approach enables us to address multiple perspectives, ensuring that solutions are effective and viable in the long term.

Our transdisciplinary teams enable startups to better assess risks, develop more agile business strategies, and optimally adapt their products or services to the market. The interdisciplinary knowledge exchange we foster gives them a clear competitive advantage, helping them to stand out from the competition and achieve long-term success.

This interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration not only drives short-term innovation but also ensures sustainable value creation. Integrative thinking approaches that connect different fields allow our startups to develop holistic solutions that are not only technically, but also economically, socially, and ecologically viable. The synergies that emerge from the collaboration of various disciplines lead to deeper, more sustainable value creation and strengthen the long-term innovation capacity of our startups.

Conclusion: Diversity and Networking as Keys to Success

Our success as a venture studio is based on the power of diversity and networking. By consistently integrating transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, we create an environment where startups can generate faster and more sustainable innovations. Collaboration between different disciplines opens up new perspectives and creative solutions that would be difficult to achieve in isolated teams. Through continuous knowledge exchange and overcoming communication barriers, we enable the development of future-proof business models that are not only technologically advanced but also market-ready and resilient.

Our strategies, such as the use of clear communication structures, a culture of appreciation, and the promotion of creative synergies, help to overcome challenges and ensure long-term success. For founders, this means that actively promoting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration not only enhances innovation capacity but also lays the foundation for sustainable success.

Our call to action for founders is: Be open to new ways of thinking and network across disciplines. Only those who are willing to think outside the box and integrate different perspectives will be able to tackle complex challenges and develop innovative solutions in the long run. The future belongs to those who understand diversity and collaboration as central success factors.