What the beer calculator can teach you about innovation

Innovation doesn't have to be rocket science

Vator Splash SF is tonight. With about an hour before I head over to San Francisco to get prepared, I have some time to think about what I'm going to say to open up the event.

While I've done these events many times already, it's always good but often time-consuming to come up with just the right thing to say. Of course there's always the basic introduction, such as Vator Splash is a place where we bring out and discover new ideas. And, that in and of itself is pretty cool: that we're in a business to be able to foster and encourage innovation.

And, it's really cool that more and more people are trying to solve problems and be creative, and we can be a part of that process. 

In fact, as I write this, I just received an email from someone who was checking out some of the thousands of startup profiles on Vator. Apparently, he had a cool new innovative idea too: A beer calculator. 

Basically, it helps you calculate how many kegs, cases of beer or other accessories you need for a party you're throwing. Just enter the number of drinkers and how much they're likely to drink, and voila, you have an answer.

Now, I do see a lot of pretty lousy ideas. I also see ideas that aren't really big businesses. This one is not a big business. It's also neither brain surgery nor rocket science. Then again, consumer Web businesses aren't either.

But it's a really cool tool and innovative in its own way, and will be useful to many, I'm sure.

So innovation doesn't have to be rocket science, it should start off by just solving a problem with new tools or new services. Then you move on from there.

So come on and get inspired to innovate. You can get that inspiration and encouragement at Splash SF tonight!