In this episode of Ecosystem, Scale!, Aaron Taylor is joined by Antoine Woods, Senior Lead on Chick-fil-A’s external R&D and innovation team, and Terrance Orr, founder of Next Anomaly Group and entrepreneur-in-residence.

Together, they lift the corporate veil to explore how large organizations actually engage with innovation ecosystems — and what must be true before community-corporate partnerships and founder–corporate partnerships can succeed. The conversation reveals strategic insights like how innovation functions inside corporates, the structure and constraints of corporate innovation teams, why readiness matters more than access or logos, and why founders should always be compensated for pilots and proofs of concept.

This episode is essential for founders, ecosystem builders, and corporate leaders seeking more aligned and sustainable approaches to corporate–startup collaboration.

About Our Speakers

Antoine Woods a global innovation leader at Chick-fil-A, serving as a Senior Lead on the company’s external R&D and innovation team — where he identifies and partners with startups to solve core business challenges. A former programmer, entrepreneur, and venture partner, Antoine brings deep experience in startup ecosystems, founder support, and cross-sector innovation. He is known for bridging founder mindset with corporate strategy and for championing relationships that deposit more into people than they withdraw.

Connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinewoodsjr/

Terrance Orr is the founder and CEO of Next Anomaly Group, an investment, advisory, and ecosystem development firm focused on helping founders, family offices, and corporates navigate innovation and venture strategy. A seasoned ecosystem builder, corporate innovation advisor, and co-host of the EIR Live podcast, Terrance has advised startup leaders, corporate innovation teams, and investors on building ventures, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurial capacity across industries and geographies.

Connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terranceorr/

Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-anomaly/

https://podcast.eir.live/

https://engage.vc/

https://joinhomegrown.com/