---
id: "action-partner-ai-startups"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ What Incumbents Should Do Now"]
tags: ["partnerships", "innovation"]
related: ["entity-product-maven-smart-system", "framework-incumbent-action-plan"]
action: "Collaborate with AI-native startups to observe and adopt modern workflows unburdened by legacy systems."
outcome: "Accelerated internal workflow redesign and exposure to modern, frictionless operating models."
sources: ["futures"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-futures"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-new-24-agentic-ai-supercharges-startups"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/07/how-agentic-ai-supercharges-startups-and-threatens-incumbents"
sourceTitle: "How Agentic AI Supercharges Startups and Threatens Incumbents"
---
# Partner With AI-Native Ventures

**Action.** Collaborate with AI-native startups to observe and adopt modern workflows unburdened by legacy systems.

**Details.** Partner with AI-focused companies to observe how modern workflows operate without the burden of legacy systems. This reveals internal gaps and accelerates internal redesign efforts while maintaining control over customer relationships. The [[entity-product-maven-smart-system]] (18th Airborne Corps), whose success relied on collaboration with industry field engineers, is the source's illustration.

**Outcome.** Accelerated internal workflow redesign and exposure to modern, frictionless operating models.

This is **step 4** of the [[framework-incumbent-action-plan]].


## Related across articles
- [[action-partner-local-startups]]
- [[action-embed-team-members]]