Harvard iLab - Beyond Gamification: Applied Behavioral Science for Startups

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When: Mon February 25, 2013 4:00 pm

Organization: Harvard Innovation Lab

Location: Harvard Innovation Lab, 125 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02163

Website: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5508309502

Beyond Gamification: Applied Behavioral Science for Startups with Ben Foster, VP of Product Management at Opower

 

Gamification is the hot buzzword these days for any company interested in building consumer engagement. However, gamification is often misunderstood and even more often misapplied. This presents an opportunity for those who can see beyond features like leaderboards and point systems to leapfrog entrenched competitors. In this talk + Q&A session, Ben Foster will discuss the limits of gamification, present a broader category of applied behavioral science, and break down successful "design strategies", many drawn from his own experience leading product management at Opower, which has used these techniques to save consumers over $200M on energy bills and reinvent an established industry.

Ben Foster is VP of Product Management at Opower, which applies the latest behavioral science research to motivate consumers to become more energy efficient. Prior to Opower, Ben ran product management and user experience at adtech powerhouse Adchemy, and launched dozens of high-impact products and features at eBay during its heyday. A thought leader, he has been awarded 9 patents, has presented at TEDx and SXSW Eco, and maintains a blog at pmrant.com. For fun, Ben enjoys to travel, eat good food, play bad poker, and share ideas about product design with students and professionals eager to change the world.

We check all attendee registrations at the door. Please bring a printed or smartphone copy of your EventBrite registration and Harvard student ID if you have registered as a Harvard Student.  Attendance will be limited to registered guests and tickets will not be available at the door.