BurstIQ CEO Frank Ricotta on Why Collaboration is the Most Powerful Way to Expand Human Knowledge

Today, the world is facing unprecedented challenges. In 2020, the global population has been hit hard by the coronavirus. This pandemic has brought one major thing into focus for just about everyone on the planet.  We learned that we are all interconnected that an action in one area can quickly turn into a worldwide crisis.  We learned that our stories weave together to capture a much broader view of all the diverse factors that impact our health. 

We also learned how much is still a mystery. To advance society, we are challenged to enable this interconnectivity and capture the insight that can be gained from it while respecting the inherent dignity, sovereignty, value, and rights of each person. We are challenged to create a future in which data is connected, individual privacy and ownership rights are respected, incentives are aligned, and trust is inherent.  What is the solution? Frank Ricotta firmly believes that collaboration has been and will continue to be how we find the answers to the problems we face as a society.

About Frank Ricotta

Frank Ricotta is the CEO and Founder of BurstIQ. The company is based around the concept that the health industry is at a critical tipping point. According to the business, technologies are now available that will allow health data to be connected on a global scale. It is these connections that will ensure that we can access the next era of health care. Indeed, the business suggests that using an integrated data system so that it will be possible to provide personalized and customized support for every individual. 

BurstIQ launched with the belief that every person deserves to be able to access the ultimate support for their health. It sets out to ensure this by connecting businesses, researchers, and private individuals on a global network. 

Even on the surface, it’s clear that BurstIQ matches Frank Ricotta’s ideology that collaboration is key to moving forward and advancing the world. Frank Says: 

“I have always believed that all of us are smarter than one of us. The sentiment has been expressed in several different ways by many individuals I admire. The essence of this statement is this: We each have our own set of skills and knowledge; by ourselves, we are bound by our limitations. However, when we unify and work together to achieve a common purpose, we achieve the impossible.”

With over 30 years of experience, Frank has always worked to combine his love of working with people and his desire to create high-performance teams with the support of innovative technology. He is consistent in his goals to create world-class solutions and is continually looking for ways to expand his knowledge. 

Frank has a strong entrepreneurial mindset and strives to see what “can be” rather than what is. It is this drive that led him to form Research Foundry.

What Is Research Foundry? 

Research Foundry is a global research and innovation network. It is a full coalition of researchers focused on health and innovators that operate on a worldwide scale. Again, the concept behind the project is based on collaboration. On the importance of collaboration for Research Foundry, Frank says: 

“I’ve learned that ideas grow faster, grow better, and grow bolder when they can grow outside of the individual that conceived them when others can build upon them and even take them in different directions.”

Through Research Foundry, members will be able to use crowd intelligence, access data, and form co-solutions across the globe, at scale. It also provides a free utility service for all members. One of the critical aims of Research Foundry is to accelerate COVID-19 research. The organizations that are part of this coalition, including BurstIQ, are working to ensure that those searching for a solution to COVID-19 can access complete datasets and advanced technology. 

A Key feature of BurstIQ is utilizing blockchain technology to break down barriers that stop people from sharing data. Part of why Frank is drawn to the use of blockchain is that it is purposefully built for collaboration: 

“I am a big proponent of blockchain as a technology, but I am a fanatic of its culture and principles. Those being – shared incentive, inclusion, and empowerment.”

Building A Better Tomorrow With Collaboration

Innovative thinkers like Frank believe that collaboration will help us reach success in essential future endeavors. It might even help us find the most significant issue the world is currently facing – COVID-19. But how can other businesses build collaboration into their model? According to Frank: 

“As a leader, if you want to foster collaboration within your organization and with partners, you must establish a few key foundational pieces. First, motivations and purpose must be aligned. Second, there has to be a shared incentive where everyone views that the only way to win is to win together. Third, you have to trust and build trust with and between all parties creating an environment where it is ok to take risks. Risks drive creativity, innovation, and growth. Fourth, you must break down barriers that inhibit collaboration, be it communication, cultural, time-zone difference, and more. Finally, create an expectation of accountability, say what you mean, mean what you say, and execute.”