At the end of September 2022, our team of IDBM researchers within the ATARCA consortium published the report on “Anti-Rival Business Model Patterns (Archetypes).” Most likely, there is one word in the aforementioned sentence in particular that caught your eye: anti-rival. What does that even mean?

In economic terms, we talk about rival and nonrival goods (and services) which refers to the nature of consumption and exchange possible of these goods. Anti-rival refers to goods which not only can be consumed by multiple individuals without losing any value or incurring any marginal costs in the process of multiplying, these goods potentially increase in value the more they are shared. So, goods that can be shared and multiplied, and the more you share the more valuable they may become. In our case, we viewed specific type(s) of data to be potentially interesting anti-rival use cases.

With this premise in mind, the report conducts a theoretical analysis of business model patterns complemented with an empirical study of 149 Web3 startups and their respective business models. Looking at business model patterns previously identified by other scholars, and combining it with new patterns identified within the Web3 spaces, we created an Anti-Rival Business Model Patterns Toolkit that includes a total of 20 business model patterns that are either compatible (11 patterns) or enable anti-rivalry (9 patterns).

So what does this mean for you, potentially? And how could you use it?

Apart from our report that goes into a high level of theoretical discourse on business model patterns as well as our empirical study on Web3 business models, our research can be used for business model design oriented workshops and activities. The report itself can come in handy for you to get a succinct overview of the different types of business model patterns that have already been identified in a variety of industries and sectors such as sustainability, sharing economy, platform economy, Industry 4.0, and now the Web3 space too.

Similar to the Business Model Pattern Cards that can be used to ideate and develop new concepts and business models for existing business, products, and services, you now have 20 business model patterns that you can use to develop anti-rival business models. These may particularly be interesting for those of you that work in, are interested in, or simply enjoy looking into the data economy.

For example, check out the image below and see how you could ideate new business models for your organzation (or any organization of your choice) based on the pattern card: