PlayTank: a massive multiplayer online innovation ideas machine

Established in February 2015, the company aims to 'democratise innovation'.

Toby Farren, Jason Hassett and Andy Byrne of Playtank. Picture: Feargal Ward

While studying at Oxford Brookes University, entrepreneur Toby Farren was inspired by large, community-based video games to start a business to encourage innovation.

In February this year, Farren established PlayTank at a cost of €175,000. The company aims to “democratise innovation” by allowing large groups of individuals to design new business models, products, processes, strategies and other new systems.

“I’d always had a strong interest in large, community-based video games such as MMOs ...