The Garage never should have existed: Why Microsoft's grassroots innovation lab worked for so long

Microsoft’s Garage, a grassroots innovation lab co-founded by the author, is ending after 17 years, according to GeekWire. In a reflective account, the writer says the program “never should have existed” because Microsoft already had larger, better-funded internal innovation efforts, yet Garage outlasted them all. They credit part luck, but also “smart choices,” outlining four lessons: prioritize “doers, not talkers,” make it a “potluck,” don’t worry about “the billions,” and “don’t be afraid to do epic shit.” The Garage avoided idea-voting systems and instead backed small projects built by individuals, citing examples like CodeFlow, Dr. Who, Mouse Without Borders, and other Garage initiatives.