Halo supports external partner discovery and sourcing at every stage of innovation: from early exploration to decision-ready partner selection.

Corporate teams often need different tools at different moments. Not every idea is ready for a full Partnering Request, and not every question requires outreach. Halo’s partnering tools are designed to scale effort only as clarity increases.

The Four Partnering Tools at a Glance

Halo offers four tools for external partnering:

• Discover: Solution Feed (Beta): Explore what’s possible

• Discover: Network Search (Beta): Actively explore and directly connect

• PulseChecks (Beta): Test interest and shape the ask

• Partnering Requests: Run a structured, decision-ready search

You can start at any stage and move through these tools progressively.

1. Discover: Solution Feed

Explore the landscape before you commit

What it is

A personalized feed of innovators, technologies, and solutions relevant to your business, interests, and activity on Halo.

When to use it

Use Discover when you are:

• Exploring a new topic, technology, or trend

• Learning what approaches already exist

• Building context before defining a specific need

How it works

• Halo continuously surfaces relevant innovators based on your profile and activity

• No request or outreach is required

What to expect

• Passive discovery only (no responses or proposals)

• A low-effort way to stay current and informed

• A strong foundation before engaging externally

How to Get Started

• Navigate to Discover → Solution Feed

• Customize your feed by adding key areas of interest

• Explore your feed to discover relevant partners and technologies

• Save listings you want to revisit by clicking the Save button on any card

• View your saved listings by selecting the Saved filter at the top of your Solutions feed

• Request a no-commitment introduction to learn more about a potential partner

2. Discover: Network Search

Proactively identify and connect with innovators

What it is

A searchable directory of innovators on Halo’s marketplace, designed to help you quickly find relevant researchers, founders, and technical experts.

Network Search gives you direct access to profiles across disciplines, institutions, and geographies—so you can identify potential partners and initiate conversations on your timeline.

When to use it

Use Network Search when you:

• Know the type of expertise or capability you’re looking for

• Want to proactively identify potential partners

• Prefer direct outreach instead of posting a request

• Want to explore innovators already connected to your company

How it works

• Search by name, keyword, or area of expertise

• Use filters (e.g., country, organization type, network status) to narrow results

• Identify innovators already connected to your company via the “In Network” marker

• Click into profiles to review background, expertise, publications, funding, and partnership interests

• Send a message directly or invite an innovator to join your company’s network

What to expect

• Immediate visibility into relevant experts

• The ability to tailor your search using filters

• Direct, one-to-one outreach

• A lightweight way to expand or activate your company’s innovation network

How to Get Started

• Navigate to Discover → Network Search

• Enter a keyword or area of expertise

• Apply filters to refine results

• Review profiles and reach out directly

3. PulseChecks (Beta)

Validate interest before investing internal resources

What it is

A free, low-effort way to test interest in a potential partner or solution—without proposals, commitments, or formal requirements.

PulseChecks are designed to provide early signal and help you understand who might be relevant before launching a full Partnering Request.

When to use it

Use a PulseCheck when you:

• Have an early-stage need or idea

• Want to see who might be interested

• Need signal to refine the problem or align internally

• Aren’t ready to define timelines, funding, or requirements

How it works

• Post a short (2–3 sentence) description of your need

• Halo broadcasts it to relevant innovators

• Interested innovators raise their hand

• You receive profiles and choose who to contact

What to expect

• You receive profiles, not proposals

• No obligation to respond or move forward

• No commitment from either side

• Responses vary based on clarity and whether your company name is visible

How to Get Started

• Navigate to Discover and click Post a free PulseCheck

• Write a 2–3 sentence description of what you’re looking for

• (Optional) Select partner type or solution readiness

• Submit and review interested profiles via email

4. Partnering Requests

Run a structured, decision-ready sourcing process

What it is

A time-bound, well-defined request for solutions or partners, designed for evaluation and selection.

Partnering Requests leverage Halo’s proposal review system to centralize feedback, involve the right subject matter experts, and move from proposals to decisions quickly.

This is the most structured and decision-ready tool on Halo and is intended for situations where you plan to move forward with one or more partners.

When to use it

Use a Partnering Request when you:

• Have a clearly defined problem or opportunity

• Are ready to evaluate multiple solutions

• Need to coordinate input across technical, commercial, and innovation teams

• Want to make decisions efficiently and with confidence

• Intend to move forward with one or more partners

How it works

• You draft the request by filling out the brief to the best of your ability

• You submit the draft for Halo’s team to review and provide feedback

• Halo works with you to refine the request before publishing

• Innovators submit proposals through Halo

• Halo’s proposal review system centralizes all reviews, scores, and comments

• You can easily invite the right SMEs to review specific proposals or criteria

• Halo supports outreach, scouting, and review throughout the process

What you get

• A curated set of proposals

• A centralized review workspace for your full internal team

• Side-by-side comparisons using Halo’s proposal review tools

• Faster alignment across stakeholders and clearer decision-making

• Documentation that supports internal approvals and next steps

How to Get Started

• Click Draft a Request

• Complete the brief to the best of your ability

• Submit the draft for Halo’s team review and feedback

• Work with Halo to finalize and publish the request

How These Tools Work Together

Most corporate sponsors use Halo progressively:

1. Network Search – Proactively identify and connect

2. Solution Feed – Learn what’s possible

3. PulseChecks – See who’s interested and sharpen the ask

4. Partnering Requests – Select the right partner with confidence. You can start anywhere, but effort increases only as clarity increases.

Not sure where to start?

Match the tool to the maturity of the problem, not the urgency to “do something.”

If you’re unsure which tool fits your situation, reach out to support@halo.science or chat with our team live in the Halo platform. We’re happy to help you choose the right next step.