There are today trends towards democratizing innovation (von Hippel, 2005) in line with the vision of creative democracy earlier recognized by thinkers like Dewey (1939) and Follett (1998). User involvement and the internet as a medium for interaction is broadening the participation in innovation processes. What is lacking in innovation research is conceptual and theoretical understanding of democratizing dimensions of innovation management grounded in theories of participatory democracy. The purpose of the paper is to contribute with understanding of the character of democratic innovation management based on four variants of theory of participatory democracy. The study is performed through synthesis of liberal, communitarian, discursive and interactive theories of participatory democracy, and investigating how these theories contribute with understanding of participation and the mobilization of creative capacities of people as well as how to integrate them freely into collaborative, innovative and efficient innovation processes.