Lead User

Lead user is a term developed by American economist Eric von Hippel (Von Hippel 1986). His definition for lead user is:
Lead users face needs that will be general in a marketplace – but face them months or years before the bulk of that marketplace encounters them, and;
Lead users are positioned to benefit significantly by obtaining a solution to their needs and so may innovate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_user

special subtype of early adopter

cf Co-Creation