A complimentary initial review of executive summaries is provided to founders, investors, and other advisors, in order to help good people have a better chance at survival in business and to determine if there is potential for collaboration. Where a written analysis is needed in greater detail, we can discuss what is needed and quote a cost.
Frequently we find from attending pitch events, reviewing publications, and reviewing news stories that competitive solutions are already available or being developed. In some cases, we may connect founders, who can be more effective by collaborating on emerging technologies.
Our technical research sometimes allows us to point out fatal flaws in the technology or inform founders of what prevented the success of other companies that failed. Sadly, there are still founders that propose technical solutions that violate well known scientific principles, such as conservation of energy.
In some cases, our longer term hope is to be added to the advisory board of a company that we have helped to survive and prosper.
A complimentary initial review of product specifications is provided to founders, investors, and other more specialized advisors, in order to help good people have a better chance at survival and to determine if there is potential for collaboration. Where a written analysis is needed in greater detail, we can discuss what is needed and quote a cost.
For decades, I have been reviewing new product designs with an experience driven ability to estimate manufacturing costs and potential market fit. From news articles, trade shows, and technical publications, there is a vast amount of useful information that I see continuously.
Simple analysis of patents can be done, but I do have highly qualified associates, who we can secure quotes from for both the patent search process and the filing of provisional, utility, design, and plant patents.
For most early stage inventions, it is best to make effective use of trade secret protections.
Where the client feels the need, we can first sign a mutual confidentiality agreement, which allow both parties to share possibly patentable ideas, without violating the prior disclosure rules related to patents. Most investors refuse to sign these kinds of agreements, because frequently with emerging technologies, there are several companies attempting to use very similar solutions in emerging technologies, where each party thinks no one else has thought of a similar solution.
Where we develop or have prior experience, we retain ownership of our trade secrets until compensation is agreed on and reduced to a written agreement. Meeting notes and an agreement that the information qualifies as a trade secret is an important part of protecting all parties intellectual property rights.
A market survey is a detailed report that may cover the span of information from historical information to to a detailed analysis of all aspects of the development, delivery, and after service of a specific kind of solution. Who are the current solution providers, who may be likely to enter an emerging market, and what does an analysis of the annual reports of significant competitors tell us.
There must be an agreement on the scope and depth of research and report generation. In some cases, the cost of further exploration and report generation, known as after service, may be quoted.