Investor Connect Podcast

Mistakes in Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Commercialization of technology requires key skills in market research, product development, and customer engagement.

Avoid these mistakes in commercialization:

Focusing on researching the technology only.

Set ...

How To Engage Academics Into Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Universities often encourage academics to commercialize their technology to advance their research.

Here are some key steps to engage academics into commercialization:

Focus on the impact of the research ra...

Best Practices for Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In commercializing technology here are some best practices to consider:

Educate the market about the problem you solve and the solution you offer.

It’s often the case the technology founder assumes the world understa...

How To Build an MVP

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

A minimum viable product or MVP is a usable product that has minimal but must have features.

Here are the key steps to building your MVP:

Research the market and the customer requirements.

Start with a customer problem a...

Using Prototypes To Raise Funding

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In raising funding, a prototype is invaluable.

Here are some reasons why investors fund projects that have a prototype:

The prototype demonstrates you can build it.

It gives you a tool to engage customers. ...

I recently had the opportunity to host the  Shaping Funding in MedTech: Insights from Industry Insiders webinar.  by Keiretsu Forum.

I had the honor of moderating the discussion.The panelists include Paul Gianneschi, Managing Principal and Founder, CEO of Hatch Medical, Dr. Lishan Aklog - Chairman and CEO of Lucid Diagnostics, Todd Wallach - CEO of SOLUtion Medical and serial entrepreneur, and Br...

Steps to Creating a Prototype

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

A prototype is an early model of your technology to show proof of concept and gather feedback from potential customers.

Prototypes can also be used to raise funding from investors.

For building a prototype keep these key is...

Purpose of Prototypes in Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In commercializing your technology one of the most important elements is building a prototype.

Prototypes provide several benefits and should be a high priority to complete as soon as possible. 

Many inventors ...

Best Practices for Grant Writing

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Raising grant funding is a key step in commercializing your technology.

Here are some best practices for grant writing to consider:

Research the goals and objectives of grants to understand what is currently of interest.

Funding Options for Tech Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are several options for funding the commercialization of technology.

Here’s a list of sources to consider:

Self-funding -- consider putting some of your own funds into the business.

This prov...

Finding Anchor Customers

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

An anchor customer is one that provides a substantial amount of business on a recurring basis.

These customers are important as they give you a base level of business each month.

You save the time and cost of prospecting for the...

In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall T. Martin chats with Mike VandenBos, VP of Business Development at KingsCrowd. KingsCrowd empowers everyone to invest in startups confidently through research, ratings, data analytics, founder interviews, and financial products. Mike shares his journey from discovering startups through Michael Lewis’s book "The New New Thing" to diving into the entrepreneurial world via Startup Weekend.

Mik...

When Should You License Your Technology Instead of Building a Startup

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In commercializing your technology there are two primary paths:  building a startup or licensing the technology to others.

You should consider licensing your technology when the following conditio...

How To License Your Technology

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Licensing your technology to another company provides another path to commercialization.

Here are some key steps to licensing your technology:

Prepare information about the technology including an introduction, product des...

What Is Licensing in Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Licensing in commercialization is the right to manufacture and sell a product with the technology of another company.  

In return for the right, the licensee pays a royalty fee for each unit sold.

Licensing brings ...

Key Legal Documents Used in Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are several legal documents used in the commercialization process

Here’s a list of key documents to know:

Non-disclosure agreement -- referred to as an NDA, this document requires the signatories to co...

Different Paths of Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

There are different paths of commercialization.

These paths include startups and licensing.

Founders license the technology from the source and then establish a company to create a product to sell for a profit.

Innovation Models

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Technology commercialization applies new technologies to the formation of a business.

Innovation drives technology commercialization.

To grow your business you may need to foster the development of the technology and its supporting fun...

Intellectual Property in Commercialization

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

A key component in commercialization is intellectual property.

Intellectual property refers to work or invention that comes from the creativity of the mind such as a design, literature, or artistic works. 

It c...