[Hidden-tech] How to protect & pitch a product idea to an ailing company.

[Claire Spencer]

Hi Charles!

I love eureka moments! However, I would strongly encourage you to ask
yourself WHY on EARTH you'd want to partner with an ailing company? Do you
have an existing relationship with them?

If they are already in poor shape, there are likely numerous other reasons
besides a changing market or recession that have led them to this spot.
Poor morale, poor management, a culture that inhibits innovation or simple
financial mismanagement are only a few factors which could have led to
their current state. Note - all of these are factors over which you would
have absolutely ZERO control if you choose to partner with them.

As I'm sure you know, an idea is only as strong as the driving force behind
it. It is rarely possible to simply hand over a product, much less an idea,
and have some one else (or another company) run with it and see it succeed.
If you're not very very careful, your "partnership" could lead to the
mismanagement and eventual demise of your brilliant idea!

In addition, in my own experience, an "idea" is not sellable. Rather, a *
working* product or prototype is. If you are passionate about your idea, I
strongly recommend protyping and testing yourself. And if it really works,
you will find the BEST partner, not just A partner.

Again, I don't know your product or idea, but in order for an existing
company to take on the risk (big or small) of an outside idea, they need to
see that it not only works, but that there is a market for it or that the
savings justify the implementation costs.

There are fantastic resources in the Valley for entrepreneurs; the Scibelli
Enterprise Center in Springfield http://www.stcc.edu/sec/ and Valley
Venture Mentors http://valleyventurementors.org/ both have great resources
to help you craft your pitch and get your idea/product etc to the right
partners. They can also help you transform your "eureka moment" to an
actual income generating business model, whether you do it on your own or
with others.

I say this not to be discouraging, but because I want to see you succeed!

All the best,

Claire Spencer
MBA Candidate 2012
The Isenberg School
(413) 497-8245


On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 10:33 AM, <andrew at stakeholderscapital.com> wrote:

>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> We'll I'm not an IP lawyer but Kevin Vanderleeden is who is on this
> listserv.
>
> I do have experience with non-disclosure agreements - NDAs for private
> company information.
>
> You'll have to pique their interest enough to get them to sign one.
>  Practically speaking, if they breach the agreement, will you want to spend
> what it might cost to enforce the NDA?
>
> Good luck,
> Andrew
> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Charles D. Lappen" <charles at sohorganizer.com>
> Sender: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 15:51:12
> To: hidden-discuss Tech<hidden-discuss at mm01.tnrnet.com>
> Subject: [Hidden-tech] How to protect & pitch a product idea to an ailing
>        company.
>
>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
>
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