Dr. Miller has assisted many an entrepreneur, investor, and technology during his illustrious career as medical doctor, analyst, trader, investor, CEO, and so on and so forth beyond my memory. Dr. Miller provided San Diego startups with a simple 4 point distillate of what investors are looking for in the often diamond in the rough that many startups are in reality, but not in perception by others.
1. Plan
A formal business plan that can be and will be updated readily over time and readily adaptable.
2. Presentation
A pitch deck or other presentation, a confidential and non-confidential version, that distills your business plan.
3. Protection
Some form of exclusivity for your technology and/or business, including but not limited to patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, contracts, and so forth. Also included are freedom to operate issues, such as identifying and addressing potential blocking positions of others.
4. Prototype/Product
Some sort of product within the range of rough prototype to commercial product is helpful, even if in rough form.
5. Positioning
Where does your company and technology fit in the broad picture of the overall market, and can you do what you want to do unencumbered and with some form of exclusivity? Issues of macroeconomics such as demand, barriers to entry, licensing, regulation, and the like come into play here.
-Dr. S. Miller, MD
These five simple yet highly important factors provide an easy to remember outline/talking points to make your diamond in the rough business and technology have more shine. You can certainly add, subtract, modulate, or otherwise modify this overview to be tailored to your particular circumstances at a particular point in time and in the future.
May 26, 2017
Disclaimer: The materials provided on this website are for general information and educational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be taken as, legal advice or the formation of an attorney/client relationship. Individuals and entities having intellectual property issues should consult with a patent attorney or patent agent to fully address intellectual property law matters based on an analysis of the particular facts. The attorney members of the firm are licensed to practice law in the state of California, and otherwise as noted.