Q. Where do entrepreneurs find investors?
Depending on the type of investor whether it is a singular accredited investor acting alone, angel investor group or venture capital group, they can all be found in the usual venues that interested parties, who love innovation and technology, can interact with the creators of it. This can include but is not limited to:
• University technology hubs, such as the Office of Technology and Licensing at the universities of Florida or Miami.
• Venture capital association meetings such as the Gulf Coast Venture Forum and the Florida Venture Forum.
• Various local technology incubators.
• Angel groups typically have a system for fielding ideas and then hold scheduled meetings to review and qualify them.
• Accredited and singular angel investors can be found through wealth managers, accountants and attorneys who have a large rolodex of deal makers and investors.

Q. What do you do next when an investor says no or not now?
You thank them for their time, making you better and ask, “what would it take to make you a believer and then investor in my company?” Also ask them who in their network may have an interest in such an idea and company. Investors have different asset class preferences and their rejection of your investment is probably not personal. They may have a rule that high risk, high return investing is not in their long term wealth creation strategy. The key to this process is to talk to a lot of potential investors and realize that your conversion ratio will be close to 2% to 5%. So if you talk to 50 people an outstanding conversion ratio would be 3 investors.

Q. What is the most important activity an entrepreneur should do to succeed in raising capital?
Build a rock solid plan for execution and have very realistic assumptions in your plan. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and a well explained and realistic plan will help overcome doubts. Investors who can afford an investment of this type have likely learned through their own success how to separate blue sky and an achievable plan. Spend time creating an Executive Summary, a ten Page Power Point, and a five year financial forecast and carefully and honestly call out the strengths, opportunities , weaknesses and threats.

Q. Are there pitfalls to avoid in accepting an investment?
Use a securities attorney to draft your investment materials and don’t take just anyone’s capital. The capital you bring in should be from a savvy investors who understands the risks and can ride out the storm if things get bumpy. Most of all find investors who bring more to the table than capital. Find strategic investors who can take your company to the next level; make sure you have good rapport with them from the beginning. It is common for start-ups to fall apart over personality issues.

Q. What is your favorite part of the deal making process?
Seeing all the hard work of the team professionals come to reality and then finally sell or get a purchase and ship and deliver the product.

Q. Is there any particular aspect of a deal that appeal to accredited investors or angel investors?
As we have mentioned, accredited investors like certainty, although they will understand this is a higher risk opportunity. They want to see a credible management team. They know that a qualified management team is as important as a great idea.

Q. What is the difference between an angel investor and an accredited investor?
The best way to a make this distinction is by thinking of the accredited investor as a term to explain the investors net worth and standing vis a vis SEC regulation as it relates to financial strength. Accredited is a term defined by its meaning in SEC regulation. Those rules change from time to time so make sure you are up to date on the latest qualifications. The “Frank/Dodd” Bill came into effect last year and made this hurdle much higher. Angel groups are usually made up of accredited investors, but don’t have to be in all cases. The term “angel” is used to explain what role they play in the investing timing of a company. Angels are early stage and act as a life line to a company’s growth and typically command a larger stake in the company with more protections within their investment than later investors.

When Dr. Stephen Lee first approached ROBRADY design with his concept for a product that eliminates menstrual discomfort within minutes, we knew we were on the verge of something unprecedented. Dr. Lee’s concept was radically different from typical ROBRADY projects like the Vectrix Electric Superbike, the Segway or Xtools. These, and other projects for companies like Parker-Hannifin, Mercedes and Dell had a certain level of…well, testosterone. We did not let that intimidate us. In fact, we were intrigued by the challenge. We saw the spark of something great in Dr. Lee’s idea and we wanted to create something amazing from that spark.

We believe we have done that with Ziivaa.

After speaking with Stephen and seeing his original mockup, ROBRADY Founder Rob Brady knew there was more to Ziivaa than just another woman’s product. “Ziivaa goes beyond replacing pills or eliminating side effects, it puts control of a woman’s life back in her own hands,” says Brady.

Brady realized his vision was bigger than a single product concept. A passionate, focused team collaborated at the ROBRADY studio to develop the state-of-the-art product and much, much more. The development of Ziivaa grew into the design of a progressive company—dedicated to creating a dynamic solution for empowering women to live their best lives.

A Capital Idea
Firmly convinced of Ziivaa’s commercial and consumer potential, Brady also decided to make the venture a cornerstone of the newly formed ROBRADY capital division.

In a demonstration of their commitment to Ziivaa, ROBRADY capital has put the full force of its time and resources behind Ziivaa in order to guarantee that Ziivaa is brought to market by capable hands. Very soon, women around the world will be able to live better lives, free from the limitations of menstrual discomfort.

The Innovative Edge
The ROBRADY team is enthusiastic about innovative ideas that improve lives through imagination and execution. “Ziivaa is a perfect case study for what our group does,” says Brady. “We design fantastic companies that produce fantastic products.”

Achieving a great fit sometimes means stepping beyond one’s comfort zone. Rob Brady is a man with the right experience and expertise, educated at Auburn University and the Art Center College of Design. He has two decades of hands-on, integrative experience, where he has honed his design skills and the ability to create and deliver the “Innovative Edge,” time and time again.

The Ziivaa challenge, however, required something more of us. “With Ziivaa, I had to look beyond my usual design instincts and open myself to a different voice… an exclusively female voice.” Consulting with female employees, focus groups and women in his own household, Brady realized these new voices were blending to form a unique and ultimately perfect result.

“At the time, Ziivaa was a real challenge, a real departure,” reflects Brady. “But that’s what innovation is all about.”

Stay tuned. This story is just beginning.

Whether it is the name of your product, the sales pitch or the instruction manual, words are critically important. They have the power to drive clients and customers to your product or away from it.

Take for example the Volkswagen Toureg SUV. Besides being a word whose pronunciation can be confusing, its meaning is something far from what the VW marketing department intended. To them, Toureg conjured images of a rough and tumble people surviving rough environments. But in reality, the word is more commonly associated with political rebellion by a stateless, Kurd-like tribe.

Adding insult to injury, Toureg literally means “Abandoned by God.” Thus, what was intended to suggest a dependable, rugged vehicle actually turned the Almighty into sort of an anti-spokesdeity.

But effective copywriting is more than just finding accurate and coherent words; it’s also about finding just the right words that speak to the audience’s hearts as well as their minds.

Consider the following word: flame. You think of fire. The word conjures an idea of heat and perhaps brings to mind the image of a lighter or campfire.

Now try: inferno. It also denotes fire. But it also connotes very different imagery and associations. The cigarette lighter is now a furnace; the friendly campfire becomes a raging forest fire or perhaps an image of Hell itself.

While tangible materials are chosen because of the strength, flexibility, conductivity and efficiency they bring to a design, carefully chosen and well-crafted words exhibit all of these traits simultaneously and communicate a rich, multi-sensory message. In contrast, poorly chosen words convey only one message: marketplace failure.

And in the 21st century, words are called on to reach machines as well as people. With search engines like Google and Bing scouring the internet for keywords, Search Engine Optimization or SEO (which is another way of saying “choosing the perfect words”) means the difference between a high ranking, which gives your website visibility at the top of the results list, and a low ranking which buries your website at the bottom.

What is written about a product not only introduces it and educates the consumer about how it functions, it also distinguishes the product from the competition both on the web and on the shelf. Words have the power to inspire consumers, evoke an emotional and even visceral reaction that leads to sales, strong brand identity and customer loyalty. This is why copywriting is an important consideration in design: it provides information but also generates heat.

John Edwards graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with an M.A. in professional writing in 1996. Following grad school, he moved to Los Angeles, performing a variety of roles from location manager to writer and producer. His experience in the entertainment industry ranges from internet startups to major studios. Currently, he lives in the Bay Area and works as a writer for Digital Frontiers Media (http://digitalfrontiersmedia.com) as well as doing freelance work.

As the Design4 Conference draws closer, the conversation of “what do you Design4?” is one that I have been having with a variety of designers around the country. From creating a system for transporting clean water in third world countries, to solving more local challenges such as humanizing products in the U.S., people design for a variety of reasons. This past week, I spoke with Rob Brady of ROBRADY design on what he designs for.

For Brady, what gets him up each morning is the dynamic series of events in getting a product to market. “Trying to get products designed and developed, then to actually get them to market,” he says. “It’s a real noble effort because if you can do all that and then get it to market with a handsome margin, then the company, of which you are working through, prospers, which means that all the people who go to work there prosper, which means all the kids get to go to college or they get the house or they pay off their bills.” He says this based off seeing both sides of that paradigm, from companies shutting down entire departments after the bill of materials for a project skyrocketed, losing the product. “To me, it’s been an emotional connection, wanting to be successful with fantastic products, because I believe that a fantastic product will survive anything.”

After discovering the field of Industrial Design, Brady realized it was something he had been doing his whole life. Building GoKarts, different vehicles, and other mechanisms as a kid, he was not far off from the work he does today. From the Vectrix electric bike to The GMP LifeSync (R) Wireless ECG System, ROBRADY design has dabbled in a wide array of fields, designing everything from industrial and consumer products to medical and marine tools.

“What’s beautiful about Industrial Design is that you can stay within Industrial Design, but jump from designing vehicles to designing jet boats to medical products to industrial products to consumer electronics; it’s incredibly diverse,“ says Brady.

In the evolution of his own career, Brady found himself further and further from that hands-on design process vetted in creative problem solving as the company grew larger. “I really had to battle with that for a while; what I came to realize was as I was taking on more of the contractual business, the growth elements, what I really love is creativity. If we’re doing business and we’re trying to set up a new opportunity, or a new studio like at the University of Florida, it’s about the creative aspect of making that deal work that really charges me.”

Over time, that passion for creativity only grew. As of lately, Brady finds himself excited about the ‘humanizing’ of design. “So many companies come to us with new technologies; what’s really needed is to humanize that technology. Fuel cells, as an example, electric vehicles, bring new challenges back to the same human being.” Currently in studio, Brady finds himself solving performance, medical, and ergonomic challenges in the realm of Ziivaa, their latest design venture.

“We’re challenged with trying to solve what’s necessary from a humanizing standpoint, with those new products, and that’s what makes it so exciting.”

Carly Ayres is an undergraduate student at the Rhode Island School of Design, student representative to the Industrial Design department, and co-founder of RISD-ID.ORG.

Syndicated from: IDSA

Source

ROBRADY design demonstrates its commitment to sustainable design solutions through CEO Robert Brady’s appointment to the board of Advisors of Stealth Electric 4×4 Vehicles, the company’s Green Business Partnership certification and recent accolades from The Green GOOD DESIGN program and The Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Sarasota, FL, (PRWEB) November 3, 2010 – ROBRADY design, a vanguard of innovative and ecologically responsible design solutions for over two decades, has a portfolio that covers multiple industries and a client base that covers the globe. As the company continues to grow, so does its active and demonstrable commitment to sustainable, green design solutions.

In October, CEO Robert Brady accepted a seat on the board of advisors for Stealth Electric 4×4 Vehicles. Stealth, an Atlanta-based company, produces utility vehicles such as the Commander and the 64-volt Apache which are geared for the outdoor enthusiasts from hunters to golfers. “I’m excited to be part of the Stealth team,” says Brady. “They are constantly pushing the limits and redefining what electric 4×4 vehicles can be.”

On the corporate level, ROBRADY design received certification from the Green Business Partnership (GBP) in July. The GBP was initiated through a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to Sarasota County and has over 125 local members. Certification from the partnership recognizes those companies, business organizations and local governments that literally make environmental responsibility part of their business.

And ROBRADY’s dedication to sustainable design continues to garner acclaim in the U.S. and abroad. Last month, the studio won both a Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany and a Green GOOD DESIGN™ Award for its work on the innovative db0 electric folding bicycle.

The Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany is particularly distinctive because it is conferred only on products that have already proven their marketplace excellence by having won previous awards. More than just a high honor, the award provides recipients a means for demonstrating long-term success of their designs and brands.

Similarly, the Green GOOD DESIGN™ award, a specialized edition of the GOOD DESIGN™ program, emphasizes the importance of sustainable design and promotes international awareness of those companies doing the best job in sustainable design for the environment.

ROBRADY has found wraps to be an excellent solution to our clients’ needs. Our most recent success was a set of wraps created for 2 new Branson products being unveiled at the K International Trade Fair in Düsseldorf. The green tech products boast greater efficiency and nimble start/start capabilities that represent a significant advance over older, hydraulic systems requiring constant power.

The wrap designs stress both products’ organic nature and celebrate the technology behind their energy efficiency. Bold statements like “100% electric” and “Start and Stop when you need it” add to a compelling graphics package that features callouts detailing the systems’ primary benefits. The look is creating buzz on the tradeshow floor and starting conversations between customers and Branson reps.

The Florida High Tech Corridor is highlighting entrepreneurs in the region that are developing innovative technologies with the potential to revolutionize the industry.  These “Faces of Technology” interviews appear on the Faces of Technology YouTube channel, where viewers can watch these dynamic individuals tell their own stories.  Each of these 16 professionals discusses how they are using technology to facilitate the growth and development of creativity in the region.

“These Faces of Technology profiles showcase the extraordinarily diverse high tech sectors in the region through the eyes of industry experts,” said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.  “They stand as testaments to the Corridor’s potential to significantly impact entire industries, if not the world.  We are so proud that they call Florida’s High Tech Corridor home, and we salute their passion and commitment.”

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF) whose mission is to grow high tech industry and innovation through research, workforce and marketing partnerships. A partnership involving more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and 14 community colleges, the Council is co-chaired by the presidents of UCF, USF and UF. The Council includes the presidents of two of the community colleges, the president of Florida Institute of Technology and representatives of high tech industry.

ROBRADY design is a multi-disciplined product design and development studio that offers its multinational client base—including General Electric, Mercedes-Benz, Dell Computers, Parker Hannifin, AT&T, Merial and Volvo Penta—progressive industrial design, mechanical design and engineering, graphics /packaging / GUI / web and eCommerce design, market research, brand and retail development, complete rapid prototyping and production program management. ROBRADY design stresses comprehensive speed-to-market product solutions by collaborating to identify the greatest areas of opportunity and producing innovative designs to deliver profitable product solutions. ROBRADY delivers design, production and capital solutions to their clients in support of their research to reality philosophy.

By Kim Cartlidge

Hosting a design summit solely for designers and creative types is so last year. The forward-thinking Ringling College of Art and Design chose instead last week to spread the word about how design thinking might deliver businesses and the region from the grips of the recession. The Sarasota International Design Summit on the campus kicked off with an invitation-only CEO roundtable led by international creativity consultant Sir Ken Robinson.

Rob Brady, CEO / Design Director of ROBRADY design.

Sir Ken Robinson, above, spoke at the Sarasota International Design Summit, and later signed copies of two of his books. Photos by Lauren Redifer.

Sarasota-Bradenton business attendees included Sun Hydraulics Corporation CEO Allen Carlson, Beall’s Inc. CEO Steve Knopik and ROBRADY CEO Rob Brady.

“The business environment is as challenging as it has ever been,” says Robinson, who has advised governments in Europe and Singapore on creating economies and education systems for today’s global age. “The key message was that this is not the time to give up on being innovative.”

Rob Brady leads ROBRADY design, a local firm that epitomizes both design innovation (having recently released a trendsetting folding bicycle) and the type of business Sarasota’s leadership wants to attract and retain in this region. I asked Brady how he defines design thinking.

“It’s a methodology we were taught in design school,” say Brady, who was educated as an industrial designer. “We analyze problems in a very visual way –in both two and three dimensions. What’s so approachable is that it’s so easy to pick up.”

For Brady, design thinking entails using light boards, graphics and problem statements. It requires questioning the question itself, meaning turning a critical eye on how a company is framing a problem. It also involves brainstorming without negativity or judgment, which can take the wind out of the imaginative process. “We don’t disqualify ideas immediately. Often that gem is two or three ideas away from you. If you throw away the crazy ideas, you throw away the bridges.”

ROBRADY lost 85 percent of its business in the downturn, but is on track for phenomenal growth this year with several new products. “Last year, we got clobbered by the recession, and if we did not reinvent ourselves, it would be an obituary. We survived by looking inside and applying design methodology to ourselves and going after new markets,” Brady says.

Brady adds, “Innovation without a process is reckless. Innovation with a proper methodology is a phenomenal competitive weapon in business.”

The word Ringling College President Larry Thompson wanted to share with the CEOs is that design thinking is not just for the creative fields: it’s a survival tool that can lead us out of this dismal economy.

Thompson plans to expand the CEO roundtable and opportunities for local entrepreneurs to apply design thinking to business problems. For more information, call his office at 359-7601.

Syndicated From: Sarasota Magazine

Source

As part of the Business Development team for ROBRADY design, I am on the front lines – one of the first levels of filtration to full engagement – and trust me when I say: I want your idea to be a home run! I’m a guy who will be pitching it to the review team and it only helps my task when something truly innovative crosses my path. I’m often inspired by what is presented; however, I can’t stress enough about the importance of “preparation”. Although you may have invented the next mousetrap, I need to know if it makes sense from a business stand point- is there a market? Is there a need? Can it be built affordable? And yes, is there a profit to be had?

Invention, of course, breeds innovation. Your best shot at success is to prepare your idea or invention to its fullest prior to presenting it. In all business there is a level of risk and when it comes to taking an invention to market there is substantially more. Have answers in your arsenal readily available of how to mitigate that risk.  Here is the checklist:


-Product Description


-Where / what is the market opportunity?


-Are there potential for different versions, accessories, monthly subscriptions, apps, etc?


-What is your experience in the industry?


-Be prepared to discuss your funding needs / capabilities.


Just yesterday we were presented a product which we thought had a tremendous amount of potential but weren’t sure of the market timing. It would have been to the inventor’s advantage if they had come to us with rough market research, an initial business plan or draft sales forecast. Proving the viability of the idea would have helped develop partnership opportunities sooner rather than later.

There is no skeleton key that will unlock the doors to success. In the current economic climate the market drives us; we do not drive the market. I am of the opinion that successful ideas making it to market these days are the ones that enhance proven products already in the marketplace. High unemployment numbers, down economy, loss of homes – we all know the drill. It’s likely that if consumers are going to part with their hard earned money it will be for something that makes a product they already understand even better.

“Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it.” – Warren Buffett