Tech-Company Development

Lying at the heart of developing and growing a tech-based business enterprise is innovation. Whether it is development of an innovative product, process or service, the tech-based venture must remember to develop its technology as part of an overall integrated approach in sync with the market and business management functions of the company. To help guide one in identifying and developing an overall approach Ask Graben! provides the following information below and associated links to the right:

Technology Readiness Level: Critical in understanding the development of a technology is understanding its level of maturity from basic research to market ready. A useful tool both as a planning guide and as a means of measurement is the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) approach developed by NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD). The TRL of a technology assesses the maturity of a technology from basic research (TRL-1) through to a proven and production ready level (TRL-9). Note: a TRL-9 does not mean the technology is ready for market. It means the technology is ready to be productized for the market. The TRL Calculator on the right available from the DoD is an extremely useful tool in both measuring and understanding the TRL of a technology under development.

Manufacturing Readiness Level: Related to the TRL of a technology under development is the Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of the technology. At around a TRL-4, issues regarding how best to manufacture should start to be addressed. The MRL begins the process of relating the technology development to business management and market issues and continues past the TRL-9 level. The MRL Assist Tool on the right can aid in better understanding and help in integrating the technology development effort with the business and market functions of the company.

Goldsmith Model: As a guide to understanding the overall issues associated with the start-up and development of a tech-based business venture, one may find it useful to study the Goldsmith Technology Commercialization Model developed for NASA by Dr. Randall Goldsmith, current Director of the Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA). The Goldsmith Model presents a matrix relating the technical, business and market functions to the development and commercial phases of the tech-based business. The link to the right provides an online overview of the Goldsmith Model.

Business Readiness Level: Developed in conjunction with his Goldsmith Model, Dr. Goldsmith has also developed a set of online Business Readiness Level tools to assist in guiding a tech-based business venture with its technology development and growth related to its investment capital needs. The link to the right will take one to these online tools which are available for free to Mississippi based businesses (contact MTA) and for a fee to out-of-state residents.

Business & Marketing Information: An excellent online resource covering the wide range of business and marketing issues faced by both start-ups and those growing a business is the Biz Info Library (BIL). The BIL is a collaboration between the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Edward Lowe Foundation, and the James J. Hill Reference Library. It offers a wide spectrum of information as well as business forms and templates concerning issues ranging from financial management, governance, human resources, market development, and taxes to name just a few. This information is authored and vetted by some of the world’s top business experts. The BIL provides excellent background material for developing the business and market steps found in the Goldsmith Model. Click on the link to the right to access this tremendous resource.

Mississippi Information: For information and resources focused on starting a tech company in Mississippi and issues and information concerning university faculty and staff participating in a start-up or working for an existing company click on the Mississippi link to the right. While most of the information and links presented are specific to starting a company in Mississippi, others may find it of benefit.