Kids can teach a lot about ourselves and the world. Kids start out as entrepreneurs. Somewhere along way, when we grow up we can forget to dream big. We forget how to ask questions. We forget how to be an entrepreneur.
This is a great video clip, to remind us how important entrepreneurship is, to remind us to think big, to ask questions – to be remember what is was like to be a kid.
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Uncategorized, Venture capital, yet2.com, yet2Ventures | Tagged: entrepreneur, future trends, innovation, yet2.com | 
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Posted by bendupont
The best part about working with yet2.com is learning about trends in technology before others see them. Based on some of these learnings I wanted to share a prediction – in the next few years we will see a New Now. 
What is ‘Now’?
Unless you are a physicist or an electrical engineer, your definition of ’Now’ is likely similar to an average 10 year old getting ready for school. ’Now’ is 5 to 15 minutes. (Read how Buddhists define now).
With the convergence of; faster cell networks, better location based computing, and real-time understanding of our environments - ‘Now’ is changing. Now is becoming right now.
What does this mean?
Your cell phone will tell you to walk faster to catch the train, or that your childhood best friend is on the the side of the street. Spontaneous and short conference calls with your family and friends will be set up when the ‘Now’ (your cell phone) thinks you would like it. Your Car GPS will reroute you based on a single red traffic light, or an ambulance ahead. It will be Tivo for life, we’ll skip through the distractions so we can focus on the content.
You wont ever spend time booting up, down loading, or waiting in line. Your attention, entertainment and focus will be carefully managed and optimized - to the millisecond - the network will adapt to you – not the reverse. You’ll spend more time doing the things you want to do – Now.
Thoughts? Any interesting new companies or technology in this space?
3 Comments | future trends, Venture capital, yet2.com, yet2Ventures | Tagged: 4G, future trends, innovation, location based computing, optimized entertainment, The New Now, Time | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
P&G has been using the world as their R&D lab for 10 years and it’s been providing a great ROI. They call is Connect + Develop, and their goal is to get 50% of their new technology from external sources. This is called Open Innovation and - No company has been leading more in Open Innovation than P&G.
I first met with P&G in 1999, when we were looking for strategic investors. We thought yet2.com was an innovative idea and company. P&G was way ahead of us. Everythime we would say something crazy like ‘we believe technology will be bought and sold by large companies’, Jeff Weedman of P&G would say ‘ yes, of course, and here is what that means…..’
I learned more in that meeting than I did in the all the previous ones combined. Which is why we were thrilled when P&G made an investment into yet2.com in 2000 (joining; NTT, Bayer, Siemens, Caterpillar, DuPont and Honeywell, who also made strategic investments in yet2.com).
P&G’s new CEO, Bob McDonald, explains their new goals. To ‘step up their game’ to deliver $3B in new sales from external technology.
But before you rush out to send your technology to P&G, there are a few things you can do first to improve your odds; 1) Make sure your idea is protected, by filing at least one patent, 2) Have compelling and independent test data that shows your technology is better, and 3) Have samples/prototypes for P&G to test. Give yet2.com a call (+1781-972-0616) if you need some help!
Leave a Comment » | future trends, news release, yet2.com | Tagged: Bob McDonald, Connect & Develop, future trends, innovation, Jeff Weedman, open innovation, P&G, technology scouting | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
A commonly held belief is that passion is highly influential in receiving funding. Is this true? Sort of.
In a scientifically conducted study, a VC was no more likely to invest in a company with a passionate pitcher, then one with out. In other words passion alone has no statistical impact on investment in a new venture.
How could this be true? Well the study suggest that passion is typically paired with preparation. Preparation in a business plan and pitch is positively related to VC funding.
Big Picture: If you’re pitching VCs be as prepared for the conversation as possible. The more prepared you are, the better your chances of getting funding are. Passion of course, never hurts.
Source: ENTREPRENEUR PASSION AND PREPAREDNESS IN BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATIONS: A PERSUASION ANALYSIS OF VENTURE CAPITALISTS’ FUNDING DECISIONS. XIAO-PING CHEN- University of Washington, XIN YAO- Wichita State University, SURESH KOTHA- University of Washington
Leave a Comment » | future trends, open innovation, Uncategorized, Venture capital, yet2.com | Tagged: Ben duPont, innovation, open innovation, passion, venture, venture capital | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
 I love working at yet2.com for a bunch of reasons. The first is we get to learn about so many interesting new technologies and meet the inventors behind them. EADS is a good example. They are an R&D powerhouse, and we’re privileged to be able to walk around their labs looking for technologies to license or spin out. It’s the best job in the world.To share this wonderful experience, we’ve started hosting webinars. These online gatherings are are great for the yet2.com community, the technology scouts, the entrepreneurs, and great for the companies we’ve invested in too.
The next Webinar is on 30 September 2010 at 11:00 a.m.–12:30 pm EDT US. (8:00 am PDT. 16:00 UK.) The EADS Group includes Airbus, a world-leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft and multi-role military transporters; the world’s largest helicopter producer, Eurocopter; and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programs. During this webinar, we will provide an overview of the licensing initiative and will further present specific technologies on welded structures and processes, surface engineering, and new joining technologies. Register here for this latest webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/438364691 |
Leave a Comment » | news release, open innovation, yet2.com | Tagged: Aerospace, Ben duPont, Coatings, EADS, innovation, metal joining, patent, Surface Engineering, technology scouting, venture, Webinar, Welding | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
P&G is one of my favorite companies, because it’s so darn innovative. It’s part of their culture. The smart people at P&G have produced a commercial that is pretty innovative and an example of where advertising may be headed. First it’s not really a commercial. It’s an inspiring clip. Second, try not to cry.
3 million people have viewed it on YouTube.
What new ventures will be required if this is a new commercial format for many companies? What are the open innovation implications of this?
3 Comments | future trends, yet2.com | Tagged: Advertising, commercial, innovation, music | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
ATI Composites is the top winner of the Clean 15 Clean Tech Competition for 2010.
The competition connects large companies, with Canadian cleantech opportunities, for the purpose of simulating the countries cleantech economy. Yet2.com is a major sponsor of the competition, and helps facilitate relationships between the large companies and the Canadian cleantech opportunities.
ATI Composites focuses on the development of light weight concrete or mineral foam which has the potential to impact the Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) market, the pre-cast industry as well as the Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) market.
A full press release can be found here:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news-clean-15-canadian-business-journal-in-association-with-yet2-com-fogler-rubinoff-llp-oceta-announces-ati-composites-as-the-winner-of-the-clean-1-1283870580.html
1 Comment | future trends, open innovation, Uncategorized, Venture capital, yet2.com | Tagged: ATI Composites, Canada, Clean, Clean 15, cleantech, innovation, yet2.com | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
Ganeden Biotech, Inc. (a yet2Ventures portfolio company) has announced a partnership with Agostoni Chocolate. Together the pair will produce the first private label premium chocolate with probiotics in it. It doesn’t get better then that!!! Maybe next year the companies will find a way to remove the calories from chocolate.
The chocolate bars will be available in 0.5 and 1.1 ounce bars, with GanedenBC30® probiotic alone, or with GanedenBC30® and toasted flax seed (flax seed adds more omega oils).
Look out for them coming to a store near you.
A full press release can be found here http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ganeden-biotech-and-agostoni-chocolate-announce-private-label-probiotic-chocolates-101459784.html
Leave a Comment » | future trends, news release, yet2.com | Tagged: Agostoni Chocolate, Chocolate, Ganeden Biotech, Health, innovation, probiotic, yet2, yet2.com | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
I just heard a fascinating talk by Matt Ridley, who makes the convincing case that through history the engine that drives productivity is the meeting and mating of ideas. It’s not important how clever the individuals are, he says, what really matters is how smart the collective brain is.
If this is true, then how we filter out the thousands of ideas we learn about every day to focus on the one or two that are key to understand – is a key skill. Where we get ideas and how we filter them – and how we mate them – is critical to being good parents of productive ideas. While ‘crowd sourcing’ is one way to comb the singles bars for good ideas – perhaps there is another more productive way to mate the key ideas that will help your company grow? Perhaps we need a ‘grandmother’ to help make the connections?
1 Comment | commentary, future trends, open innovation, yet2.com | Tagged: Ben duPont, future trends, innovation, Matt Ridley, open innovation, technology scouting, venture, Wikinomics, yet2.com | Permalink
Posted by bendupont
Why VC and Clean Energy Might Not Mix
November 4, 2010There has been a lot of speculation that clean energy might be the next Biotechnology or Internet revolution. While I think this would be great, lets’ explore some of the hurdles- that VC and clean energy business models might not mesh well – that we might need other funding sources. Here are a few observations:
1) The Amount of Capital Needed
Starting a clean energy company can be extremely expensive and out of reach of the normal $300M VC fund. For example, Solyndra, a photovoltaic company has raised close to $1.5B in equity and debt financing.
2) The Payback does not justify the Risk.
Most clean energy companies require the construction of commercial plants for energy production, which may or may not be successful. This can be extremely capital intensive, as mention above, and have not defined exits strategy
3) Lack of Exit Options
Investments in clean energy companies are extremely illiquid. Most VC Funds are set up on a 5 to 7-year model. It could take longer than that to build and test the commercial viability of most new clean energy plants. Additionally clearly developed eco-system where incumbents buy promising startups has yet to develop in the sector (think Apple, Microsoft, & Cisco).
4)Managerial Experience.
The three important factors for determining an investment in VC are 1) Management 2) Management and 3) Management. In the clean energy sector most of the entrepreneurs come from large companies, primarily utilities. They lack the experience in starting an early stage company, thus adding to the risk.
5) Energy is a Regulated Commodity
The price of energy is regulated in some markets. As the cost of inputs rises, the profit margins shrink adding one more risk to commercializing a new technology.
So if Venture Capital cant fund clean energy, who will? Will VC’s change their model like Element Partners and the Potomac Energy Fund ? Will large strategics step in like DuPont’s bet in bio-fuels? Will the governments provide financing or incentives?