Brian E. Joseph President & Co-Founder Touchstone Research ...

Brian E. JosephPresident & Co-FounderTouchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.

For those who attended the Commercializing InnovationConferenceYou might have noticed that my PowerPoint was mostly pictures.I’ve removed most of the pictures and attempted to include the most important points.If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.My contact information is on the last slide.Brian

I am from Wheeling, West Virginia where I found many opportunities.The reality is that there are opportunities everywhere if you look for them.

Resources to Get a Business Started

Family• The power of family &friends in building abusiness is often underrated.• #1 early fundingsource for start-upbusinessesMy step father building a fire escape onTouchstone’s first business location.The Power of Family

Economic Development• Almost unlimited resources to assistthe growth of your company– Real Estate– Low interest Loans– Investors– Tax Benefits– Training Funds– They are connected everywhere!• Build a long term RelationshipThe Millennium Centre,Triadelphia, WVThe Power of Community

Touchstone’s first modern building - Built byRegional Economic Development Partnership.A portion was leased to TouchstoneNorthern WV has an amazing economic development organization!

PR• Gain Customers• Create corporate image• Build a brand• Get Community SupportThe Power of PR

Small Business Innovative Research• Phase I: $100,000• Probabilities to win Phase I: ~1/10• Proposal length: ~20 pages• Phase II: $750,000 - ~$1M• Probability to win: 1/2.5The Power of SBIR

About of the SBIR Process• Warning: You can’t live off SBIR’s– Variability of funding becomes too high for business stability– SBIR isn’t designed to sustain small companies indefinately• How to get started?– Team with people who have done it before…• Go to the National Conference– Very ValuableThe Power of SBIR

Advantages of GovernmentFunded R&D• Programs to compete for are easy to find• Programs are often large• Intellectual Property can be owned• Equipment can be furnished• The government pays its bills

Advantages of Private Sector R&D• Higher rates• Can supply equipment– Can trade equipment for work– Can provide money for you to buy equipment• Intellectual property usually owned bycustomer – not a positive– However, sometimes possible to share IP• Clients can become your business partner

Awards•`R&D 100 Award – CFOAM• R&D 100 Award – MetPreg• R&D 100 Award – NxSEM• R&D 100 Award – CSTONE• 3 Time Tibbetts Award Winner• National Blue Chip Enterprise Award, the U.S.Chamber of Commerce’s Highest Business Award• Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing U.S. Companies• Entrepreneur of the Year: Ernst & Young• Small Business Person of the Year: SBA• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: SBA•Presented the “Governor's Cup Award” from theSouthern Growth Policies BoardThe Power of PR

The Power of SBIRTouchstone Technologies

Fiber Reinforced Aluminum

Nano-Reinforced Aluminum

Velcro ® being testedin the NxSEM device.This has been licensedto Agilent.

Algae to Biofuels

Senator Robert C. Byrd• For many years WV had a wonderful champion• Smart, tough, willing to fight for WV companies• Find the champions in your area…The Power of Champions

CFOAM ® ManufacturingWest Virginia and Local Economic DevelopmentTeamed to build this manufacturing plant for theCommercialization of CFOAM ®

CFOAM Applications

Composite ToolingCFOAM carbon foam is a unique material to build the moldsused to manufacture carbon fiber aircraft parts.

Sandwich Door and Wall PanelsWalls made from CFOAM carbon foam can be fireproof

SaferoomsCFOAM ® carbon foam can be used to build hurricane-proof buildings.Here, CFOAM with composite surfaces is impacted byAn 8 foot two by four at 100 mph. The wood bounced off.

Furnace InsulationCFOAM insulation

The Power ofIntellectual PropertyThink of a patent as a 20 year monopoly given toyou by the government in exchange for explainingto the world how the technology works.

Let’s Get Personal

Opportunities are Everywhere!Optimism is the KeyWhether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.Henry Ford

Read Motivational LiteratureAnd don’t be afraid to change you…

Watch motivational videos…

Read BiographiesThey give you roadmaps.

Anything is possible• Know that you were born to succeed• Commit to focused goals• Attract the good around you• Decide what you want & believe in yourself• Avoid the negative• Your dreams can come true!

Be the change youwish to see in the world.Mahatma GandhiBrian E. JosephPhone: 304.312.4565BrianEJoseph@gmail.com