(1888PressRelease)
March 06, 2009 - Morrisville, NC. Montie Roland, President of Montie Design, Inc. and Co-Founder of the RTP Product Development Guild will present a lecture on “Innovation In Existing Small Companies,” on March 18, 2009, at the BNC Center in Cary, N.C.
His presentation on March 18 will lead inventors through the basics of developing a product. Topics will include:
1) Idea Selection – How to Know You Have a Winning Idea
2) What is an NDA – sample form provided
3) Finding the Voice-of-the-Customer – how to improve your product concept
4) What is Brainstorming – the answer may surprise you
5) Holding on to the Space Shuttle Concepts – why this is critical
6) Developing, and Refining, a Product Concept – use the same processes that are used by major corporations
7) Overview of Local Product Design Resources
8) How to Submit a Product Concept, or Invention to the Guild for help on product creation
Roland has just successfully introduced a new radio frequency identification device (RFID) product into the market that he designed and developed. He will use his experience to describe how small companies can follow the same management techniques to introduce new products.
His new product will enable RFID users and installers to detect whether an RFID interrogator is operating properly during or after installation. The $20 device fits into a pocket or clips to an ID badge, and is currently being marketed to RFID installers and users.
The idea for the device originated with a friend during a networking event late last year, according to Roland. His company typically designs industrial and mechanical products, such as bike rental stations, solar panels and encasing for RFID transceivers and other products. Roland says his seven-engineer staff comprises “generalists” who develop a variety of items that are then marketed and distributed by the firm.
The new product is assembled by GRT Electronics, located in Raleigh, NC.
Thus far, says Karl Frank, Montie Design’s business development manager, the firm has sold units to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as to several RFID equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and installers. Manufacturers or integrators can have their logo silk-screened onto the detector, Frank says, which they can then utilize as promotional tools, such as providing them to customers during installations.
Roland co-founded the RTP Product Development Guild, a consortium of professional product design and engineering consulting firms in central North Carolina, to increase the rate of product development in the RTP regional economy. (www.rtpproductguild.com)
“I wanted our community of designers and product prototypers to have a professional network that worked together to increase the viability of our regional economy,” said Roland. “My Guild works together with 4 other business networking groups, like the RTP Small Business Development Innovation Network, to provide a favorable environment for small business innovation.”
The 4 business networks include the entire sequence of events, from new idea mapping to deal funding, that assist companies in product innovation to deal exits.
Registration for the March 18, 2009 seminar is available at MeetUp.com. The cost, which includes lunch, is $10, payable at the door. http://newtech.meetup.com/115/calendar/9497593/
About Montie Design: Montie Design balances vision with usability in realizing products that are economical to manufacture, elegant and robust.Our philosophy is simple -- we enjoying designing products. If you can't enjoy what you do, then why do it. We also have a corporate mandate to lead in how we design and lead in the design community. We support the RTP Product Development Guild and sponsor the 2008 RTP Product Design Street Faire and BarCampRDU. Contact montie ( @ ) montie dot com
About the RTP Small Business Development Innovation Network: We are all about brainstorming new ideas for products and markets and helping local companies raise growth capital. Each month, we present a professional education seminar on a topic related to successful innovation. Our topics are great for both existing companies that need ideas on how to innovate, and for budding entrepreneurs who would like to create and fund a new venture. In addition to the seminar, each month, we sponsor an open forum for 4 companies to make a power point presentation about their company at the BNC Center in Cary. We call this the RTP Innovation Angel Capital Exchange. If your company would like to present, please let us know. Contact Tom Vass. tvass ( @ ) privatecapitalmarket dot com 919 9754856
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