David Croslin, Ceo of Innovate the Future and former chief technologist at Hewlett Packard and chief product architect at Verizon/MCI, delivers the keynote address at the fifth annual Technology Transfer Conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center, presented by the Enterprise Center.David Croslin says there’s a big difference between a cool invention and a money-making innovation.
“It’s very critical to draw the line,” said the former chief technologist for Hewlett-Packard. “If I can’t satisfy needs, I don’t have a product that I can make money from.”
Croslin, speaking at the Chattanooga Enterprise Center’s tech transfer conference, estimated there are millions of startup ventures globally annually, but few get beyond funding by friends and family.
A big reason, said the chief executive of the Innovate the Future consulting firm, are mistakes startup business people make when seeking potential investors.
Croslin, also a former chief product architect at Verizon/MCI, said entrepreneurs ought to bring visibility, credibility, stability, fundability and marketability.