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Sen. Enzi’s Inventors Conference April 21, 2006

Sen. Enzi’s Inventors Conference April 21, 2006. From Your Garage to the Assembly Line: It’s a Long Way! Cliff Brown. Topics. Introduction to ADA Business Model Example that involves manufacturing Some of the challenges. What’s the Game?.

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Sen. Enzi’s Inventors Conference April 21, 2006

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  1. Sen. Enzi’s Inventors Conference April 21, 2006 From Your Garage to the Assembly Line: It’s a Long Way! Cliff Brown

  2. Topics • Introduction to ADA • Business Model • Example that involves manufacturing • Some of the challenges

  3. What’s the Game? • Why are we in business?? • To WIN!! • Winning is creating realizable value from technology • Focus on winning as early as possible • It is a “TEAM SPORT” Begin with the end in mind! --S. Covey

  4. Who are we? 20 years old $40M contract research Laramie 28 patents issued & pending Littleton 35 staff – 6 PhDs Demonstrated Commercial Successes

  5. 6 Year Trends -- ADA CAGR = 24% / five years

  6. What do we do?

  7. Business Concept is Focused on Value Creation Marketing $ Infrastructure Spin-off Joint Venture License Sell IP Planning Product Development

  8. The ADA Model • Focus is on “THE PROCESS” of commercializing early stage technologies • “THE PROCESS” is invariant to the technology (about 80-90%) • Corporate value and return to shareholders results from successful commercialization • Plan for succession/exit of primary shareholders in 5 years +/- • Try to do only what your are good at!! • When a technology is mature it is transferred to a separate entity

  9. Focus on the Hand-off from Product Development to Manufacturing • ADA will not be a manufacturer but we must prepare for the handoff You Get What You Order!

  10. Example • WeatherPod product, now in production, started in 1999 through an Army Phase I SBIR • Received Phase II, Phase II+ and Phase III funding from the DOD • Phase III funding of c.a. $1.5M to transition from prototype to product • Will be set up as a separate entity to enable generation of shareholder value and groom for sale

  11. The Essence of the Challenge: Culture Shift • R&D Culture • Academic • Creative • Free flowing; schedule not critical • Not typically driven by a product specification • Soft Deliverables • Make one and celebrate!

  12. The Essence of the Challenge: Culture Shift • Product Development / Manufacturing Culture • Customer expects product to meet their specification & work more than once • Set delivery date • Should be able to replicate production • Typically fixed price ∴ increased risk • Fix it when it breaks; provide support ie customer service • Requires A-R attention to detail Big difference between Invention and Product Development!

  13. Lessons Learned (We learned A LOT!) • Management, Leadership, Control and Communication • In the beginning • Spend the time to accurately estimate the work required; get independent assessments • Be realistic --- no success oriented schedules • Include detailed testing requirements • Plan work down to weekly “mini-milestones” • $$ cannot be customer driven • If invention is required factor in risk (many more $$) • Management resources must be planned in • During Project • No leadership by committee; need single POC • Be realistic about capabilities of personnel • When there is a problem, promptly fix it • Have weekly meetings to assess progress and compare to plan • Be realistic • Financial review 1/month

  14. Lessons Learned (Development Processes Required) • Establish and Follow Processes • Enforce all processes: No exceptions!  • The processes are foreign to typical R&D • We started with the null set with regard to processes • Processes must be documented

  15. Lessons Learned -- Miscellaneous (remember you get what you order!) • Don’t start manufacturing until the design is complete • Allow plenty of time and money for testing • Consider an external test group • Minimize function creep • Vendor selection is critical • Multiple quotes • Check references/perform due diligence • Match background to project • Design for manufacturing to the extent possible

  16. From Garage to Manufacturing: Long trip but possible! • Realize up front that there are significant challenges • Acknowledge cultural difference • Enlist the right help early on • Develop and implement the right processes then follow them! • Plan, Lead, Organize and Control

  17. Contact Information ADA Technologies, Inc. 8100 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 130 Littleton, CO 80127 ---AND--- Wyoming Technology Business Center 1000 E. University Ave Laramie, WY 82071-2000 cliffb@adatech.com (303) 792-5615 www.adatech.com

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