When we founded Harvistor, we thought  big even though what we were building was small, and required some volume to make any money.., we thought production not licensing, we though raise capital, grow a team the market while nascent is there , now is our time to shine, wow looking back we were acting as repeaters of repeaters in the startup game, I'd been there before with Cisco, FORE, Platespin, Surfkitchen, Cloakware, I was a serial entrepreneur... the model seemed right..., we even gave good early marketing... (a line my former boss at FORE systems used blurt out occassionally at just the right time to make everyone laugh) 

That said the BIG lesson learned is we were acting and behaving as repeaters  chanting VC speak, we "Believed!" :) (Lots of smiling faces beaming upward! Hands up!)

That is until we bore witness to early investor manoveuring, yet again to take control of the idea/invention, doing what they do best, cutting off cashflow to get more.., we were trapped.

Until we took the Leap, that is, we inverted the biz model, converted to an IP licensing company with zero staff,  left the propsective Seed investor, and flew solo because we knew, with the help of a few existing angel investors we were definitely on the right track, we has solved a real problem which we new some day, sooner, rather than later, would deliver value to some part of the market we though we could serve, and that the value was sustainable... AND...

We were right.., we were also early and in the wrong geographic market to get some early wins and orders,  so after alot of personal sacrafice by me and one key member of our team who coincidently became my life partner wwe finally acquired a few licenses. We were on the same page then, and still are, today. And oh yeah we fight alot, about what to do, but always reconcile that same day and keep going. It's a Journey, with wins and losses along the way.

And, we still have control over our IP with support of a few key angels who believe in us.

The tech has been developed we have a few licenses inssued to OEMs and we are looking at future revenues streams starting to materialize, not as fast as we like, but materializing noe the less. So we keep going. AND we make do with part time consulting, helping others be successful whil we soldier on. 

Here is a link to a video of the team during the first big break through. A real live prototype flying the way it should!. (as designed itha bit a help from some smart minds and 128 core processors running Openfoam CFD  we we were able to get access to from SabalCore  HPC Services in Florida. The visualization tool was Paraview. CAD was done on Autodesk (we use FreeCAD now). XFoil code was used to create the airfoil shape in XFLR5 and open source airfoil tool. Google Suite  helped us  team operate way above our batting average and budget, all back in late 2011 and late 2012. :) 

https://www.bitchute.com/video/QGxcznKjfd6v/

It's what inventors/New Idea people do. We break the mold. We Defy the Critics, many times against the "Soothsayer" Published Odds (VCs say 1 in 10 make it...)

We stop being repeaters of repeaters and behave a sovereign individuals with our own thoughts and idea bubbling up to the front of brains above our eyes, and we mkae, rember and document or break thrus, or idea, our failures, and continutally cross-references and analysis and CRUD the idea until it sort of works, themn really works, and that is the point when other get interested and really want some of that new idea or invention or service.

It's what we do, we persevre. :)

Along the way, we learned a few things, and want to share in the spirit of OpenSource as our OpenThoughts, to help those with great ideas realize their inventions, services or products so they to will help make this world a better place. (And while we are still on this spaceship called earth to see them make it better place.)

HERE IS OUR TOP 13 TIPS to hopefully help--->  New IDEA/INVENTOR PEOPLE

First, don't go to college or university. Just do it. Today, You can learn EVERYTHING on the Internet these days. It doesn't matter what anyone else says as painful or cruel as it might sound coming from their lips, especially loved ones. Just do it. Self Education is a must these days and its continuous (and rarely found on Twitter or Facebook)

Plus, you don't want to be a "repeater of repeaters" and go broke in the process, do you?  The Education system in the west (and worldwide for that matter) is seriously busted with people controlled the syllabus, agenda and narrative not having your best interests in mind. (AT ALL)

The  Education system today is, without a doubt IMO,  THE biggest MindF&*K of our time. Don't do it.

The world has changed my Friend it's not the 50s, 60s or 70s.. Education fell apart by the end of the 80s. If you are in it today, leave the sheeple and join the real people on the street, and team with and employ the same. You will be much happier with the results.

Second, Listen, say Thank you I will consider your input, to any of those critics positive or negative,  then make your own decisions, choosing their advice or not,  is a personal choice. Trtust your gut, defiance is often the right choice in many cases, but keep it to yourslef. Don't build enemies in the shadows by telling them what you really thin about their feedback.

Third, study the past, don't repeat the same errors of past idea creators and inventors, or stay looked in the past view of what ever you are doing. Build, create, make something which is desired now and in the future , which hopefully makes this world a better place.

Fourth, look for adjacent improvements which could morph into and change your idea for the better in your area of interest. Think outside the box. Stuff that may be unrelated might actually nudge you in the right direction of discovery and/or provide a clue of what to do improve your idea or invention.

Five, never, ever give up.., and never let your team give up, include them in your thinking and ideas, decisions, wins and losses, frustrations and challenges. Teams take on weird and wonderful shapes, let them grow organically when the members are adding value let them genuinely know you appreciate the effort, if not the result. Treat your team with the respect they earn.

Six, make sure you maintain some sort of life that includes others outside your area of interest or invention, make time for them, run your schedule to include them. They can also provide some insights which may surprise you outside of the welcomed stress relief such contact offers. It might actually include team members or not, that is personal choice.

Seven, if you have partners/co-founders/key team members,  get a pooling of interst signed so the VCs can't split or divide your group vote. You may hate each other from time to time, no worries, you will patch it up, that is if you are on the same page, otherwise execute the buyout shotgun clause. :)

Eight, learn from competitor efforts past, present and what you anticpate they will do in the future. Don't repeat the mistakes of the past, and study their vision of the future and the direction they took, their strategy, it will help you find an opening and position your new idea, invetion, product or service properly so you achieve your goals sooner, rather than later.

Nine, Read past patents, past and current research, even go to archive.org to check out companies that in the past were doing something similar, keep learning, no their mistakes and successes and keep learning.

Ten, write everything down, every day. Documentation in KING!

Eleven, Self Educate yourself in the software tools you need, it should be all open source, to design your idea or invention, Open/LibreOffice, FreeCAD, OpenFoam, Qblade, XFLR5, I have used them all and have good command of every single program.

Twelve, Don't shy away from getting your hands dirty building the prototype of your idea, wehter it be software, clodu service, hardware, a physical product, building a structure, or a new personal service. Just do it, this is where the real learning begins and where idea/invention improvement starts and ends.

Thirteen,  keep your cash flow going, it's adaily exercise, other work part time or full time while you work on your idea goes with the Territory, and don't take loans or spend more than you can afford. Think real equity and sweat equity, yeah you might live like pauper over an extened period. Oh Yeah and don't forget to ask for that first order,license or contract for your invention, product or service.  

Constructive comments welcome, otherwise bugger off back to your flock ;)

Remember OpenThought is your biggest ally.

Thunderboltkid signing off for now, be safe, be good, do good.

*****