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Software + Other Skill Startups

Just a quick question. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get funding for a startup that involves more than just web/business software? For example, combining chemistry, biology, mechanical engineering, or physics? I haven't heard much about this. I suspect these sorts of startups are more expensive than the typical web startup because they probably require a longer period of unprofitability before the product gets launched, but it seems to me that they would be much more profitable in the long term. Also, what about tech-integrated brick and mortar startups? Again, typically more costly.

robfitz 15y ago
For the former, very different investors. Medical, biotech, and agriculture each have their own VC & angel communities. You can choose to position yourself as a more defensible tech company backed by some patents if the core R&D is already complete, e.g. from your phd. In that case you'd be talking to the tech investors. Or, if you're going ongoing heavy R&D before market viability, or there are big non-tech infrastructure costs, you're probably going to want to check in with the alternate investor communities. For example, the UK has big angel networks who invest almost exclusively in product & medical innovations (the same sort of stuff you see on Dragon's Den) and Atlanta has a strong biotech investment community. No idea about brick & mortar.
amorphid 15y ago
Good investors look for an opportunity to scale and don't really care how that happens.
curt 15y ago
It's really hard raising funding without a huge list of credentials and contacts. That was my world, I bridge the gap between the digital- physical world. Had it down to an art form and could produce a mobile-physical, web-physical, or pure consumer electronic prototype for about $10k. But I did most of the work myself. Under a normal setting with a normal team you're talking $50k for a prototype. That's why it's hard to start, too many things to know. Also the channels have far more barriers, getting into Target and Wal-mart is a pain in the ass and I know them. That's where you make the real money on a consumer electronic devices. If you have questions about it, I seem to be the person everyone contacts so feel free. Take a look at my blog curtgeen.com might help you get an idea on how to do it.

robfitz 15y ago

For the former, very different investors. Medical, biotech, and agriculture each have their own VC & angel communities. You can choose to position yourself as a more defensible tech company backed by some patents if the core R&D is already complete, e.g. from your phd. In that case you'd be talking to the tech investors. Or, if you're going ongoing heavy R&D before market viability, or there are big non-tech infrastructure costs, you're probably going to want to check in with the alternate investor communities. For example, the UK has big angel networks who invest almost exclusively in product & medical innovations (the same sort of stuff you see on Dragon's Den) and Atlanta has a strong biotech investment community. No idea about brick & mortar.

amorphid 15y ago

Good investors look for an opportunity to scale and don't really care how that happens.

curt 15y ago

It's really hard raising funding without a huge list of credentials and contacts. That was my world, I bridge the gap between the digital- physical world. Had it down to an art form and could produce a mobile-physical, web-physical, or pure consumer electronic prototype for about $10k. But I did most of the work myself. Under a normal setting with a normal team you're talking $50k for a prototype. That's why it's hard to start, too many things to know. Also the channels have far more barriers, getting into Target and Wal-mart is a pain in the ass and I know them. That's where you make the real money on a consumer electronic devices. If you have questions about it, I seem to be the person everyone contacts so feel free. Take a look at my blog curtgeen.com might help you get an idea on how to do it.