Technology Evaluation

Technology Checklist

I. Technology Overview
1. The problem or need

  1. What is the problem or need that the technology addresses?
  2. Why does the problem exist?
  3. Who is the customer?

2. Existing solutions

  1. How has the current problem been addressed with other problems?
  2. Are these solutions protected by IP?
  3. Why are these solutions not sufficient?

3. The technology

  1. What is your technology?
  2. Why the technology (strengths and advantages)?
  3. What are disadvantages of the technology?
  4. What are the challenges of introducing this technology?
  5. What is the status of the IP?
  6. Who owns the IP?

II. Market Analysis
1. Industry Analysis

  1. What is attractive about the industry?
  2. What are barriers to entry?
  3. What are substitutes to the current solutions?
  4. What is the overall outlook of the industry in the short and long term?

2. Target Markets

  1. What are the primary and secondary target markets?
  2. Why these market(s)?
  3. Is it sufficiently large for an investment?
  4. How are these markets segmented?
  5. What are the growth and size of the target markets?

3. Competitors (Competitive Landscape)

  1. Who are the competitors and potential entrants?
  2. What is their product focus?
  3. How are they positioned in the market (market share, revenues, etc.)?
  4. Who is the market leader?
  5. What is their competitive advantage?
  6. What would be the switching costs to a customer?

4. Business model

  1. Who are the customers?
  2. What is the selling strategy?
  3. How do distribute your product?
  4. How does the customer make a decision about this product or service?
  5. How compelling is the decision to purchase?
  6. What is the cost of acquiring a customer?
  7. What is the cost of servicing the customer?
  8. What is the supply chain and where do you fit?

5. Operations

  1. What are the facilities needed?
  2. What equipment and capacity is needed?
  3. What is the development and growth plan?
  4. Has outsourcing been considered for production?

6. Risks

  1. What are the potential risks?
  2. What trends might impede the adoption of the product?

III. Financial models
1. Staffing Plan

  1. What are the costs of human capital?
  2. What is the staffing plan?
  3. What are the costs associated with the staffing plan?

3. Sales and Revenues

  1. What is the selling cycle?
  2. How do current contracts work with existing products?
  3. What are the assumptions with regards to growth and why?
  4. What is the cost of acquiring a customer?
  5. What is the cost of servicing the customer?
  6. What will be the price of the product?
  7. What are the industry financial standards (margins, EBITDA, etc.)
  8. What are your proposed margins?

4. Capital Expenditures

  1. What are the capital expenditures?
  2. What is the cost?
  3. Will the equipment be leased or bought?

5. Investment

  1. What is the investment being sought?
  2. Has any investment been received?
  3. If so, what does the cap. table look like?

IV. Management team
1. Team