Transcript Ideas

Biotechnology YES
Any Ideas?
Introduction
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Idea Generation
What has won before
It doesn’t need to work
What is your market
Keep it simple
Have something up your sleeve
Idea Generation
First find a problem
Going with what you know
- Your research (a chance to share)
- Your life
Hot topics
- What’s in the news (maybe not)
Remember the idea is not that important
What has won before
• A non-allergenic gluten replacement
• Analysing blood chemistry with a hand-held device that
harnesses fluorescing quantum dots
• A genetically modified Hosta plant control slugs
• To develop chiral amino acids as the basis for drugs
• Combining distillation and fermentation for efficient
ethanol production
• Contact lenses for diabetics that change colour when
their glucose levels change
• Product that removes bird waste from buildings
• Genetically modified grass that never needs cutting
• A novel vaccine for Hepatitis C
• Oral insulin-delivery system for the treatment of diabetes
It doesn’t need to work
Theoretically possible yes, a genuine idea –
probably easier if it isn’t
A simple flaw that can be glossed over
You’ve got a real ideatry a market alternative
What is your market
 Ideas might be great
but who will be paying for it?
 The market need not be big
but needs to be well defined
Keep it simple
 Simple ideas are often the best
 Prof Doug Newton a former lecturer in
Science Education devised the Urine
flow meter after being treated for a
common problem
Have something up your sleeve
Whatever your market is its great to have
something to say you could do next.
 Another market (new countries)
 A related product
 A new business model (franchise)
 Takeover plans
Conclusion
A straight forward idea, with a clear an well
defined market will be easier to pitch
Don’t worry if there is an obvious flaw in your
idea that will be easier to overcome than a
complex idea with no obvious problem