Work Examples

Technology Start-up:

This early stage company was filled with many PhDs, but few business people. The product initially chosen to utilize their new technology was a large, costly, elaborate piece of capital equipment with a limited market size.  This device provided many interesting challenges for the PhDs to address - something they enjoyed.  Over a six-month period, Coulomb Consulting was given complete access to the firm and interviewed employees, customers, competitors, and suppliers to develop an understanding of the technology and market potential. 

The final recommendation was to develop the technology into a component that could be easily sold and integrated into other products in multiple markets, thus capitalizing on the larger business opportunity, with reduced development cost.
 

Semiconductor Start-up: 

An early stage power management company had new semiconductor technology which enabled them to make smaller, faster, and more accurate power management products.  But in a market already dominated by large players, these core advantages were not enough.  

A new concept built around safety changed the playing field and allowed the increased accuracy and faster processing to be translated into meaningful value for customers.

Battery Company: 

This mid-size firm wanted to expand into new markets using existing distribution channels - but with a new product category typically not sold in this manner.  Making this new product required a different sales approach unlike the company’s current business model which is to sell replacement consumable products.  By talking to customers and their direct end-users, features such as size and simplicity were discovered as key differentiators. 

These features were then easily designed into the new line, allowing a significantly differentiated product to be offered.

Patent Work:

             Understanding the application of patent claims and writing expert opinions in terms and concepts easily understood and conveyed to non-technical persons.  Found examples of prior art, evaluated new patents, assisted with understanding of rulings and infringement issues during a two-year work term.