Turning Ideas into Reality

There are lots of good ideas (and even more bad ideas) around, but very few become successful businesses. We believe this is because the sort of person that generates high tech ideas rarely has the skills to turn the idea into reality. We work in partnership with the owners of the ideas to create a business, the process will vary from case to case, but it might involve fund-raising, developing the technology and then marketing the idea to the public or to potential licensors. These are just examples, each case will be different.

In particular we work with developing ideas into products and services. There are many great ideas out there, however turning a great idea into a product is complex process that few ideas complete. We work with companies to refine their ideas:

• decide what is possible and what is not, and what will be a marketable product or service
• plan a process to create a product
• incorporate technology into business plan, marketing material etc
• generate a media buzz around the product
• raise the investment needed at the best valuation achievable
• implement that process (see project management)

What kinds of ideas ?

We are looking for ideas in the areas of Sustainability Technologies, Products and Processes, for example energy saving or generating, waste remediation or reduction, technologies that allow for reducing use of non-renewable or toxic inputs.

Why Sustainability ?

There are two reasons for choosing this area. Firstly the altruistic reason, the people who make up Natural Innovation believe that for this planet to remain habitable we need to make a significant reduction in the amount of non-renewable inputs we take from the Earth, and the amount of toxins we dump back into the air, earth and ocean. While the ideal would be a less consumer orientated society, this is not likely to happen, so we need to take steps to minimize the effect that our consumer lifestyle has on the planet.

The second reason derives from the first, as people and governments realize the need, sustainability is projected (even by quite conservative analysts) to be a major growth sector of the economy.

What kind of ideas

We are looking for ideas that have the potential to grow significantly, for example products or services that can scale to an Australia-wide or International market. But talk to us even if you don't think your idea matches, we might be able to come up with ways to make it scale - for example by developing education and training materials for some technique or other and franchising it.

Give me an example ?

Lets say, hypothetically, that you've come up with a process that turns grass-clippings into insulation. We would work with you to refine the idea - exactly what kind of insulation, what tests are needed, how do we fireproof it. If the idea was original enough then we'd work to protect it with a patent. We'd refine the business concept, for example, who will we sell this insulation to, what is the competition and then write a business plan. We'll then take that business plan and look for funding, this could come from government, but if the idea is good enough its more likely that it can be raised from private sources. The funding would typically allow turning this into a product that can be trialed and demonstrated. At this point we might be making marketing decisions - should we sell direct over the Internet to the home-builder or market to building wholesalers, or as a component that will be further manufactured by some other business. Depending on the decision we might be building a web site, or having a marketing person calling and visiting potential customers. We would also consider whether a better return would come from selling the developed idea to some other company - for example an existing insulation company wanting to branch out into green building products.

I have an idea, but no money, how much do you cost ?

We don't expect you to have money, we will work with you to develop the idea to the stage where money can be raised. We will get paid partly from the money raised, but mostly we will take an equity stake (i.e. a percentage) in the business. This gives us a strong incentive to help you succeed.

How do I know you won't steal my idea

You don't have an absolute guarantee, but like any good consultant we wouldn't survive long in a small community like this by pinching ideas. We will sign a "Confidentiality Agreement" with you, which says that we can't tell anyone else what you have told us.

Where do the businesses have to be located ?

Some of us are in Byron Shire, others are in Brisbane. Frequent interaction is going to be necessary in most cases so we will actively seek out businesses within a couple of hours drive - i.e. the Northern Rivers area and up as far as the Sunshine Coast. If the project is good enough then we'll consider projects further afield. This region has a huge potential given the number of highly skilled people that have relocated here from the capital cities and all over the world.

I've got an idea, what is the next step ?

Call or email us, we'll take it from there , typically by setting up a meeting if you are close to one of our team, or by discussing what material you might want to send us to look over.