Tech Startup Growth Hacking 101 - Basics on Growth Marketing
Graphene frontiers lecture 8 resources
1. Graphene Frontiers
• Zhengtang Tom Luo: EL
• A.T. Charlie Johnson: PI
• Mike Patterson: Mentor
• The subject of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, graphene is believed to be
the strongest and most conductive material ever measured
• Graphene Frontiers is working to scale and commercialize a patent
pending production process for manufacturing graphene that produces a
higher quality material at a lower cost than other known methods
2. Graphene Frontiers Business Model Canvas “B”
Scale up
Equipment Foldable / Education Flexible
Mfg Bendable Transparent
Customization
Service/Maint. Conductor
Universities Build Prototype Durable
Collaborative Paper thin
R&D display
Downstream
(PTD)
Fabrication
Companies Rugged
Higher Quality Touch
IP License
Large Area Screen
CVD Equipment “Industrializable” Integrate Into
Other Products
Low Cost
Facilities/Lab
Intermediate License/Royalty
Capital Equipment Personnel Product Sales
Direct Sales/Travel Lab space
3. What We Did: F2F/Phone Discussions
• Sudip @ Osage Capital Partners
• John (CEO), Wayne (Founder), Keith, and Allen at Graphene
Technologies
• Bo Ning from Knighthawk Engineering
• Andreas Kopietz from kopietz-consulting.de
• Jason Heikenfeld, Gamma dynamics
• Miguel Fonseca at DISPLAX
• Joseph King, Managing Director of Global Investments at DuPont
Ventures
• Pannam team. Meeting with Nick Briggs(sales), Joe Lough
(technical), Herb Gieseler, Jeff Lubich, Barry McCray, Claudia Bostic,
Mike Olszewski, Mike Rish.
4. Partners
• Investors
– We need them to share cost
– Risk: what are risks? (IP, competition, market readiness)
– Why will they partner with you?
– What’s the cost of the partnership?
• Competitor example: Graphene Supermarket
• Display/Touch screen manufacturers: Gamma dynamics, DISPLAX,
Pannam
– We need their expertise and manufacturing capability
– Why will they partner with you? They need a new “Buzzworthy” product
– We might get stuck in non-profitable products – “Buzzworthy” = loss leader?
– What’s the cost of the partnership? Time and resource for joint product
development
5. What We’ve Learned
• We will need a partner to enter the paper-thin display or
rugged touch screen market
• Key to success is clear and candid communication of our
material specs and limitations—still some unknowns, e.g.
durability
• We might have limited knowledge of partner capability and
resources—significant due diligence required
• Value will be in IP generation: How do we ensure that we
capture some of this and share in the upside? (JV?)
6. Sample Income Statement
Graphene Frontiers
Sample Income Statement Projection (In thousands)
Fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2012 We expect license fees
Gross Revenues: and royalties to be > 2/3
Licensing $1,000 total revenue stream
Material Sales $ 300
Direct material sales
Total gross revenues $1,300
gross margin > 65% at
scale
Expenses:
COGS $ 100
SG&A $ 300 R&D and SG&A are
Rent $ 50 primary cost drivers
Depreciation $ 20 in licensing model
R&D . $ 700
Total expenses: ($1,170)
NET INCOME $ 130
7. Our Plan for Next Week
• Keep looking for strategic partners and specific product/niche
– Paper Thin Displays
– Rugged Touch Screen
• Prepare samples and send out for testing and follow up