1. Contact Information
Ross Harrison
Chief Executive Officer
Harr1785@umn.edu
Kelly O’Brien
Chief Marketing Officer
obrie906@umn.edu
Adam Westling
Chief Business Strategist
westl187@umn.edu
Industry
Wireless speakers
Estimated Market
Size
$10 billion
Development Stage
Startup/development
Number of
Employees
3
Target Market
Primary: young and tech
savvy individuals aged 15-30
Secondary: event planning
businesses
Suround
Any sound. Any speakers. Anywhere. This mantra is the foundation of why Suround
exists. Our mission is to provide every household the opportunity to easily, and
affordably create the multi-room sound experience they’ve always wanted.
The Problem
Ø Flexibility
Ø Affordability
Ø Convenience
Millions of people across the globe are turning to wireless speakers to create a
communal listening experience. In fact, wired hi-fi surround sound retail volume sales
tumbled by 21% last year, while $80 million in wireless audio speaker units shipped
globally. The lack of flexibility in current systems leads to frustration and discontent.
People are unable to connect multiple brands of powered speakers together at an
affordable rate, with plug-n-play simplicity. The Millennial generation wants an
immersive musical experience in their homes, incorporating multiple speakers
throughout an extended area.
Our Solution
We created Suround to address the growing needs of the market. Suround is a daisy
chain of wireless dongles that allows users to play synchronized sound from any
audio source, through any set of speakers, anywhere, even without an established
network connection. As a plug-n-play agnostic system, Suround gives people the
desired flexibility at a level that other systems simply cannot match. Our goal in
developing Suround is to create a multi-functional product that can be used in almost
any situation.
Ø Pop-up Sound System - where consumers can create a coordinated
musical experience anywhere, anytime.
Ø Temporary Sound System - with quick setup and minimal investment.
Consumers can use it for a single event or use it for temporary living
situations.
Ø Communal Sound System - the absence of a proprietary application
means anybody can connect their device and share the music they love.
The Opportunity
Due to the wireless connectivity explosion, the market for audio speakers has grown
into a $10 billion market. The home audio market is undergoing rapid change, and
the investments in hi-fi systems and dedicated docks, which households have been
installing for decades, are in decline. This change is exactly what Suround is
capitalizing upon. As wireless speaker sales grow, so does our market opportunity.
Executive Summary

2. Wireless
Headphones
Chromecast
Audio
SONOS
CONNECT
Wireless audio ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Use any speakers ✓ ✓ ✓
Multiple simultaneous
users
✓ ✓ ✓
Stream from any source ✓ ✓
High-resolution audio ✓
No proprietary app ✓
No established network
needed
✓
Ross Harrison Adam Westling Kelly O’Brien
Title Chief Executive Officer Chief Business Strategist Chief Marketing Officer
Experience Experience working with
local tech-startup, Wandr
Began independent
venture called U-Band
B2B & B2C sales in greater
MN area
Led team of entrepreneurs in
venture called EyeBlue
Experience working with
local tech-startup, Wandr
Led team of entrepreneurs
in venture called Blare
Block
Skills Sales
Large network
Connections in
entrepreneurship
community
Technologically inclined
External sales
Generating clients
Strong network in angel
investor space
Online e-marketing
Retail optimization
Supply chain & operations
Connections in
manufacturing
Competitive Advantage
Suround will win because our enhancement of existing technology is the most
efficient and easy to use. Where other systems fall short, we excel.
Business Model
By selling direct, through Amazon and EBay, and also through retailers, we will push
this product into the market with high exposure. Our key activities include low-cost,
batch manufacturing combined with creative marketing. It is quoted that full
production can lower unit costs around 15% due to volume buys, and that packaging
would be decreased by 20%. The minimum order quantity to achieve these cost
reductions is only 3500 units. With a unit cost for 2 dongles equaling only $24.50,
our margins can be upwards of $35 per unit with a willingness to pay of $60.
Our Team
The team spearheading this venture has highly relevant experience and a diverse
range of skills that create the perfect formula for success.
Moving Forward
We have gained immense traction thus far by validating product demand,
researching product feasibility, procuring manufacturing strategies, evaluating
competition, and leveraging external resources. Despite our achievements to date,
we will face many challenges going forward including potential patent infringements,
and high research & development costs. However, we will move forward to validate
prototype components, learn more about Wi-Fi and mesh networking, and find the
right people to fabricate the necessary hardware and software components.
Key Jargon
Dongle – a small piece of
hardware that wirelessly
connects to another device to
provide it with additional
functionality
Daisy Chain – defined as
several devices (dongles)
connected together in a
linear series
Board of Advisors
David Orser
Engineering Professor
Russell Bunch
Computer Engineer
Michael Westling
3D Printing/CAD Specialist