Independent Providers of Technology Assessment / Due Diligence Services and Products
Consider the role of “gut instinct” in assessing technology. Some notable gut instinct assessments:
“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” Lord Kelvin, famous British mathematician and physicist, c. 1895.
“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.” Ken Olson, President, Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977.
“They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist...” General John B. Sedgwick, last words, Battle of Spotsylvania, 1864.
Technology commercialization investment decisions are difficult. And risky!
The consequences of bad technology investment decision-making can be astonishing. The many billions of dollars wasted on the start-up and development of the troubled Iridium satellite phone system is a recent, well-known example. This may represent an extreme example, but the decision-making process used to justify moving forward was typical. Could the investors have known that the system would need internet-age data rates to be competitive in the near-future, that the phone system would not really give users the “freedom to communicate anytime, anywhere,” that the voice quality would be poor, that the cost of building the system could soar to more than double the original estimate, that competing cellular technology would rapidly improve? The simple answer is yes. They could have known these things--and more--but perhaps did not have the necessary commitment to analysis or objectivity.
In this age of accelerating technological change, the consequences of good decision-making in technology investments can be equally astonishing. One thousand dollars invested in the original Intel stock is worth more than a million dollars today. Cisco stock increased in value more than 3,000% in five years and then fell dramatically. While market investing is not what Beta-Rubicon is about, these numbers rather dramatically illustrate the remarkable economic potential of evolving or new technologies � and the risks.
What can be done to reduce the risks and increase the rewards?
Beta-Rubicon can help you. We do not have a crystal ball to the future. But we do technology assessments, competitive technology intelligence, and technology market research and discovery. We do it well. Very well. In fact, it is our sole focus. And we can help you make better decisions about technology.
What is technology due diligence? Is it really needed?
The present rate of technological progress and change is without parallel and will continue to accelerate due to burgeoning critical mass of enabling (foundation) technologies. The consequences to the world economy are nearly impossible to overstate. It’s a new world. Those who understand this better will have the advantage.
Old-style, conventional business due diligence is no longer adequate. It does not begin to adequately take into account today’s main economic driver: technology. We have changed the paradigm. We provide technology assessment as a complementary and integrated part of your due diligence process. Technology due diligence is no longer an option -- it is essential in today’ economy. Failure to include an appropriate assessment of technology diminishes the usefulness of your due diligence --and your protection from downstream liability will be in jeopardy.
Why can’t an ordinary consultant do the job? Can Beta-Rubicon do it better?
Technical consultants can readily be found in virtually all fields of endeavor. Many are very talented. However, a rare set of skills is necessary to do high-quality technology assessments. One needs both depth and breadth; the ability to synthesize; the ability to see where a technology fits in the market, and the ability to envision the probable future. In-depth experience in the process of commercialization -- not just in the detail of technical analysis -- is an essential capability. These are some of the things needed in a good assessor.
There is a critical shortage of people who can bridge the gap between the technology and business worlds and provide the understanding needed to make wise investment decisions in technology commercialization efforts. Finding quality people is very difficult at best, but Beta-Rubicon can serve you as single point of contact for a extensive range of technologies. Beta-Rubicon’s diverse pool of technology experts is selected based on their expert knowledge, skills, and eagerness to do the highest quality work. Of course, we are continually enhancing our pool of experts and reviewing their ability to perform in-depth assessment work.
Who needs us?
If you are not investing in technology, if you are not interested in using technology to improve your productivity or to meet competitive challenges, and if you are not interested in seizing the opportunities while avoiding the risks of the new economy, read no further. You do not need us. Who does? Almost everyone else.
A few examples: to avoid the pitfalls of hidden agendas, biased information, or vested interests, companies, organizations, and public-sector agencies (even those with good in-house technical capabilities), need our services. Lean organizations may have the capability, but not the capacity to do the work and we are available. Entities contemplating the acquisition of or merger with a technology-oriented enterprise need objective and independent evaluations of their relative risks and potential rewards. We can provide them.
What do you get?
You get an assessment individually and specifically designed to respond to your information needs. We develop with you a clear understanding of the scope and depth of the assessment that you require, and we do our work accordingly. You get a readable yet comprehensive document, and we are available to meet with you to discuss the results. We explain the methodology we use for your assessment and we carefully document our sources for your future use. You get the information you need for good investment decision-making, and you get it in the form in which you need it. You get the results you need when you need them. You get value!
Our approach.
We have detailed, systematic processes. We have in-depth panel reviews. We bring together technology experts and assessment specialists who are technologists and are true experts in technology due diligence. We provide our assessors the tools needed to do the best job possible. We have information-gathering specialists. We have access to all the important commercial technical databases. We brainstorm. We research. We do it right.
Importantly, we are independent as well as specialized and highly focused. When you use Beta-Rubicon, you know that your assessment will not be biased because we do not derive income from sales of goods or other services.
Contact us!
Beta-Rubicon, Inc.
21 West Mountain, Suite 123
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-6064
Tele: 479.444.8118
Fax: 479.444.0089 Email:
email@beta-rubicon.com
OK, so it takes a slow elevator in a tall building!