I have made several attempts to strike out on my own. Some fizzled out. Others were spectacular failures. Even though the last one left me saying, "never again" I knew in my heart there was no way I'd be able to shake this thing until I was successful.
I think the biggest challenge has been admitting that I'm just not good at running a business. At least not running it alone. I need a partner who knows business or at least is much more pragmatic and responsible than I. I believe I've discovered that person. This person has been reluctant in the past and it has tempered my trust of her with my passion. Being the practical, pragmatic person she is, her advice to me has always been, "put it out of your head - you suck at it." So, I kept my ideas to myself. But no matter how much I try to put it out of my head, it's still there. "Like a splinter in my mind," observed Morpheus.
We talked about this today. About trust and passion and how I felt so compelled to pursue this. That I'm not afraid to fail again. And that the last time we failed we still managed to make it and in fact thrived. But the point isn't to fail. It's to succeed and I feel with her as my partner we can do that. I'm referring to my wife, of course.
I have been working on this concept for the past two years, so it's not just a flash in the pan. I have hesitated opening up to the market for fear that I'd be inundated and I'm not prepared for a surge in demand. And if I can't meet demand, that would certainly be the end.
Our concept is to service the 3D printing industry. We will offer:
- 3D printers of our own design
- 3D printer parts and supplies
- A 'Design Bar' or 'Design Cafe' (not sure what to call it) which will include
- 3 levels of membership allowing users access to our 3D printing equipment
- Classes in 3D CAD and 3D Printing
- Prototype design and printing services
- An espresso bar
One of the things I'd like this company to offer is an opportunity for engineering students to get their hands on the end-to-end process of designing and manufacturing parts. We will also be looking at web enablement and automation so I will also have opportunities for CSci people. These would be internship opportunities. Interns would be provided with their own 3D printer at the end of the internship.
My question around interns has to do with IP. What happens to IP with interns? Does it typically stay with the company they worked for or do they own it? I assume in the case of the former, they'd need to sign some sore of NDS or other binding contract.