Resources for Entrepreneurs

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Resources for North Carolina Entrepreneurs

SBTDC North Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBTDC) is a great resource. These advisors work with many North Carolina companies so you benefit from the learning acquired by companies that have gone before you. The advice is usually free (some seminars have a fee). The SBTDC is funded by the state and the state is funded by the Small Business Administration. The business model is to get you on the back end when you make lots of money, the state can tax you. FLYNN IP LAW is a big fan of the SBTDC and Kevin E. Flynn has been an invited speaker at conferences organized by the SBTDC.
http://www.sbtdc.org/
BLNC Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) is a free resource for anyone seeking to start a small business in the state. BLNC offers one-on-one phone consultations to hundreds of individuals interested in establishing a business start-up, small business owners in need of general support, and small-business entrepreneurs interested in moving to North Carolina.
https://edpnc.com/start-or-grow-a-business/start-a-business/
Carolina Innovations Seminars This seminar series is run by the UNC Chapel Hill Office of Commercialization and Economic Development. The seminars provide a lecture on the topic relevant to commercializing an invention and then there is a networking event in the event space at Top Of The Hill. Seminar is targeted at the UNC-Chapel Hill community but is open to the community. There is no cost for these seminars. After each early evening seminar, there is a networking event where folks linger as they enjoy a complimentary beer while talking with people interested in commercializing technology.
http://oced.unc.edu/carolina-innovations-seminar/
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) is the leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to driving public policy and market development that creates clean energy jobs, economic opportunities and affordable energy to benefit all of North Carolina.  FLYNN IP LAW is a member of NCSEA.
http://www.energync.org/
Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster The Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) is an industry-funded, industry-led initiative of business, government, academic and nonprofit leaders focused on accelerating cleantech innovation and our cleantech economy.
http://www.researchtrianglecleantech.org/
Triangle TechBreakfast Based on the popular TechBreakfast format, the Triangle TechBreakfast (Raleigh, Durham, and RTP-area) is a "show and tell" format event where up to five different technologists will demo their technologies from a wide range of industries ranging from software to hardware, IT to Biotech, robotics to space tech. FLYNN IP LAW is proud to be one of the sponsors of Triangle TechBreakfast.
http://www.meetup.com/Triangle-TechBreakfast/
RIoT RIoT represents a network of technologists, engineers, business leaders, academics, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom have a stake in the Internet of Things industry. (IoT)
http://www.ncriot.org/
BATON Referral Network at North Carolina Biotechnology Center The BATON Referral Network is a community of life science professionals committed to the growth of North Carolina-based companies.  BATON features a searchable database of prequalified service providers and CEO candidates representing a vast array of business and technical expertise. Service providers pledge to contribute services or provide preferential pricing for referrals coming through the BATON network database. FLYNN IP LAW participates in the BATON process as medical devices fall within the scope of biotech.
http://www.ncbiotech.org/business-commercialization/business-loans-support/outlicensing-network
RTP – The Frontier The Frontier describes themselves as RTP's centrally located spot to plug in, collaborate, and plan your next big move. The Frontier is open to anyone with bold ideas and big dreams. The best part? Most of the space in the Frontier is free. FLYNN IP LAW has used classrooms at the Frontier to teach entrepreneurs about free tools to do your own patent searching. The Frontier hosts many events and it is worth your time to get on their newsletter list.
http://www.rtp.org/newsletter-signup/
Product Camp RTP ProductCampRTPTM provides a venue to learn best practices in product marketing and development and build the product development community through networking. ProductCampRTP offers fun, laid-back un-conferences and gatherings where participants share skills and knowledge. ProductCampRTP’s biggest event is in April featuring an all-day un-conference.  A second forum is held in the fall, and is usually an evening event. ProductCampRTP schedules one or two social events in between the two education sessions. Kevin E. Flynn has been a speaker at Product Camp RTP on the topic of design patents.
http://productcamprtp.org/
WRAL TechWire WRAL TechWire touts itself as the only technology-specific news publication in the Triangle, tracing the rise, fall, boom, and bust cycles of almost two decades. (Formerly known as Local TechWire.) WRAL TechWire has a web site and a daily email of technology stories such as what local technology companies are expanding and why. There is a paywall for some of the longer articles but the free service is so useful you may not decide to pay to get beyond the paywall. The sections of the site include: Life Sciences, VC & Funding, Startups, and Mobile & Broadband.
http://wraltechwire.com/

 

Other Sites of Interest

North Carolina State Bar Rule on Confidential Information Smart potential clients ask about having me sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. They get stars for asking the question as it shows that they are taking the process of protecting their intellectual property seriously. However, lawyers acting as lawyers (rather than as investors) generally do not sign such agreements as they would need to rework the agreement to comport with the layers of state bar rules. Here is a link to the rule from North Carolina State Bar on confidential information. A lawyer that violates the rules about handling confidential information may be disciplined by the relevant state bar.
http://www.ncbar.gov/for-lawyers/ethics/rules-of-professional-conduct/rule-16-confidentiality-of-information/
North Carolina State Bar Rule on Conflict of Interest with Current Clients. The rule on handling confidential information is but one of a set of rules regulating the interaction between an attorney and an existing client, a former client, or a potential client. For an example, please follow the link to see the rule prohibiting conflicts of interest with current clients. There are also other rules on conflicts of interest see rules 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, and 1.11 in addition to the linked rule at 1.7. .
http://www.ncbar.gov/for-lawyers/ethics/rules-of-professional-conduct/rule-17-conflict-of-interest-current-clients/
USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline The Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) conducts the examination process to become a registered patent agent or patent attorney. OED also has disciplinary authority over patent agents and patent attorneys. Anyone working with a patent attorney on patent matters has at least two sets of licensing authorities that can regulate the behavior of the patent attorney.
https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/office-general-counsel/office-enrollment-and-discipline/information.html
How I Built This How I Built This describes itself as a podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built. Each episode is a narrative journey marked by triumphs, failures, serendipity, and insight — told by the founders of some of the world's best known companies and brands. I like these podcasts as a common thread is that each company had to overcome serious obstacles. Thus, this podcast series celebrates the tenacity and ingenuity of by the founders to overcome obstacles.
http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this
eDrawings Entrepreneurs working with a third party designer may want to look at the CAD files that are being produced. eDrawings is a CAD file reader that lets you look at the CAD design and rotate it in 3D. It is somewhat analogous to having a PDF reader on your computer which allows you to open, view, print, and otherwise handle the output from some other program that generated the PDF file. With eDrawings, you cannot create CAD drawings but you have the ability to work with certain CAD output files. You can make parts invisible so you can look inside and you can take cross sections. The program is free and works if the designer pushes out the right types of file for your review. Many of the patent drawings on the FLYNN IP LAW site were produced by me using eDrawings. I use eDrawings to make patent drawings as this can be more efficient than requesting drawings from a patent draftsman.
http://www.edrawingsviewer.com/
Attorney Search Tool Long before we were born, Martindale-Hubbell was publishing a set of directories that allowed attorneys to find good attorneys with particular skills in remote cities. The directories are now on the internet at Martindale.com rather than on book shelves. Kevin E. Flynn is listed in the Martindale.com directory with the highest rating (AV). Martindale-Hubbell also provides information about attorneys in a related site called Lawyers.com that is directed towards consumers rather than lawyers.
http://www.martindale.com/
Trade Secret Trade secret is an important concept as a trade secret may be an alternative to filing for patent protection. There are laws at both the state and federal level to protect trade secrets. A starting place is Wikipedia, but those considering reliance on trade secret should talk with an intellectual property attorney to understand the fit and the risks of choosing a trade secret instead of a patent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_secret
Searching Trademarks at USPTO The United States Patent and Trademark Office examines and registers trademarks at the federal level. People considering filing for a trademark may want to do some preliminary searches to see what names are already taken. Searching for names uses an easy tool labeled Basic Word Search (New User). There are other tools for more experienced searchers. In some circumstance, you can use a name for one type of goods or services while the name is already in use for another type of good or service (Delta faucets and Delta air lines co-exist). However, there are advantages to using a name that is unique as that can be helpful with respect to domain names and searches on the World Wide Web. I suggest talking with a trademark attorney after you have done some searching to narrow down your list of proposed names.
http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=4809:utzd8j.1.1