3 reasons why Pittsburgh #startups should attend this week’s Open Innovation Forum Event

1. Does your hardware or software start-up business model include the possibility of licensing to third parties?  Gain valuable insights from Yet2.com - a leader in online selling/sourcing of technology.
2. Are you looking to lower the execution risk for your start-up? It might make sense to explore the possibility of licensing some technology to lower execution risks, learn about an important resource to start your technology search. 
3. Do you plan to eventually sell your company or technology to a large company? Benefit from hearing real experiences in how to do it, what works and what doesn't. 

Don't miss this opportunity - Click here to register

ABOUT THE EVENT:

Open Innovation - A Valuable Tool For Growth That Few Companies Have Yet Mastered

Presented by: Tim Bernstein, COO, YET2.com
When: March 12, 2014 at 5:00 PM
Where: Regional Learning Alliance at Cranberry Woods

About the Speaker 
Tim Bernstein joined yet2.com in 2001 and serves as a member of the leadership team and board of the company. Tim leads yet2.com's technology transfer and scouting services. Areas of particular focus include the development of value-added upgrades to yet2.com’s technology acquisition scouting offerings for yet2.com's 'buyside' clients, and facilitating technology transfer deals. Tim delivers thought leadership on topics including deal-making, large-to-small-company interactions, innovation benchmarking, and open innovation best practices. Tim also sits on the boards of two yet2Ventures portfolio companies.
 
In addition to Tim's hands-on experience, he has an educational background in the IP industry including his Masters Thesis, which recommended improved licensing strategies for technology licensing out of universities. Prior to yet2.com, Tim designed and launched educational and enterprise software offerings for high-tech startup companies in Boston and in Silicon Valley. In addition to a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard, Tim has an MBA from Stanford University with an emphasis on entrepreneurial studies, and a BA from Yale University in Economics and Political Science...

A Message from the PDMA Pittsburgh Chapter President

Welcome to the Pittsburgh PDMA! I am honored to serve as Chapter President for 2013-2014. As I stepped into this role, the Chapter was recognized as a Top Tier Chapter in the Nation! This is a testament to the response and support of our members and guests, the tremendous talent and dedication of our Board and the leadership and vision of our past Presidents – Jeff Thompson and Mark Adkins. I am excited and proud to be part of this growing and vibrant community of practitioners, academics and service providers engaged in the principles, practices and processes of effective product innovation.

This is one of the most dynamic times in history for innovation and product development. Bill Gates suggests in Bloomberg Businessweek: “We’ve had more progress in the last decade than ever before.” For innovators, product developers, designers and engineers, advancements in technology (real and virtual) have created a vast body of knowledge and resources including the advent of some of the most creative and unique product development platforms in history—crowd sourcing, open innovation, rapid manufacturing and the maker movement, just to name a few. There has never been a more exciting time for innovation and product development yet organizations, regardless of size, openly admit to ongoing struggles with sustainable growth through their product portfolios and pipelines. We continue to hear of the high number of new product failures and the lament over incremental product improvement.

The mission of our Chapter is to impact the success of product development by growing and unifying the knowledge, talent and resources in our region. With the connection to the international PDMA organization, we also enable wider access to global resources. This coming together of professionals from different perspectives, disciplines and backgrounds, creates a valuable forum for genuine dialogue about current best practices, methods, challenges, opportunities and new thinking.

I encourage you and your colleagues to become part of the innovation conversation and join the Pittsburgh PDMA community. Whether through membership, sponsorship, event participation or volunteerism, there are many ways PDMA can fit your schedule and interests.

See you at the next PDMA Innovation Forum on September 16th!

Randy Rossi
President, PDMA Pittsburgh
President, Bally Design