Making Wireless a Business SIG

Helping companies generate revenue and create profit from wireless technology 

The Making Wireless a Business Special Interest Group (SIG) has been constructed to help push wireless technologies into commercialisation, generating revenue and profit. The main purpose of the Making Wireless a Business SIG, is to empower a broad range of wireless and technology companies by looking at methods of improving best practice on a range of business issues. The SIG will encourage CWL and non-CWL organisations to share their business and marketing expertise with members, so that commercial advantage may be gained by adopting new or enhancing old methods. 

Aims of the SIG:
  • Provide a fresh approach by looking at business models and answering the questions: “Where does the money come from?’ ‘How do we make wireless commercial?’ ‘How do we share or collaborate?’
  • Introduce CWL members to other organisations, from within and outside of the wireless industry, who can show successful and unsuccessful approaches to commercialisation. This will enable members to learn from the experiences of others.
  • Help identify answers to common industry problems, e.g. how to license products, where to raise funds, or how to develop the initial business cases for a technology idea.
  • Introduce and encourage discussion about future business models.
  • Provide ‘Commercial/ business’ input across other SIGs in much the same way as the Legal SIG does it.
  • Bring companies together to develop, out-of-the-box business models. We will challenge the current emphasis of focussing on making money with technical capabilities by championing market-driven approaches – giving the customers what they want.
The Making Wireless a Business SIG is championed by:
Kevin Coleman, Alliantus
Dr. Leo Poll, Philips 

It is anticipated that 1 Meeting per annum will be convened, and the SIG will actively collaborate with other SIGs that wish to engage and organise joint business model focused events.  The Making Wireless a Business SIG will actively suggest meetings with joint themes in conjunction with other SIG champions.
Recent Event

Business SIG / Discovering Start-Ups Launch Event "Show Us the Money..." 13th July 2010 at The Moller Centre, Cambridge 

To view the presentations at this event, follow the links below…..

Introduction to the event from Leo Poll and Kevin Coleman

Keynote Talk "Start-Ups - the Lifeblood of New Economies", Hermann Hauser

"Risk and Reward for Technology Start-Ups", Jack Lang

"What Angel Investors can Bring to your Business", Alan Barrell + additional documents with useful advice -

"What do Banks Look for from Start-Ups", Matt Meyer

"If you were a VC, would you Invest in Yourself?", Jamie Urquhart

"Tips for Building Successful Technology Businesses", Ray Anderson

"The Challenges of Getting a Start-Up off the Ground", Matthew Mead 

Next Event  

Discovering Start-Ups 2010 - Workshop One

If marketing is about understanding your customers needs and then fixing their problems at a profit, then knowing how to communicate your new solution to others is a vital skill that any entrepreneur should have in their locker.
Of course, when you are starting up, your potential supporters can be anywhere, which is why we have devised this workshop to cover a range of scenarios where you will need to promote your business face-to-face.

Please Note: There are three workshops in this series, for your convenience. The content of the workshops is the same, but they take place at different times, at different venues in an attempt to cater for everyone. You need only register for one of the workshops.

THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED - But there are two other dates to choose from. Register and book your place now!

Workshop Two, 14th October, 9.30-12.00, Peterhouse, Cambridge. Click here to Register - Limited places left!
Workshop Three, 21st October 10:00-12:30, Innovation Martlesham, Ipswich. Click here to Register

Event Details

Venue:                 Vivien Stewart Room, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, CB3 0DR
Start date/time:    14 September 2010. 10:00hrs
End date/time:     14 September 2010. 12:30hrs

Event Overview

We believe that the successful networking, pitching and presenting of your company or idea is vital to get you moving, and our workshop covers these skills, linking them together so you can adapt them to other situations.

Cynical about ‘elevator pitches’ or apprehensive about how to engage and disengage in a crowded room? We can help. Not sure what investors need to know about you or your venture? We give you a framework and, more importantly, advice. Need that thirty slide investor presentation? Learn why ten may be optimal. Use PowerPoint all the time? We kick away the crutch and discuss how to bring your pitch alive.

Project Overview

Discovering Start is an exciting programme of activities to assist technology companies in the East of England. Cambridge Wireless is providing master classes, workshops and support from its industry leaders. At the project's core is a competition with prizes for the best in five categories: Green radio, Hot applications and services, Wireless health and wellness, Technology design, and Emerging disruptive ideas. Click here for full project overview

Supporters

 

 


Places are limited and Cambridge Wireless competition entrants will be given priority in the event of over booking.

Can’t make this date? There are two other dates to choose from. Register and book your place now!

Workshop Two, 14th October, 9.30-12.00, Peterhouse, Cambridge. 

Click here to Register

Workshop Three, 21st October 10:00-12:30, Innovation Martlesham, Ipswich
Click here to Register


Please note that these events are free to attend for companies in the East of England, as well as for Cambridge Wireless members throughout the UK. If you are outside of the East of England and not a Cambridge Wireless member and would like to enter then you can do so by becoming a member. For more information about the benefits of Cambridge Wireless membership please click here http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/sign-up/.

The Discovering Start-Ups programme is targeted towards start-ups and early stage companies. Should any of our events be oversubscribed we will prioritise companies that meet this criteria and run a waiting list to which we will add others. Please note that our system may appear to offer a place, but registration is not confirmed until you have received joining details directly from Cambridge Wireless.

These events are free to attend thanks to the East of England Development Agency.

 14/09/10