Damn...! I Just Had Another Idea. The Play of of Internet Business Services, in in Two Acts.

Transcription

1 Damn...! I Just Had Another Idea The Play of of Internet Business Services, in in Two Acts.

2 Summary A narration of of one company struggle with Intellectual Property When ideas control you And when you control ideas And how ideas are NOT enough

3 Spring The Beginnings 3 Wise Men and a Fool meet below the Wallace Monument to to discuss a strange new idea. The Internet We knew -- they didn t. There s got to to be be a business here, surely...

4 Barnstorming the Internet Everyone wants to to know what we know... So So we sold information: seminars private briefings consultancy the conference circuit Well. it it seemed like a good idea at at the time.

5 Missed Warnings? The warning signs were evident at at the beginning: What were our assets? What was our business? Why so so many lunches anyway? What constitutes theft? Who cares we ve plenty more good ideas..

6 Training - The Big Idea of 1995 Courseware is is a recognised IPR Asset Huge Demand in in 1995 Great access to to market for for new ideas (???) and so success comes IBS IBS trains in in countries worldwide All All leading IT IT companies, banks, oil oil companies, retailers. IT IT Course of of the the Year, etc etc etc. etc courses; 50,000 sale sale units.

7 and then it s all lost. Some common mistakes Not knowing what your asset is is Not valuing an an asset properly Not selling it it fast Getting distracted Bad lawyers or or doing it it yourself Talking to to the wrong people and more, and more, and more...

8 So we Reinvent the Company Directors leave with All All the business Then there were Two (and a half ) Why? Because we had another idea! Enter Internet Business Services, Act 2

9 One dark day in Gateshead 1997 The Birth of a New Idea

10 The Need Electronic Commerce - The Infrastructure Problem Lots Lots of of users -- all all requiring Internet access of of different forms Need to to work collaboratively on on desktop and and web web access on on demand. A public web web site site is is useful, but but only only if if kept kept up up to to date. The Problems Network software is is too too costly or or complicated Need to to keep costs down, and and predictable Little spare time, no no skills, no no tame expert to to hand. Who is is going to to manage the the solution

11 The MezzoNet Values? MezzoNet solves the the problems of of Electronic Commerce Infrastructure for for SMEs, schools and and similar organisations. The The Commercial Solution -- MezzoNet has has the the complete set set of of functionality Administration means users to to be be knowledge-free of of the the Internet MezzoNet is is a drop-in solution, scalable and and adaptable to to many different challenges. MezzoNet is is the the lowest cost cost of of ownership solution.

12 And Finally NOT DOT COM What is an ebusiness anyway?

13 MezzoNet Stage 1 At At this stage we had what might look like a business A problem to to solve A name, trademarked as as MezzoNet A definition of of our product A Magic Box which did wonderful things So So we took the system to to beta test trials with captive users. Our ideas were safe, locked in in a box where they couldn t be be stolen. We were safe, weren t we?

14 (Product) Life is is Nasty, Brutish, and Short. [Hobbes] Sadly, an an IDEA is is not enough It s It s a great idea, but but not not quite right. and exactly how how is is the the customer supposed to to buy buy our our idea idea anyway Too Too cheap! Too Too Expensive! Wrong Package! It s It s Not Not Microsoft! It It works! Product Life Life cycles in in the the Internet last last weeks and and here here comes the the competition. (If (If you you can can be be inspired, so so can can others)

15 MezzoNet as IPR Key transformation of of thinking Our Our asset is is the the core core technology and and ideas, not not a product. Design product for for the the channels (intermediaries), but but don t change the the product. Customise the the form, rebrand for for channel, make it it their their own. These are are our our real real customers -- not not the the end end users. Repackage for for vertical markets and and environments AND Get Get good lawyers and and good advice

16 The key to our IPR Deliver as as box ready working, but sell only the intangible form, the core To To do do this, this, create automated production method (SDK) so so that that any any idiot idiot can can build a system out out of of PC PC components, and and configure it it for for the the end end customer. And And sell sell licence keys which protect the the IPR IPR and and simplify our our business. Note, we we do do NOT sell sell software.

17 Markets Small Businesses everywhere Hospitality, Tourism Primary Care Professionals: accountants, engineers Public Sector Community groups Education -- schools Multi-office companies Graphics & Design (MAC houses) Hotels & Business Centres Industrial installations (restaurants!)

18 What we ve done with the IPR Created customisations for for Schools, different business sectors, different price-points With With an an extension to to the the technology created products for for Hotels and and Business Centres Implement system in in a variety of of package forms The The World s FASTEST, SMALLEST Internet Server Translated in in to to many languages Active in in Ireland, Spain, China.

19 Where we re taking the IPR Using Core System to to carry 3rd Party products to to their own markets Integrating 3rd Party products into our own markets Added the concept of of Remote Services for for channel and user alike. Created a virtual business for for our channels.

20 So what does IBS have? One big idea implemented as thousands of of little ideas Which can be delivered anywhere In In lots of of forms as the market requires And adapt as the market changes

21 And then? Well, we do have another idea or two... see for details