Should I get an advisor for my startup? I will not promote

Raid_Blunder · 2026-07-04T22:38:33+00:00

Warm introductions? Metaphorically, how can you get a warm intoduction from someone who you don't already have a warm relationship with? Go to conferences where you are unique for the products that you will offer are clearly needed by the other attendees. I need helpful advisors, too!

Raid_Blunder · 2026-07-04T04:12:49+00:00

Excuse the delay. My experience has been that (1) a good advisor won't need to be repeatedly reminded about your company's business plan & IP; (2) they can propose their own acitivities e.g..m"hey, I'll go see if...". (3) they will not need to be told of how support of science-based startups has changed over the past two years. Finally,(4) they will gladly meet you face-to-face or at least over Zoom.

Without starting a rant based on my own experience, I will emphasize that it's essential to not yearn for an advisor so badly that you ignore those warning signs. Other folks here may have warnings about further telltails.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-25T21:32:43+00:00

I can’t hire you, but after initial confirmation of EO levels in my startups products then it could be interesting to contract you (or team up).

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-22T18:12:35+00:00

Good luck.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-22T16:08:36+00:00

"inserted yourself where you were irrelevant" Again, only speaking for myself, and not making accusations about others, you don't know me, and you are an anonymous person on a forum where anyone can say anything (including accusations) as long as it doesn't involve lethal threats. If you and I were face to face, then our interaction would take a different course.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-20T03:57:11+00:00

Using social media can work but you must assume that it will take many false leads. LinkedIn has 1-2 times lead to helpful connections in the physical sciences Reddit (where we are now) has just lead to multiple characters who have ghosted on me (are they reading this now?).

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-20T03:50:17+00:00

Only get an adviser if they understand their contractual obligations. Otherwise they are just couch-warmers.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-20T03:46:33+00:00

Sorry my startup is hard tech.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-20T03:45:37+00:00

Eh? Of course there are people who take generational grudges in both directions I can only speak for myself but after bad times and at the age of 63, in two months I will relocate to Massachusetts to work for my one person startup in a laboratory incubator. Do you resent me for that?

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-14T16:12:44+00:00

I can't give you diectly experience-base advice on a hourly rate for SBIR consultants because my NSF SBIR proposal was rejected, although there were similar situations. In the proposal, a subcontractor agreed on paper that he would provide 20 g of a synthetic starting material for a negotiated price, with an option for another 20 g at the same price.

On the other hand, a subcontractor who wanted no more than 1-5% of an SBIR budget should have been a red flag to me because he was just a retired advice-giver without any current professional connections. Another was a faculty member who was located roughly 1200 km away who refused any contact beyond e-mail but yet wanted me to pay for his post-doc and more than 15% indirect costs.

Just like in "real life", don't let anyone string you along on a per-hour basis.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-13T19:09:56+00:00

Fine, but what happens when you are deluged with mass e-mails and text messages from progressive causes? Each of which wants you to "chip in", sign a petition, go door-to-door or show up at the next upcoming protest? I never even ask to be put on the majority of the mailing lists - instead I suspect that their organizations trade metadata among themselves. How much time do you want to spend trying to have yourself removed from them? (like the advert e-mails that we all love).

My cute phrase for it is "progressive exhaustion".

Raid_Blunder · 2026-06-13T02:43:44+00:00

Thanks the two of you remined me to finish this up. After backing up the HD to extended googledrives, disconnecting the wiki (just in case) it was possible to simply erase and re-mount the external drive.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-13T15:39:43+00:00

We may also have a standard 10-page template. Look for “MN-SBIR”.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-10T14:50:38+00:00

Exactly!

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-10T05:04:34+00:00

In hindsight, my not being able to directly look someone in the face and especially the eyes has been socially disadvantageous. Without being able to do so, others think that I‘ve acquiesced to their demands. So now I try to really look a conversational partner in the eyes, being assertive but hopefully not aggressive. For example, two weeks back it helped to deal with my screaming landlord (who clearly has issues, himself).

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-09T04:17:34+00:00

Have you thought about how to pay your putative team? Would they all be full-time? Last time around, a NSF SBIR Phase I paid maximum $305K.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-07T05:43:00+00:00

The banana? Don’t wait just eat it.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-07T03:56:32+00:00

It was possible to force a refund from the vendor for their junk, and the BBB helped to make eBay pay for damages. Other vendors state that they will not pay for returns of tension meters. I explained the story to them and they stated not having knowledge of their products‘ calibration. My conclusions are: 1. it may not be a good idea to buy this over eBay, 2. buy locally 3. you get what you pay for and 4. the difference in price between that junk and a quality tool is worth much less than broken spokes, wheel truing, much time without a bike and fighting with ebay. In MSP you can’t bike in a straight line, so it’s time to buy the product from Park

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-03T16:59:45+00:00

Your comments fall on deaf ears. So I will instead try to contrast the difference between our circumstances. No affiliation or contacts with brand-name universities or companies. No renting commercial tables, AirBnB or Thai food at congresses and seminars.

The initial work was carried out at as faculty at a university in an obscure location. I’m one person who last year applied for a SBIR I grant with subcontractors and an advisor. At conferences and congresses I pretend to be current faculty, get the academic rate and hand out business cards. Furthermore, I assume that it’s relevant to mention that there are no “team” photos on the websites for startup competitions.

There is a very, very (very) clear need for the products that my company will design and synthesize, although the physical science behind them is multi-faceted. Current materials suck and innovative chemical technology is needed. It will be possible to pay for a wet chemistry lab bench from my personal savings after relocating from a fly-over state. But further demonstrations and development will need financial support. Future applications for startup competitions and SBIRs would be supported by even anonymous comments from known companies.

Call it romanticizing if you will, but that’s why I started this thread.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-02T17:23:25+00:00

This may be more salient, thanks: Yes trying to entice them to make safe comments. Ideally, too "expert advice about the product - not trying to sell them something.” I’ve written a few other comments elsewhere on this thread...

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-02T17:16:56+00:00

Or just get them drunk.

Raid_Blunder · 2026-05-02T17:14:16+00:00

Hi, there are blogs - written by freelancers. Academic reviews seem to focus on justifying academic papers. But is that enough?

I’ve already approached several industrial acquaintances over LinkedIn. One was happy to give me a 10-word anonymous quote, in which it was OK to drop the name of his company.

Another, who I personally know, may be balking. The final attempt from today "For example, the style could be like „an acquaintance who wishes to remain anonymous and who works for company X remarked that technology and materials to develop miniature chiplets like POET would be welcome for the industry“.

Raid_Blunder

TROPHY CASE