Innovalley presentation to NASF. Innovalley is a smart apparel startup.

1. Starting a business in Silicon Valley
Jose Luis Agell
Innovalley, Inc.
#NASF, December 2010
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2. INDEX
• Introduction. Background
• Why Silicon Valley?
• What are we doing?
• Key learnings
• Go for it!
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3. INTRODUCTION
• Industrial Engineering from UPC
Barcelona
• Business Sciences from UOC
• UNITECH International Fellow.
ETH Zürich
• Business Development at 3scale,
Inc.
• Co-founder, Innovalley, Inc.
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4. WHY SILICON VALLEY?
• Stanford University: www.ecorner.stanford.edu
• Talent
• Entrepreneurial Culture
• Networking
• Venture Capital
• Top Companies
• Quality of life
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5. WHAT ARE WE DOING?
!""#$%&&'(
Our
vision
Innova&on:
smart
apparel
as
a
by-­‐product
of
(Innova&on)
Fashion + Technology
Our
Mission
To
provide
fashion
firms
with
innova&ve
products
&
services,
and
access
to
cu>ng-­‐edge
technology
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6. 6

7. 7

8. Vibra&on
actuators
that
communicate
with
your
cellphone
via
bluetooth
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9. KEY LEARNINGS
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10. THE MITHS
• Very Competitive
• Very informal
• Legal Barriers
• All is achieved through Networking
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11. GETTING STARTED
• Found the company
• Legalize my situation
• Find a place to live/work
• Hire staff
• Partnership and commercial platform agreements
• Fundraising
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12. TEAM
• Talent is the most powerful tool companies have
• Assemble a diverse team
• Huge premium for the first leap
• Make sure you technology is part of your DNA
• Creativity and lateral thinking
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13. FUNDRASING
• Raise capital but not too much
• If possible, avoid the 3Fs
• Business Angels vs. VCs?
• How do I get to know investors?
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14. NETWORKING
• Explain your project clearly and concisely
• Talk to anyone, at any place and any time
• Do not be overly protective with your ideas
• Be humble and sincere
• Be patient
• Don’t forget your business cards!
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15. ¡Muchas gracias!
Jose Luis Agell
@joseluisagell
joseluis@innovalley.us
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