How to launch a high-tech startup outside the Moscow Ring Road

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

To find out how to launch a project outside the Moscow Ring Road, and to find out what is the most difficult in its development, Ulyana Tikhova spoke with Dmitry Morozov, director of development for the Chelyabinsk company in the field of 3DiVi 3D technologies. He shares his experience of launching a successful startup.

3DiVi is a 3D technology company. In 2016, the guys created the VicoVR VR sensor, compatible with iOS and Android. Even before production began, they received positive reviews from legendary The Verge and raised over $ 88,000 through crowdfunding.

1. Find an idea

You can search for a business idea in different ways: follow foreign trends, read books about creative thinking, or wait for an insight to come.

As practice shows, the first option is the most optimal. If you skillfully reformat a foreign project, you can create an entire company (VKontakte, Yandex) or a separate product - for example, a VicoVR sensor.

The idea came up easily. When Microsoft released the Kinect virtual reality sensor for Windows in 2011, the 3DiVi developers decided to put together a similar product for Android and iOS.

2. Make software

Developers from Russian regions work in both capital and foreign companies. Any Moscow IT company employs guys from Siberia and the Trans-Urals, so software development outside the Moscow Ring Road is not a problem.

3. Collect iron

But the problem with industrial design in Russia. How to make the gadget not look like a Soviet-made night vision device?

Working with hardware is the most problematic part of the project, which took 3DiVi the last year and a half and is still not finished. Even if you hire a great designer, things can still go wrong. Every redesign of the device comes at a huge cost to the company.

Looking for an acquaintance specialist is the most reliable way. The 3DiVi team turned to the DI-Group, a venture fund and accelerator from Tomsk. This company has already brought products to the international market, and they advised a Chinese industrial design company.

In addition, 3DiVi has hired a Chinese engineer who will organize production in China. The developers tell him what size the microcircuit will be, and he takes care of industrial design and other production details.

4. Crowdfunding: collect money and assess demand

Crowdfunding is a great way to raise funds for a product launch, especially if it's a b2c product of interest to a wide audience. 3DiVi received even more than planned: $ 88,283 instead of $ 75,000. A marketing specialist from Silicon Valley helped them organize crowdfunding.

In addition, a crowdfunding campaign is a quick and relatively easy way to assess the demand for a product before launching. According to Dmitry, Silicon Valley investors first ask for crowdfunding and only then agree to cooperate. To the question: "Can you immediately apply to investors?" - Dmitry replied based on Malikov's meme: "It's too heavy."

Attracting customers and distributors is another plus of crowdfunding. The 3DiVi website started receiving pre-orders from the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe.

Still, a successful crowdfunding campaign is not the solution to all problems, it is just the beginning of a long journey.

5. Search for developers and partners

After assessing the demand, you can start looking for strategic partners and investors, and also closely engage in the production of the first batch of the product (the first batch of VicoVR - about 500 gadgets).

Partners are not necessarily located on another continent. There are unique companies in the regions of Russia that can help.

Search for game developers on Google Play. If you adequately assess the capabilities of your product, then there will certainly be responses.

6. Wishes to entrepreneurs

You can create a great product anywhere, but remember that Russia is an isolated market. Therefore, the most important thing is to meet as early as possible with potential customers in Silicon Valley, China and other large innovation centers. In this case, the company has a chance to create something in demand, and not just implement an idea that the founder liked.

To my question: "Where to look for customers?" - Dmitry replied that you just need to write to people on LinkedIn. Many specialists easily start a dialogue and give feedback.

Output

Use all available means to assess demand before launching: talk to people on LinkedIn, chat at conferences. Crowdfunding if possible.

Looking for strategic partners in California is cool, but difficult. First, find like-minded people in your area.

It is realistic to create a high-tech startup outside the Moscow Ring Road (and even beyond the Urals).