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-Dr.RobertGagneYouvegottobeasobjectiveaspossibleandgetotherpeopletohelpyoubeobjective.Formoreinformationvisitwww.technologyalliance.msorcontactJoeGrabendirectorofMS-FASTbyemailJoseph.Graben-1nasa.govorbyphone228-688-2280.YoumaycontactLynneatlynne.jetergmail.com.PartoftheMississippiTechnologyAllianceCenterforCapitalFormationtheMS-FASTprogrampromotesinnovationbyassistingMississippihigh-technologycompaniestobettercompeteandsecurecapitalforearlystagetechnologyapplicationdevelopmentviathefederalSmallBusinessInnovationResearchSBIRandSmallBusinessTechnologyTransferSTTRprogramsandothersimilarfederally-fundedtechnologyapplicationdevelopmentprograms.ToassistMississippishigh-techcompaniesinbettercompetingandsecuringfederalfundingforearlystagetechnologyapplicationdevelopmentMS-FASTprovidesnewsandinformationonthefederalSBIRSTTRprogramsviaworkshopsandweeklyemailnewsalerts.MS-FASTalsoidentifiesfederalagencyRDneedsthatrelatetoanindividualcompanysRDcommercializationgoals.InadditionMS-FASTidentifiesuniversity-developedintellectualpropertyfacultyexpertiseanduniversitylabresourcesthatmaysupportundersubcontractorlicenseacompanystechnologyapplicationdevelopmentefforts.MS-FASTalsoworkswithcompaniestodevelopfundingproposalsandprovidesPhase0fundingsupporttohelpcoveracompanyscostofdevelopingaproposaltoafederalagency.TheonlytimeGagneusedprofessionalservicestopresenthiscompanywaswhenhetraveledtoJapantomakeapresentationtosellsometechnology.Wedidneedalittlehelptheretoarrangeintroductionshesaid.IfGagneweretostartasimilartechnologycompanytodayheestimateditwouldcost400000onashoestringbudget.Forothersitmighttakeupto4millionhesaidpointingouthestartedMaxdemwith200000.Imverygoodatmakingdowithaverymodestamountofmoney.FromtheMaxdemprocesshelearnedthatperhapsheshouldhavechosenaneasierpath.Weneverstartedwiththeideathatthebusinesswasgoingtobeafastmoneymakerheadmitted.Wedidsomethingthatwewantedtobecauseweretechnologistsandwelikedthework.Weknewitwasgoingtobedifficult.Weknewitwasntgoingtobeeasy.Butwediditanyway.AftersellingMississippiPolymerTechnologytoSolvayAdvancedPolymerswhichcontinuestooperateatPortBienvilleGagnebeganworkingwithagroupputtingtogetherMACLLCacompanyfocusedondevelopinglightweightammunitionforthemilitaryalsotobelocatedinHancockCounty.Itsfareasiertoputtogetheraplanthathasarealbusinesstoitasopposedtobeingtechnology-drivensaidGagne.Ifitsmarket-drivenithasabetterchanceoffinanciallysucceeding.Itseasiertoraisemoneyfortoo.GagnesadvicetotechnologyentrepreneursDontfallinlovewithyourtechnology.Youvegottobeasobjectiveaspossibleandgetotherpeopletohelpyoubeobjectiveheadvised.Raisemoremoneythanyouthinkyouwillneed.Youwillneedit.Ifyouwaituntilyouneedittoraiseitthenitbecomesverydifficulttogetbecausenobodywillbelieveyouwillbeabletoraiseit.Justtrynottosellequityinthecompany.GettoknowMS-FASTPointeInnovation18magazine