Monthly Archives: January 2014

Entrepreneurial

Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum 8Feb2014

Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - Energy Storage

Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Energy Storage

Saturday, February 8, 2014

“He who cannot store will have no power after four.”
Dr. Nathan Lewis
George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry
California Institute of Technology

 Baxter Lecture Hall, Caltech
Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Post-program Coffee & Networking with Speakers: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
$40 on-line registration; $50 at the door; $10 full-time students.
Caltech students (free)


To supply instant energy to meet our needs, utilities are required to generate enough energy on the fly. Renewable energy presents us with several problems, including intermittency due to atmospheric conditions (e.g. at night, on cloudy days or when the wind is not blowing). Energy storage and deliver-as-needed has many benefits: the ability to adapt to sudden changes in supply or demand, increased grid efficiency and a reduction in distribution-related issues.

The main issue in energy storage at the consumer and utility scale is its high cost. Recently, however, industry changes have made a drastic reduction in prices possible. Within the next two to four years, some estimates indicate that battery banks will drop from the present $1200/KWh to less than $400/KWh. The technologies competing for dominance in this space go from Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Air and Flow batteries to flywheels, pneumatic storage, and Super Capacitors. IHS Research has recently shown that the “worldwide market for PV storage is forecast to grow rapidly,” and will likely “reach $19 billion in 2017 from less than $200 million in 2012.“

The question clearly becomes how clever start-ups and small companies can bring technologies to market; which can store large amounts of energy at attractive prices, and then gain market share to attract the attention of large companies interested in forming partnerships or, perhaps, to be acquired or go IPO.

The February program explores these issues, providing a better understanding of promising technologies, the market forces shaping the field and the regulatory conditions that can help small companies grow and prosper in a territory where there are not yet any clear winners.

 

Keynote Speaker:

Professor Nathan S. Lewis
Argyros Professor of Chemistry


Panelists:

Mr. Jim Kelly

Dr Jeffrey G. Reed
Director of Market Development and Emerging Technology

Brian Wong
CEO


Program Producers:

Goran Matijasevic
Executive Director

UC Irvine Chief Executive Roundtable

Rogelio Nochebuena
President

Nochebuena R&D

Stan Tomsic
Executive Director
3D Printing

Consumer 3D Printing – Highlights from CES

3D Printing

There is a lot of talk these days about 3D printing.  Some say it will shut down China, others that it will outmode all factories.  Yes, there are revolutionary advances being made.  But will we all have a Star Trek style replicator that instantaneously produces any meal, or any item for that matter, that we give voice to?

What is 3D printing?

I gave an overview of 3D printing in my last blog post here.

3D Printing products from the CES show

3D Systems had a wide variety of 3D printers and printed objects on display.

3D printing - Cube 3D printer

Cube 3D printer, by 3D Systems

Digital Playspace has a very interesting adaptation of 3D printing for use in the home.  They have an online game that allows kids to create virtual 3D dollhouses.  The twist is that the virtual dollhouse furniture can be purchased individually and downloaded as an electronic file.  This file can then be input to a 3D printer at home (such as the Cube by 3D Systems, available at Staples), and produced out of plastic.  These items may then be hand painted, and set in an actual dollhouse.

Dollhouse, with 3D printed furniture

Dollhouse, with 3D printed furniture

Dollhouse figurine, scanned, 3D printed, and painted

Dollhouse figurine, scanned, 3D printed, and painted

The Digital Playhouse people also had figurines in the dollhouse.  They were created by scanning real people.  This scan was then fed into the 3D printer.  The finished figurine can then be painted and placed with the other items.

3D Printer, ChefJet edible printing

ChefJet sugar creations, 3D printed

Edible 3D printed items can now be created, which was kind of cool.  3D Systems was showing a single color ChefJet and full color ChefJet Pro.  The product is available in several choices of flavor.  The texture was a little grainy like sugar, supported in a solid icing.  They are currently being marketed to pastry chefs.

3D Systems also displayed full color 3D printing.  The print medium is gypsum-based.  The printed parts aren’t durable enough for use as prototypes, though they are very good for show.

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3D Printing

3D Printing Overview

1 Comment
What is 3D printing?

3D printing begins with a 3D (three dimensional) electronic file of an object.  This file can be created using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software such as SolidWorks, for example.  One may also use a scanner to create an electronic 3D file from a physical model.  A scanner has a light source and a light detector, and other electronics and software that interprets what it sees into a virtual 3D file.

3D Printing, Bukobot v2

Bukobot v2, by Deezmaker

A 3D printer takes this electronic file and builds a 3-dimensional item matching this file.  The model is built up one very thin layer at a time.  Typically, the models will be in 1, 2, or even 3 colors.  But there is work being done to produce in full color.

Many print with plastics.  ABS is strong but more difficult to work, and PLA is easier to work but not as strong.  Another common material is UV-curable resin.  Some printers are available that create models out of a wax-like material, which can then be used for investment casting of jewelry or other metal parts.  Paper is another material used by some printers.

3D printing exists for metals too.  Metal additive manufacturing is typically used for commercial or industrial applications.  I expect to see this technology next month at the MD&M West show in Anaheim, California.

My next post will cover some of the 3D printer highlights from the CES show earlier this month.

Quality

APICS-SFV (San Fernando Valley) Chapter Meeting 16Jan2014

APICS-SFV logo header

Using OCAI for the Leap into Lean

Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) revealed
Presented by, Michael Thornburg, CPIM, MBA

 

January 16, 2014
5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

The Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Drive
Granada Hills, CA 91344

APICS-SFV is kicking off a series of presentations “Zero to Lean in 2014” with a presentation on the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI).  OCAI was developed by Kim Cameron and Robert Quinn, and is a great new tool for taking an in depth analysis of your company’s organizational culture.   Mike will introduce you to the OCAI (pronounced “Oak-eye”) tool, and how it is helping companies identify traits that are impeding progress.

Has your company launched a Continuous Improvement Initiative (CI)?  The OCAI can help you identify hidden agendas, road-blocks, and negative behaviors.  These can prevent your initiative from being successful or, at best, be prone to unanticipated surprises.   The OCAI can also help you identify positive behaviors and the sources of those behaviors.

Continue reading here

Register

Trade Shows

Highlights from International CES show

 International CES 2014

International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) took place in Las Vegas last week, Jan 7-10, 2014.  With over 3200 exhibits and over 150,000 attendees, it is one of the largest events of its kind anywhere.  All of the big tech companies were there, as well as the auto companies and many others.

I had the opportunity to attend it for two days, and thought I’d write about some of the highlights.

Drones, flying and wheeled

Four propeller mini-drone with camera

Four propeller flying mini-drone with camera

 

Rolling drone with camera

2-wheeled rolling drone with camera

Consumer-marketed drones were present.  4- and 6-propeller flying drones as well as some ground-based wheeled drones were active and on display.  All typically had cameras and were operated with joysticks.

Mini robots

Mini-robot demo video

There were a variety of small wireless robots (many as toys).  The example above could be commanded by phone app, or hand motion in front of their “eye”, or voice command.

Virtual presense devices

Virtual presence devices have two or more wheels. They have a display with speakers, microphone, and camera attached at about eye-level to a shaft, mounted to the wheel base.  The user operates it remotely, perhaps from their office, their bed, or even the beach.   They allow the user to see and be seen, and communicate and move around, at a remote location.

Virtual presence device, on a tour

In the above video, the woman in the white top was giving a tour of the International CES show to the woman operating the virtual presence device.  If you look carefully, you can see the woman on the screen enjoying a cup of coffee, without having to fight the crowd.

A handmade example was used by Sheldon Cooper in the TV series The Big Bang Theory.

Recharging products

International CES attracted a large number of recharging products to be used with the growing number of battery-powered portable devices people are carrying.   They came in all shapes, sizes, and capacities.  

Portable car battery jump starter

Portable car battery jump starter

I saw several hand-sized car-battery jumpstarter devices (rechargeable battery powered).  They came complete with a kit with jumper cables, and the capacity to perform 15 or 20 jumpstarts between charges.

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Entrepreneurial

Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum 11Jan2014

If you expect to be near Pasadena, California, on Saturday morning, Jan 11, 2014, then consider attending this Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum event.  They are always well-organized and well-attended.

Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum

WHERE SHOULD YOU BUILD YOUR STARTUP?

Do You REALLY Need to be in the Bay Area?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Map of Southern California startups courtesy of socalTECH.com

 

Baxter Lecture Hall, Caltech

Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Post-program Coffee & Networking with Speakers: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
$40 on-line registration; $50 at the door; $10 full-time students
Caltech students (free)
   

Southern California’s startup community has come a long way, but has it fully emerged from the Bay Area’s shadow? Although companies, such as Cornerstone OnDemand, Snapchat and Maker Studios, grab headlines, the engine of this community is comprised of hundreds of entrepreneurs quietly building products and services that soon will disrupt established industries. A vibrant community of mentors, investors, accelerators and events has emerged to support these entrepreneurs and their companies. Yet, the allure of the Bay Area still beckons companies to move north.

In this very unique program, we will bring together local and SF-based entrepreneurs to discuss the resources in their startup communities that made a difference in building their companies.  Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the speakers and ask questions about how to build a successful company in Southern California.

This program is designed for entrepreneurs, VCs, angel investors, advisors, strategic partners, service professionals and vendors in the startup community.  Key Questions we will seek to answer are: 

    • Do you need to relocate to the Bay Area to raise money?
    • Can you access the Bay Area’s benefits while remaining in Southern California?
    • What resources are unique to Southern California that startups can access today?
    • What has worked and what hasn’t for SF’s startup community and how can we apply those lessons here?

Speakers

Eva Ho (LA) 

Founding Executive  
Factual
General Partner
Susa Ventures 

Holden Steinberg (LA) 
Co-Founder  
NearWoo   
Pam Kramer (SF) 

President
Lightt  

Robyn Ward (LA)
New Media Ventures
 
Joanna Weidenmiller (SF)
CEO
Moderators:   
Lee Schwing, Amplify Roundtables

 

Uncategorized

US Factories Show Momentum Heading Into 2014

US Factories Show Momentum Heading Into 2014

The Wall Street Journal

U.S. manufacturers expanded at a slightly slower but still-healthy pace in December from the prior month, according to a closely watched measure of activity in the sector.

The Institute for Supply Management’s monthly index, which is based on a survey of purchasing managers, hit 57 in December. That was down slightly from 2013’s high of 57.3, registered in November. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.

This is indeed excellent news.  Bank lending is still tight, particularly to small- and mid-sized businesses, and it may not loosen any time soon.  The effect has been to reduce the access to capital that businesses can spend on expansion.  Expansion can be in larger facilities, new equipment, or additional inventory to feed an increase in production.

Granted, this is an aggregate assessment of manufacturing as a whole, in the United States.  Different industries are experiencing different recoveries.  Overall, a trend of growth in some sectors should only help strengthen and move the rest of the economy forward.