How to run a high-tech start-up outside the Moscow Ring Road

To learn how to run a project outside the Moscow Ring Road, and find out what is the most difficult in its development, spoke with Juliana Tikhova Dmitry Morozov, Director of Development of the Chelyabinsk company in 3DiVi 3D-technologies. He shares his experience launching successful startup.

Ulyana Tikhova

The former model, the current boom. Writes about startups, technology and fashion.

3DiVi - company in the field of 3D-technology. In 2016, the guys have created a sensor for virtual reality VicoVR, compatible with iOS and Android. Even before the start of production they have received positive feedback from the legendary edition of The Verge and collected more than 88 000 dollars via crowdfunding.

1. Find an idea

Search for a business idea can be different: to monitor the foreign trends, read a book about creative thinking, or to wait, when will descend insight.

As practice shows, the first option - the best. If they could reformat the foreign project, you can create an entire company ( "VKontakte", "Yandex") or a separate product - eg sensor VicoVR.

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

2. make soft

The developers of the Russian regions and work in the capital and in foreign companies. In Moscow any IT-company work guys from Siberia and Trans, so that software development outside Moscow - not a problem.

3. collect iron

But with the industrial design in Russia trouble. How to make sure that the gadget was not like the night vision of Soviet-made device?

Work with iron - the most problematic part of the project, which occupied 3DiVi last year and a half and is still not finished. Even if you hire a great designer, something could still go wrong. Each alteration of the device results in huge costs for the company.

Search specialist acquaintance - the most reliable way. 3DiVi team turned to venture capital fund and accelerator from Tomsk DI-Group. This company already bring products to the international market, and they advised the Chinese company, is engaged in industrial design.

In addition, 3DiVi took the staff of the Chinese engineer who organizes the production in China. Developers tell him what size will the chip, and he takes care of industrial design, and other intricacies of the production.

4. Crowdfunding: to raise money and to assess the demand

Crowdfunding - a great way to raise money for the launch of the product, especially if it is a product b2c, interesting a wider audience. Company 3DiVi received even more than it was planned 88 283 dollars instead of 75 000 dollars. Organize crowdfunding helped them marketer of Silicon Valley.

In addition, kraudfandingovaya campaign - a quick and relatively easy way to evaluate the demand for the product before launch. According to Dmitry, Silicon Valley investors are first asked to conduct crowdfunding and then agree to cooperate. On the question: "And you can immediately announced to investors," - said Dmitry Malikov based meme: "Too heavy."

Attracting customers and distributors - another plus crowdfunding. On 3DiVi site started receiving pre-orders from the US, Canada, Asia and Europe.

Yet kraudfandingovaya successful campaign is not the solution to all problems, it is only the beginning of a long journey.

5. Search developers and partners

After assessing the demand can begin to look for strategic partners and investors, as well as work closely on product first batch of production (the first batch VicoVR - 500 gadgets).

Partners are not necessarily on another continent. In the regions of Russia there is a unique company that can help.

Game developers should look at Google Play. If adequately assess the possibility of the product, the response will be.

6. wishes entrepreneurs

Create a great product can be anywhere, but still remember that Russia - this is an isolated market. Therefore, the most important thing - as soon as possible to meet with potential clients in Silicon Valley, China and other major innovation centers. In this case, the company has a chance to create something demanded, rather than simply implement the idea, which is like the founder.

To my question: "Where is the search for customers," - said Dmitry, you just need to write to people on LinkedIn. Many experts easily begin the dialogue and provide feedback.

Output

Use all available methods to assess demand before starting: talk with people on LinkedIn, communicate at conferences. If possible - spend crowdfunding.

Search for strategic partners in California is cool, but it's hard. First find like-minded people in your region.

Create a high-tech start-up outside the Moscow Ring Road (and even beyond the Urals) - really.