Innovation to Products to Ventures

I have fun every day and pretty much love whatever I am doing. It makes life great but means I try to pack so much stuff into every day that I find myself up at one in the morning with things I would still like to complete.

I have 2 great boys (smart little comedians of 6 and 9) but I can also be found playing guitar badly, writing (probably even worse), golf (unspeakably badly), swimming or riding a mountain bike. Some days I imagine I will become a best selling author. Some days I actually write some of my first novel. There are no days when these two things occur at the same time.

The day job

My work is developing innovative ideas through to successful corporate or standalone ventures.

I have managed major programmes/projects and devised project management approaches, re-organised complete R&D operations within billion dollar companies and have been director of a number of technology companies - including through to a float on Nasdaq (post-acquisition).

I have also helped create products in telecoms, healthcare, computing, software, electronics as well as software and which are in use with companies such as Universal Studios, BT plc and the BBC.

Experience

The following is a list of some of the things I have had fun doing in the last 20 years. Lots of learning from things that have already gone horribly wrong, things I have occasionally cocked up myself and some great people around me.

Startups and Venture Development

Director for an electronics company from foundation (25-times increase in share value from first round to NASDAQ float). Former CEO of companies in communities of interest and cutting edge animation software.
Advised, a number VC funds - refining concepts, evaluating business models and personally investing in start-up/early stage companies.
Helped startups from launch on commercial and technology strategy leading to a $15 million valuation after 20 months for one and a global distribution deal with a major telco for another.
Worked for major telco in evaluating and then developing all aspects of new ventures from concept to launch.

Project Management

Project and programme manager spearheading the turnaround of a number of technology development and implementation projects and companies of up to £200 million investment.
Sold and directed major project for UK RDA delivering innovative broadband solutions to 200 SME's

R&D/Technology Management

Lectured for the R&D Society on Incubation and Portfolio Management and at IMD in Lausanne on New Business Development.
Led the design and implementation (in French) of a 2 year long diagnostic and change programme for a French-owned, multi-national (turnover ~ $1 billion). This involved understanding and then integrating development and engineering programmes incorporating 450 people in France, Germany and the US with a combined budget of $40 million and the successful creation of an internal incubation operation.

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Welcome to this blog about innovation, managing product development and creating successful corporate ventures and startups. Enjoy your stay!
Richard A D Jones.

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About me

My life is developing innovative ideas through to successful corporate or standalone ventures (including taking one to Nasdaq (post-acquisition).

I have helped create products in telecoms, healthcare, computing, electronics as well as software and in use with companies such as Universal Studios, BT and the BBC... more

Links

Adam Eason's Blog

Julian Guppy's 'Dude Blog'

Nu-Angle

Techcrunch - up to date web app news

Techweb - Business Technology News

The Bootstrap Network Blog

Ventura Team LLP