Corporate Spotlight Interview: Capewell

March 26, 2014 12:53 PM EST By: Jennifer Rocha

Ivelisse Boerenko, Strategic Business Development Manager, tells TechConnect about Capewell's technology and investment areas of interest.

What are technology/solution areas that you have a primary interest in?
While we are always on the lookout to sustain Aerial Delivery, Airlift and Parachute hardware… we look for equipment with technologies for defense and new opportunities that expand our capabilities into natural disaster aid or homeland security.  We are exploring the design and/or manufacturing of equipment for UAV’s or UUV’s by establishing partnerships with experts or other small businesses that require commercialization partners.
We invite you to review our history and current product offerings at www.Capewell.com.

What level of commercial maturity do you typically look for when making an investment? 
We don’t have a set Technology Readiness Level or Manufacturing Readiness Level, but we evaluate opportunities based on: (1) how it matches or expands our manufacturing capabilities and current product offerings, (2) should be past proof of concept, (3) evaluated for IP protection, (4) understand how unique it is or its value proposition, (5) interested in knowing initial target industry and customers.

Please describe your firm’s Innovation model and how this model helps to find new innovations.
While our history indicates innovation stemming from customer needs, technology acquisition and follow on customer know-how; today our R&D program supports not only future generation of products, we are identifying new partners who are subject matter experts that can leverage our expertise to bring new technologies to market through SBIR, IR&D and others.

Why work with TechConnect and the National Innovation Summit as a technology and early stage company prospector?  Who are you looking to meet with?
It is very refreshing to find a venue like National Innovation Summit in which innovators are reaching out and putting time and effort into effectively finding partners.  As a Strategic Business Development Manager you never know where you will find the next best idea, but having the structure, variety and freedom to explore in this setting is a definite plus.  We are looking for key technologies that could be a close fit with our existing product offering (difficult to do) or best yet, the new technology that will expand our horizon for the next 50 years.  It may sound like pie in the sky, but a company that has been around since 1881 with redefined product offerings, needs to find next generation products for which Capewell will be known for.
1880’s horse shoe nails
1930’s saw blades
1940’s-present: parachute hardware
1990’s-present: decent devices and aerial delivery equipment
2000’s-present: airlift

 

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