- Evaluating the scientific veracity of a product or technology.
- Evaluating the feasibility of developing a product or technology.
- Evaluating reality vs. unreality in your business plan.
- Evaluating the competitive landscape for your technology or product.
- A company's IP position and what role IP plays in the business model.
- Finding leverage for startups.
Meet the
Expert
Rick Lytel PhD
Owner, First Degree Innovation
Paso Robles, CA
- English
- Critical Issues > Innovation
- Critical Issues > Start-ups
- Development Engineering > Executive Engineering Management
- Development Engineering > New Product Architecture and Design
- Development Engineering > Product Development
- Information Technology > Software & Services
- Information Technology > Technology Hardware & Equipment
- Legal & Compliance > Intellectual Property
- Marketing > Product Management
- Operations > Manufacturing
About Rick
- Technology executive specializing in leading scientific innovations from the lab to applications.
- Adept at recognizing promising new technologies and nascent market opportunities.
- Accomplished in photonics, computers, materials, and information technologies.
Experience
Owner
•
First Degree Innovation
2005
—
Present
- Works on R&D ventures as business leader, R&D director, or practicing scientist.
- Drives corporate and academic R&D toward emerging applications.
- Develops business models, create technology development paths, build infrastructure, and leverage partnership agreements to speed time to market, application, or acquisition.
- Applies physical models, statistical methods, and machine learning algorithms to hardware and software problems, data mining applications, and dynamic system monitoring and control.
- Past engagements include Paradigm Optics, Nema Labs, Spraycool, and UCSD.
VP and Chief Technologist, Physical and Life Sciences
•
Sun Microsystems
1997
—
2004
- Created new physics center and 20K sq.ft. laboratory (RASCAL), hired and led 80+ person term to develop technologies for computer systems.
- Led company-wide reliability program for multiprocessor and storage systems and software. Created the Advanced System Development Center and led the Supernova system design team.
- Created a bio-engineering team in conjunction with Applied Minds and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Executive VP
•
Akzo Nobel Photonics
1993
—
1996
- Launched startup to develop, market, and sell optoelectronic devices.
Technical Director, Photonics
•
Lockheed
1980
—
1992
- Led team of 40+ people in R&D for optoelectronic materials and devices.
- Spun out a startup to develop electro-optic polymer devices and systems.
- Built laser, VLSI, and measurement labs.
Education
Stanford
PhD, Physics, 1980
Thesis
IEEE Senior Member Chairman’s Award for Innovation, Sun Microsystems Distinguished Alumnus of the Year University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BA, Physics, 1975
Academic Awards
Distinguished alumnus of the year 1997Awards
- IEEE Senior Member
- Chairman’s Award for Innovation, Sun Microsystems
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Boards
- ZeroPointTechnologies, Advisor, 2015
- Folio Photonics, Strategic Advisor, 2014-2015
- Nema Labs, Business Advisor, 2008-2011
- Solidware Technologies, Technology Advisory Board, 2006-2008
- C-Speed, Technology Advisory Board,1999-2002
- University of Washington NSF Materials Center, Strategic AdvisoryBoard, 2002-2004
- Paradigm Optics, Director, 2000-2011
- DARPA Moletronics and Optoelectronics program, Industrial Advisor, 1998-2001
- UCSB Heterogeneous Optical Tech. Consortium, Technology Advisory Board, 1998-2002
- UCSD 3D Optoelectronics Program, Industrial Advisory Board, 1998-2000
- Symyx Technologies, Advisor, 1996
- CMEA Ventures,, Consultant, 1996
- Sequoia Capital,Consultant, 1996
- University of Arizona Optical Circuitry Cooperative, Industrial Advisory Board, 1986-91
Academia
- Adjunct Professor of Physics, Washington State University, 2007 - Present, research in quantum-confined, quasi-one dimensional nonlinear optical structures and networks.
- Discovered design rules for creating molecules and nanostructures with large intrinsic nonlinear optical response. Published eight papers in 2012-2015 on nonlinear optical quantum graphs.
- Mentor undergraduate science students seeking careers in physics.
Publications
- 80+ published papers, dozens of invited conference talks, several patents.
Packages with Rick starting from $500
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