Technology Assessment

Sysacom is an experienced and successful engineering company specializing in electronic circuit design and real-time software. It provides technology assessment and technical due diligence services to company owners and to investors.

Your company invests significant capital in new ventures in the hope of seeing that investment yield a high return. As an investor you wish to maximize the odds of choosing successful investments. Sysacom’s expertise can work for you in the selection, assessment and development of microelectronic technology ventures.

Sysacom has been designing electronics systems, circuits and complex software and firmware for more than ten years. Sysacom know-how and experience has been developed in the fields of industrial controls and sensors and for biomedical and military applications.

Using their many years of experience in electronic design and manufacturing, the Sysacom team can analyse and evaluate your project and the underlying technology. Our sound judgement can anticipate the outcome of microelectronic ventures and determine their relative levels of risk. We then can help you in the project planning and in the detailed task planning so as to ensure results.

When you need a reliable and trustworthy third party with technical microelectronics expertise, then Sysacom is there to work with you.

Phases in the Process

All work is done within a Non-disclosure, Non-compete framework for absolute assurance of the confidentiality of the process. The first step in the work is to get a general overview understanding of the project technologies, financial structure and management. This is done in an initial interview meeting with key people, complemented by reviewing the business plan, the project plan and all other relevant information available from the investor and other key people.

There then follows a preliminary search and analysis of the state of the art in the field. This is done by searching the Web, searching relevant technical papers and by gathering information from specialists within Sysacom and from the Sysacom network of specialists. A summary report is then prepared for presentation to the investors. An interim meeting is often required at this point to discuss the findings and to orient more precisely the detailed technology assessment work.

The next step is to analyse the business plan and the project plan. We examine many aspects such as the technical feasibility, staffing structure and competencies and the time-line, the competition, the end-product manufacturability for volume production, etc. The analysis does not include the financial structure or projections since this is better done by financial experts. We meet with and check the entrepreneur(s) abilities to bring the project to fruition. We check that (s)he is knowledgeable about her/his business plan claims and is in full control of the proposed process. A report will then be produced for the investor covering our review of the business plan and interview with the entrepreneur(s). The report will also contain our recommendations on ways to improve the project.

Technology assessment work is often completed by a decision meeting with the investor board. Our role there is to expand as required on any sections of the report and answer questions from board members and also to help in decision-making.

In some circumstances when requested by the investor we follow-up with the entrepreneur on an ongoing basis to help the venture succeed. We ensure business operations and results are in line with the business plan and project plan. We help the investor by ensuring that business is conducted in line with what was expected. We can also help the reorienting of the business plan when needed to accommodate market changes, competitive changes or technological improvements.

If you need the assistance of a technological business expert in microelectronics, then contact Denis Lachapelle.