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Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

Technical Analysis

In this section you can describe the technology involved in production, processing, manufacturing or other aspects of the business.  Use the points below to help you prepare this section.

1. Current Industry State of the Art

  • Describe how the industry creates similar products today 
  • Describe the evolution of technology trends (eg, speed of developments, rate of change adoption, expected future developments, etc.)
2. Technology to be Utilized
  • What is the status of the proposed technology – idea stage, development stage, prototype, pilot facility, proven commercially.  How was the proposed technology procured? 
  • How does it offer unique value and what is that value? 
  • Has it been applied successfully elsewhere?  What are its challenges? 
  • When using the technology, what are the ramifications to other aspects of the company’s operations?

3. Suitability of Production Technology

  • Explain the reliability and competitiveness of the technology in making your product. 
  • Outline how you chose your technology providers. 
  • Describe limitations or constraints of the technology.
  • Identify any performance agreement you have in place.
4. Proprietary Protection/Rights/Claims
  • Will you protect proprietary information as a trade secret?  How secure is your trade secret against reverse engineering or other method of accessing the information?
  • Describe any existing patents or patent applications.  Will you be able to financially defend these by legal action against infringement by competitors?
  • Describe any copyrights, trademarks, non-compete agreements or other aspects of intellectual property. 
  • Describe any rights (e.g. licenses) to use technology exclusively or on preferred terms. 
  • If no proprietary rights exist, how long will the technology offer unique marketplace value before being adopted by others? 
  • Describe other emerging technologies that may compete with or displace the technology to be used, and the expected time-frame for introduction of those technologies.
  • Be careful not to disclose any trade secrets or other confidential information in your business plan.

More information is available on Intellectual Property.

 

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