does anyone have experience engaging material science companies?

November 30, 2021

by a searcher from Amherst College in Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA

Hi,

We're looking at an engagement with a client that has some IP and some competitive advantages, but while their space is new to the civilian world (solid state sensing equipment for aircraft) we're trying to get a handle on how to quantify the value of the "IP moat" that they seem to be building.

We are studying this in order to articulate that value properly to investors. The question about "how to talk to material science companies" stems from getting a handle on a) what is just over the horizon that is a game changer in mat. sci. and b) what is a sane way to evaluate such predictions? A related question is around battery tech and what are reasonable assumptions (from mat. sci. experts) about the type of disruption that is needed (or is coming) to make the current efficacy growth of 3% per year to accelerate to levels needed for certain applications (aircraft)

Reply by a searcher
from Iowa State University of Science and Technology in Overland Park, KS, USA

I'm a material scientist and while I don't have background in battery technology, I think you have a challenge here that is only resolved by industry experts or extensive research. The introduction of new materials or processes into an industry, especially one that requires substantial evaluation and testing, is an expense hurdle. An extreme example was the GE Aviation investment of over $100M to get their first aerospace qualified 3D printed metal part. There are many new technologies that can't make the leap because they don't solve a substantial enough problem. I'd be happy to discuss what it takes to "talk to materials science companies" if needed.

Reply by an investor
from Claremont McKenna College in Atherton, CA, USA

I actually joined here looking to sponsor battery search so also interested in connecting.

+2 more replies.

Join the discussion