Commercialization strategies for emerging technologies : wireless power in the market for external power adapters

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the different challenges facing start-ups that are engaged in intense competition to lead the commercialization of a complex technology that is initially unable to meet the demands of a market. Technology, intellectual property, and go-to market strategies are proposed with a particular focus on wireless power technology in the market for external power adapters. Wireless power technology is a revolutionary technology that promises to replace the two billion external power adapters that are sold every year. It is a seemingly attractive opportunity for a start-up company, but the technology is complicated, the intellectual property landscape is dense, and the competition is intense. The technology will be sold into the pre-existing market for external supplies, which is reeling from declining prices and margins. The market is in need of change, and is looking for innovations that will improve the situation. The commercialization of wireless power technology is a case example of how start-up technology companies can accelerate development times, reduce risk, and build sustainable competitive advantage by carefully planning their technology approach, fully understanding the intellectual property landscape, and leveraging the principles of open innovation. A technology strategy requires the selection of a technology vector which should be determined by weighing the importance of individual product features against the expected levels of technical risk.

Department dc:contributor.department

Sloan School of Management.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Tseng, Ryan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fiona Murray.

• Sloan School of Management.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49766

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/49766