Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Seminar on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Minnesota Cup organizers and winners: (L to R) Dan Mallin, Dave Cleveland, David Emmons, John Berger, Carolyn Cleveland, Debra Paterson (regional president for contest sponsor Wells Fargo), and Scott Litman. Photo courtesy of Haberman & Associates

Building a better mousetrap. What does it take to develop a new idea into a legitimate invention, get it patented, form a business plan, and start to build a new company around the idea? Come hear from two award-winning local inventors who will share their story. Why is SME hosting this event? A major advantage of this device is that it was designed specifically to be easily manufactured.

For more information on the Minnesota Cup: http://www.breakthroughideas.org

For information about the 2005 competition and the finalists’ ideas:  http://www.breakthroughideas.org/document/1100.PDF

"Inventions are grass roots efforts. Inventors work long hours alone carried by their dreams. Friends and family may or may not understand what we do or why. The day an invention first sees the light of day is a turning point. Arcswitch began years ago in Dave's basement and we spent countless hours there building and testing switches. The Minnesota Cup contest represented a unique chance to validate our work. Though we are very grateful to have won first prize, we now realize the work we did to prepare for the contest and the feedback we received during it were the most valuable rewards. We're now building on those experiences and will honor the Minnesota Cup with our success."

 - John Berger and David Emmons, Arcswitch, Winners of the 2005 Minnesota Cup

On September 8, 2005, Arcswitch took grand prize in the first-ever Minnesota Cup, a contest to find, support, and promote the state's newest and most innovative business ideas. During the dot-com boom, optical fibers were installed all over the world and made the Internet, phone, cable, and other forms of efficient global communication possible. Today, however, only 5 percent of that optical fiber capacity is being used due to the high cost and complex methods of optical lenses and mirrors to route optical signals. Arcswitch will produce switching devices that can be used to provide a more efficient means for accessing fiber optic signals.

Emmons and Berger have been friends since seventh-grade science class. They developed the idea for an optical switch and attenuator in the late 1990s. They built different kinds of devices and had patents, but with the dot com meltdown, they mothballed the idea. Emmons learned about fiber optics 10 years ago when he was employed with ADC. Berger gained experience in controls software while working for fifteen years at Rosemount, a division of Emerson Electric. This unique combination of skills was essential for Arcswitch.

Who should attend:

Inventors, students, tinkerers, innovators, potential inventors, budding entrepreneurs, family and friends, engineers, technicians, SME members or non-members, “idea people”… basically anyone who wants to hear a good story about the “American Dream.”

5:30 to 6pm: Assemble and sign-in

Meet at the Guidant (now Boston Scientific) Building F main entrance on 4201 Lexington Avenue, north of 694. Go to the southernmost entrance on the east side of the building. You should see a blue spiral staircase in the entrance. The meeting will be in the Birch/Maple conference room adjacent to the building F cafeteria.

6 to 7:00 pm: Arcswitch presentation & demo by Dave and John

7 to 8:?? pm: Q&A and discussion over dinner

Submarine sandwiches will be provided*, vending machines available in the cafeteria

^{Cost: $10 SME members, $15 for non-SME members and guests (includes dinner)}

RSVP to Jim Arneberg by 5pm Monday May 15th

jim.arneberg@guidant.com or 651.582.4654

*A selection of Jimmy John’s sandwiches will be available: #9 Italian Club (salami/ham), #12 Beach Club (turkey/veggie), #16 Club Lulu (turkey/BLT club). Indicate your preference when you RSVP or we’ll decide for you.  If you want even more choices check out the link below and state your preference:  http://www.jimmyjohns.com/PDFs/jj_menu_no_prices.pdf

The facility is located approximately 1/2 mile North of Hwy 694.

For more details on local SME events go to http://chapters.sme.org/172/2006events.htm