In our continuing effort to bring you the information you need to be successful in today's challenging environment, the MIT Venture Lab has added a fourth seminar to the fall series - Taking your product to market! <?xml:namespace prefix = o /?>

Given the current market conditions and investor attitudes, entrepreneurs need more than a great idea.  The product or service must be positioned properly in order to reduce market risk, and the ultimate proof of concept is a satisfied customer.  Whether you are clarifying your vision, developing your product/service or nailing down sales, this seminar is designed to bring you real world information you can use in your pursuit of both customers and investors.

Presentation topics will include the following and questions will be encouraged:     

- How are sales and marketing different? How do they work together?
- How to determine a price for your product
- How to market your product and differentiate it from the competition
- Finding and leveraging complimentary products
- Sales strategy options and their requirements
- What is a typical sales process for any given customer?
- How you can get the right people involved in moving your product to customers
- How is a sales force compensated?
- How much will it cost to sell your product?
- How to get your first sale

Kael Kelly

Director of Product Marketing, PAR3 Communications

As Director of Product Marketing, Kael Kelly directs PAR3 Communications' product marketing strategy and team. He has 12 years of experience in product development and management of the entire marketing mix throughout a broad spectrum of industries.  After beginning his career in outside sales, Kael has spent the past seven years in technology-related product marketing, product management and market research roles, focusing on translating customer needs and market data into building successful products and services.  Kelly has worked for several early stage companies in the telecommunications and software industries, as well as for subsidiaries of IBM and The Gartner Group. He earned a master's of business administration from the University of Oregon.

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Joe Higuet

Director, Sales Operations, PAR3 Communications

As director of sales operations for PAR3 Communications, Joe Higuet is responsible for the company's tactical marketing and sales operations, including management of the inside sales team, account profiling and segmentation, territory assignment, sales pipeline development programs and vendor management. With 15 years of high technology sales, management and marketing experience, Higuet has focused on developing successful sales strategies in a broad range of industries. Prior to joining PAR3, he spent eight years at Mosaix where he developed and managed sales programs for CTI and CRM solutions to Fortune/Global 500 companies and managed marketing programs designed to create brand recognition and generate leads in target growth markets. Additionally, he has held management positions with BTS Communications, Lucent Technologies and CapitalStream, Inc., where he helped develop and manage successful sales and marketing programs ranging from grassroots start-up operations to post-acquisition knowledge transfer and corporate integration projects. 

Please note that this is NOT a part of the regular fall seminar series. All attendees must register and pay specifically for this event.