When Innovequity’s founders, Ben Bertrand and Mark Holtom, built the GCU prototype, they had a dream arrangement: access to well-equipped manufacturing and research facilities at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). But with the first orders on the horizon, they need to decide how they’ll manufacture the GCUs on a larger scale – and they need to do it economically and efficiently, or watch their profits disappear. Oh, and there’s one more challenge: they don’t want to do it themselves.
“Obviously we know we’re handing away a portion of the profit to a manufacturer, but that’s part of life,” says Holtom. “We have to consider the capital cost for us, risk versus reward, and recognize that there is still profit.” That leaves Innovequity with an age-old debate: to sign a contract with a Canadian manufacturer willing to take on extra business or seek a bargain overseas.
The Expert Panel
Our panel of experts weigh in on whether Innovequity should outsource their operations to China or India and why they represent the future of manufacturing in Canada
Behind the Scenes
Don’t get into bed with wishy-washy investors! This and other hard lessons the Innovequity duo learned
Video: Pick Up Sticks 
A peek at how Innovequity’s Geometric Construction System works
Links
Our round-up of useful links for start-ups from around the web
Category: Entrepreneurship, Management, Project Start-Up, Start-Up Episode 05, Work
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