Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition
November 16-17, 2011
Jill Goryca
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Problem: Spilling soup while spoon is in
transit to mouth
Caused by shakiness from diseases such as
Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Opportunity:
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Stroke survivors:
Nursing home residents:
Parkinson’s disease:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS):
4.7 million in US
1.5 million in US
500,000 in US
300,000 in US
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Separation Of Unsolid Portion
Separates liquid from solid while spoon is in
transit to mouth
Allows the user to eat independently without
making a mess.
Novel technology with a strong intellectual
property plan
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MS and Parkinson’s patients: 60,000/year
Stroke survivors: over 500,000/year
Elderly persons (65+): 40 million
Nursing homes and assisted living centers
(16,100 in US)
FDA approval for Medicare/Medicaid
reimbursement
TV ads and retail sales in stores
Disposable plastic samples ($1 ea.) in addition
to stainless steel spoons ($25 ea.)
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Nursing Homes sales: 800,000 units is $20
million market opportunity.
MS and Parkinson’s patients: 80,000 units for
$2 million market opportunity.
Disposable plastic spoons: 50 million units
for a $50 million market opportunity.
Size of market will increase by 20 million in
the next 5 years as baby boomer population
reaches retirement age.
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Windsford Feeder: Hands-free operation, but
expensive and bulky solution
Souper Spoon: Low cost, but spillage likely
Low Cost Small Size Anti-spill Independence
S.O.U.P. Spoon
Windsford Feeder
Souper Spoon
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Possible manufacturing alliances:
◦ Welch Allyn Medical Supplies
◦ Sur-Flo Plastics & Engineering, Inc.
◦ Linear Mold & Engineering
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Possible sales alliances:
◦ Binson's Home Health Care Supplies
◦ Advanced Medical Supply of Michigan
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Year 1: $80,000
◦ Business start-up expenses, IP protection, part-time
sales & marketing representative, initial production and
testing, Gen 2 design and prototyping, packaging
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Year 2: $150,000
◦ Manufacturing contract, marketing and sales, low rate
production, warehousing, packaging, shipping and
handling
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Year 3: positive cash flow
◦ Two full-time employees, marketing and sales, increase
production, warehousing, packaging, shipping and
handling
Unit Sales Projections for First 3 Years
Year 1
zero units
Year 2
10,000 units
Year 3
50,000 units
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Design Team:
◦ Jill Goryca, BSME: President & CEO
◦ Parker Farlow, BSME: Manufacturing
◦ Mike Rogers, BSME: Sales
◦ Mahdi Shoaeshargh, BSME: Financial
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Advisors:
◦ Delbert McCoy, Author of “Still on Fire”
◦ Dr. Molly McClelland, MSN, CMSRN, RN: Medical Advisor
◦ Dr. Darrell Kleinke, PE: Technical Advisor
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Superior product
Inexpensive to manufacture
Growing population of potential customers
Great opportunity
NHLB’s advantages over other teams:
 Passion
 Enthusiasm
 Desire to help people in need
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Receive funds from sponsor(s) for patent and
manufacture of product.
Build partnerships with start-up experts and
manufacturing companies.
◦ Marketing
◦ Sales
◦ Intellectual Property