At the StartUp Maine conference in June 2019, I presented about how startups can work with traditional industries (fishing, farming, forestry) to deploy new technologies, find better ways to meet existing challenges, and develop solutions that benefit all parties.

1. Developing Technology to Serve
Traditional Industries
StartUp Maine - June 2019
Eric Kingsley
Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC
kingsley@inrsllc.com
Phone 207-233-9910

2. Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC
• Founded in 1994
• Offices in New Hampshire and Maine
• Focused at the intersection of forest industry, energy and
economic development
• Services include:
- consulting in renewable energy
- advocacy
- forest management and protection
- forest certification and sustainability
• Clients from the private, non-profit and government sectors
• Conducted work in all regions of North America
• www.inrsllc.com
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3. Traditional Industries
•Farming
•Fishing
•Forestry

4. Probably a lot like many other
industries, but there are some
things to be aware of…

5. Manufacturing / Processing
• Fixed location
• A sawmill
• Food processing
• Very likely to be technology
innovators / adopters
• Rarely early adopters
• Employing technology and
automation to improve
efficiency
Supply Chain
• From the resource to the market
• A logger
• A fishing boat
• Often mobile
• Smaller companies
• Likely to use expensive and
technology – heavy equipment
• Unlikely to be utilizing
information technology to its
potential

6. Example of a Supply Chain (forestry)
• Landowner
• In some parts of the country, a contract planting crew
• Forester (professionally trained, managing the timberland)
• Logger (logging crew)
• Trucker
• Mills
• Sawlogs
• Pulpwood
• Chips
• Each part of the supply chain has unique needs and opportunities

7. Companies – in a gross over-generalization
• Smaller companies
• From solo to +/-25 is typical
• B2B
• Significant capital investment
• Education obtained via operation, some school
• Little time to search for solutions
• Rely upon trusted advisors to identify opportunities (trade
associations, accountants, bankers, equipment dealers, etc.)
• Limited information technology – UI / UX is critical

8. Where Are There Opportunities?
• Tracking from resource to market
• This is becoming important for market-based label claims and certification
• Trucking dispatch / coordination
• Productivity
• Monitoring
• Measurement
• Safety
• Compliance
• Training
• Others?

9. Some Things to Consider
• Cell coverage is not a given – no mater what the maps show
you, there are lots of places where cell coverage does not
exist
• There are opportunities to transfer technology from adjacent
industries
• In many instances, traditional industries are not the logical first-
use case, but likely some technologies can be customized and re-
purposed
• These are often commodity businesses
• Low margin operations are common
• Efficiency is frequently the key to success

10. Customer Discovery
• Trade associations are a great place to start – they represent the
entities you are looking to connect with
• Trade associations are not actually in the business you want to
connect with – they are a resource, but not the market
• Spend time seeing what tasks actually occur
• Spend time in the field, if possible
• Wireframes, mock-ups, etc. are critical – users are concrete thinkers
• Be as clear as possible, don’t use tech language
• Ask questions and listen

11. Forager – example of Farm-to-Table

12. Team Safe Trucking: example of remote learning

13. Safety App – example of compliance

14. Discussion and Questions

15. Eric Kingsley
Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC
Phone 207-233-9910
Email kingsley@inrsllc.com
15DRAFT - FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION ONLY