Dedicated to Excellence

  • Purpose

    Lead, Connect, Support, Teach, Innovate!  We are a community of designers engineers, entrepreneurs, inventors and other professionals devoted to helping our economy, clients, members and businesses prosper through technological product innovation.

  • Innovate

    Product-driven companies are the life blood to building annd maintaining strong economies.  We understand this concept and are committed to building a product-driven community.

  • Connect

    Join the Guild and you gain access to a network of accomplished professionals.  Attendance at local meetings and events offer the opportunity to learn and promote your business throughout the regional community.

  • Community

    Working together, we are devoted to improving the regional economy, one product-driven company at a time, and to teaching the next generation of product innovators to carry on the mission.
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About Us

Our Story:  Building the Barn

The Guild is led by Montie Roland who envisioned a design community based on the "Building the Barn" concept of the past.  There was a time in American history when folks would gather to help their fellow neighbor build their barn.  The community came together knowing that by assisting their neighbor, the community as a whole became stronger and prospered.  That same principle works today, by engaging design professionals and entrepreneurs throughout our area, we lift the entire community.  The Guild is a conduit that links businesses with product innovators, inventors and design specialists all focused on building our community barn -- the regional economy.

 

Our Organizational Structure:

The RTP Product Development Guild consists of three separate, yet connected, groups.

1) Clients:  Clients are the individuals or groups who submit their product idea to the Guild for potential selection as a Guild project.

2) Guild Advisors:   RTP Guild Advisers are team members providing clients the consultative support and expertise to move their ideas from concept to market.  Offering design services such as fuzzy front-end development, industrial design, mechanical design and market research. Guild members may also engage in obtaining venture capital for product commercialization.  In return, all Guild Advisers receive royalties for their service.

3) NC Product Design & Prototyping Co-Op:  The Co-Op is a professional network of pre-qualified vendors and providers who deliver conceptualization, design, development, production and marketing services focused on innovated products and technology.  The Co-Op provides Guild clients and the regional business community with a portal to find the quality services and expertise they need.  Co-Op membership is a successful avenue for marketing your company and building awareness among a larger audience, all while support the Guild mission.

Our services are designed for

   1.  Independent entrepreneurs and scientists with product development ideas
   2.  Small engineering shops with product development ideas
   3.  Spin-offs from R&D in large corporations 

Benefits of Guild Membership:  Why Join?

There are many advantages to joining the Guild, whether you serve as a Guild Advisor or as a Co-Op Member:

ADVISOR BENEFITS     

* Networking:  Expand your professional, social and trust-based network

* Financial Reward:  Receive royalties for serving as an Advisor

* Service:  Give back to your local community, improve the regional economy, and help others achieve their dream

* Events:  Access to Guild events including:

o RTP Product Design Street Faire

o Guild Networking Meet-Ups

o Lunch and Learns

* Knowledge:  Increase your knowledge of industry and market trends through access to new resources and expertise

* Thrill of the Hunt:  Enjoy the journey and thrill of creating and commercializing a revolutionary product

 CO-OP MEMBER BENEFITS

 * Networking:  Expand your professional, social, and trust-based network

o Gain Referrals            o Grow Your Business

o Get Connected           o Access MasterMinds

 * Business Opportunity:  Expose and showcase your business to larger audiences via

o Co-Op Directory         o Street Faire

o 5 Minutes of Fame     o Web Site

o Meet-Ups                  o Lunch and Learns

* Events:  Access to Guild events including:

o RTP Product Design Street Faire

o Guild Networking Meet-Ups

o Lunch and Learns

*  * Knowledge:  Increase your knowledge of industry and market trends through access to new resources and expertise

 

 

How is RTP Product Development Guild Different from Other Organizations?

What makes the RTP Product Development Guild unique?  It's not just the people, the unique business model, or the RTP environment -- it's our PHILOSOPHY that a Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.  By bringing together great minds and expert professionals in a community based approach, all focused on improving the regional economy and building a trust based network, we commit ourselves to ensuring the integrity and viability of product innovation and commercialization in North Carolina.

We share a common belief that product innovation is the spark to our economy.  And we leverage that spark through a distinct business model philosophy based on:

- You Own Your Product:  The Guild will support and advise you but this is your product.  You make the decisions.  You own it!

- Grass Roots Organization:  The Guild is the conduit which you build professional and personal relationships to grow your business and make a difference regionally.  It's not just about you, it is also about giving back to your community.

- Next Generation:  The Guild is placing a stake in the ground for future generations by equipping our children with the love for invention; nurturing their curiosity and daringness to seek new innovations.