MORRISVILLE, N.C. - In today's uncertain times, working professionals are looking for alternative income streams.  The RTP Product Development Guild, a new organization which provides an opportunity for professionals to work on high-return projects while keeping their day jobs, will begin work on its first project the first quarter of 2009.  The Guild is actively recruiting talent in the RTP area to help launch a new company which targets the automotive aftermarket.

The RTP Product Development Guild brings together a diverse pool of talented professionals to help launch new product-driven companies that might otherwise stall due to a lack of resources.  By joining the Guild, product developers, engineers, industrial designers, marketing, sales, business and technology commercialization experts who can invest two to four hours per week can safely explore new ventures and enhance their network.

The Guild's mission is to improve the regional economy by providing a structured environment for product developers and startups to work together on products in a collaborative environment. This helps entrepreneurs move products to market that might otherwise languish due to a lack of funding and professional guidance.

"The purpose of the RTP Product Development Guild is to focus local resources on specific projects and help local entrepreneurs create local products to drive the local economy now and in the future," says Montie Roland, president of the RTP Product Guild. 

To fulfill its mission, the RTP Product Development Guild accepts applications for products, services or concepts from entrepreneurs, early stage start-ups and corporate spin-offs. Once a project is accepted, a team consisting of Guild members chosen for their industry expertise and the product champion from the start-up is assembled. The team then spends approximately six months defining, brainstorming and developing the product. At the end of the six-month period, the team makes a presentation to the investment and venture capital community.

"The RTP Product Development Guild is an exciting new resource for entrepreneurs," says Roland. "We are looking forward to building a team and beginning work on our first project.  We are now accepting applications for team members with experience in marketing, sales, automotive aftermarket distribution, mechanical engineering and business development.  These professionals must be able to put two to four hours per week into a project for six months.  In return, they are able to invest in a start-up enterprise at the ground level."