Many people in the business community think that writing a business plan and seeking venture capital funding is the only "proper" way to start a business. In fact, during the late 90's when Applied Radar was formed, there was a feeding frenzy of venture capital funding available, and the "fashionable" thing to do was to start a business involving either a "dot-com" or "wireless networking/communications". Some of these companies have been successful*, but a great many of these companies are now out of business.

* "Success" in the business community is often declared upon reaching an IPO. While this point is often profitable for the owners and/or venture funders, we believe that other long-term factors such as job growth, revenue and products are better indications of success.

Applied Radar was formed in 1996 by Dr. Bill Weedon as a consulting company on a shoestring budget. This initial consulting work was later augmented with SBIR funding, and since then the focus has shifted more to product development than a service-based business. This business startup model is drastically different than the venture-capital "get-rich-quick" schemes of the late 90's. The result has been a slower, more gradual growth, based on market demand and capability rather than deep pockets. One of the other advantages to this business approach is that it has allowed us to control our own destiny and quickly shift our business focus to meet market demand.

We do believe that there is a place for VC funding when one has a product or an idea for a product and there is a limited time window to get the product to market before it either becomes obsolete or someone else takes the idea to market. The point to be made here is that VC funding should not be considered as essential to starting a business. A business based on consulting work, SBIR funding, or any other legitimate government or non-government contracts or grants may be used to start a successful business. This type of business is particularly useful for formulating, refining, or prototyping ideas, prior to taking them to market.