The Manufacturing Incubator at Tech Valley Center of Gravity presents Food for Thought: A Business & Product Development Virtual Luncheon Series.

Join us on October 6th at noon for an open conversation with Robert Manasier and Samuel Mere of IgniteU NY about customer discovery and market observation. Robert and Samuel will discuss how to practically apply these principles to your design before you build it.

Ways to test usability and customer use without spending a ton of money is the key.

The importance of voice of customer and the more important customer behavior understanding will be part of the conversation.

Send your questions ahead of time to manufacturingincubator@tvcog.net so we can create a dynamic dialogue for the lunch hour!

About Robert Manasier:

Robert Manasier is a serial entrepreneur and brand builder, with experience in over 155 international startups, 400 products/services commercialized, 1000s of acceleration/commercialization campaigns, as the CEO of In Focus Brands. In addition to the In Focus Brands’ portfolio of companies, Robert currently serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence of : IgniteU NY and the Sage Colleges; National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Trainer; StartUp Weekend International Facilitator and Organizer; Adjunct Professor at Sage College School of Management and Hudson Valley Community College; Board Member of the Parkhurst Field Foundation, EDA Labs, IFP Films, Rutgers University Big Data Board, EDA Funding, Genonto and Autonomy Distribution.

With over $100M raised for true startups, $300M for next level growth companies, an average of 20—25% uptick in revenue for his acceleration clients, over $1B in sales and a 2.6x return on his management of the DPCD Fund and a nearly 100% retention of staff over decades, Robert’s strong culture creation and fiscal controls are coupled with clear and direct revenue results.

About Samuel Mere:

Samuel Mere has been the Program Manager at Ignite NY since 2019 and is a seasoned entrepreneur willing to share his success stories and lessons learned with aspiring entrepreneurs to help them scaling their companies.

Samuel is also the Founder & CEO of CampusPro, a mobile app that connects college students who provide services with other students looking for their services. CampusPro is an IgniteU alumni, from the 2018 Accelerator where they won the 2018 Startup Showcase.

About IgniteU NY:

Since 2015, IgniteU has supported hundreds of startups and small businesses across all different industries and sectors. We host a wide range of events, workshops and accelerator programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow.

About the Manufacturing Incubator at Tech Valley Center of Gravity

The Manufacturing Incubator at Tech Valley Center of Gravity provides expert coaching and incubation across industries, advisory services and support for product-related startups. For members launching entrepreneurial ventures, we offer resources for product development through the Prototyping Center, with its advanced manufacturing equipment and flexible workspace.