Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
There's no shortage of opinions about the usefulness of advice. Take Lucy van Pelt's psychiatry booth in the comic strip “Peanuts,” where she tells the depressed Charlie Brown, “Snap out of it, five cents please.”
Maine House of Genius, part of an international group of home-grown advice-givers, hopes its unusual format will help push meaningful, actionable feedback from experts who've already made it in the business world or other positions to the state's early-stage companies.
Having covered the innovation economy for a number of years, I can tell you there's no shortage of people willing to help, people with varying degrees of business acumen that might make a difference to a small company that's reached a roadblock in its growth. Or not.
There also are various contests where money and advice are forthcoming, like the Gorham Savings Bank $50K LaunchPad Competition for early-stage companies and Women Standing Together, a group that meets for lunch and hears an entrepreneur present their business, then has small groups at tables give advice.
The difference with House of Genius is that the two companies that present the third Tuesday of each month must ask only one question that they hope will advance their business, and listen as 10 anonymous panelists give them advice. The point of the anonymity is so that a presenter seeking accounting advice doesn't go directly to an accountant panelist at the risk of not hearing other opinions that could be helpful. The presenters and panelists themselves only learn who the other panelists are at the very end of the meeting.
Perhaps more than the other venues and formats for advice I've seen, this one tries to put everyone on an equal level so that all opinions are heard. Recent presenter Lorraine Fagela, founder of Cornerstone Food Co. in Falmouth, which makes Buko-brand coconut chips, told me the advantage of the House of Genius is that an expert doesn't have to be an expert in her own industry to be helpful.
“There's a vulnerability [in standing before more than a dozen people], but I am there for a purpose,” she says. “They're going to help me and I'm there to learn. People's advice comes from different walks of life and could be your audience [consumers].”
That was the case with panelist Nicola Chin, who runs her own Up With Community consultancy in Lewiston and is a big fan of coconut chips. The two women planned to touch base after the House of Genius event.
And that's part of its allure as well: getting contacts and exposure. Chin wanted to meet someone from Bixby & Co., the Rockland-based maker of Bixby Bars, and was able to.
Steve Underwood, an underwater videographer who developed the Pakpod tripod with pitons on the ends of its legs, says his company, Deep Blue Design, found the panelists didn't fully understand the advantages of his product, and got back to him with additional suggestions after the event once they saw it used in videos on his website.
The feedback made Deep Blue change the images on its own website and on Amazon.com to feature the tripod's distinctions. And Underwood says sales, which had stalled seasonally over the summer, are back on track.
So yes, the advice is free. But both the presenters and panelists seemed to benefit from the format of not pre-judging the information they might get from others, and in the process learned about potentially beneficial resources and contacts.
It's part of the innovation process, which we mostly hear about only in terms of fundraising. House of Genius emphasizes how second and third opinions and original ideas can help when the entrepreneur is too close to their own product or service to see the next step.
The Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Learn MoreWork for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Learn MoreFew people are adequately prepared for all the tasks involved in planning and providing care for aging family members. SeniorSmart provides an essential road map for navigating the process. This resource guide explores the myriad of care options and offers essential information on topics ranging from self-care to legal and financial preparedness.
Learn moreThe Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Few people are adequately prepared for all the tasks involved in planning and providing care for aging family members. SeniorSmart provides an essential road map for navigating the process. This resource guide explores the myriad of care options and offers essential information on topics ranging from self-care to legal and financial preparedness.
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Our privacy policy
To ensure the best experience on our website, articles cannot be read without allowing cookies. Please allow cookies to continue reading. Our privacy policy
Comments