The Assessment Phase can take as long as 60 days and can require a great deal of electronic and face-to-face interaction with the inventor. Each project is unique and the economics are determined largely by the scale of the project, intellectual property contribution by the inventor, the competitive landscape and potential market impact of the proposed concept. Once the assessment phase is concluded, a “go/no-go” decision is made by IncuMED’s Board of Directors.

If a “go” decision is reached and agreement on the business terms achieved, a seed company is founded and subsequently funded by The Vertical Group. A full product development program (which includes detailed design requirements, risk assessment and a series of scheduled design reviews) is initiated and pursued. The goal of the program is to thoroughly develop and test a design in order to meet the standard market requirements for product performance. The development process typically includes product evaluation by several established “thought leaders” in the respective surgical specialty. Moreover, IncuMED is able to demonstrate the manufacturability of the design through its in-house capabilities. The product development program is not complete until all design requirements are met.

The final phase is aimed at maximizing the return to the shareholders. This includes exclusive negotiations with targeted corporate acquirers leading to an equity purchase of the seed entity; or infusing the seed company with additional investment for expansion.