Karl Dakin – Startup CEO
Karl Dakin – Business Startup Veteran
Karl Dakin is business startup veteran with 30 years of experience acting as consultant, advisor, legal counsel, expert witness, investor, principal investigator, educator, officer and director to a large number of private businesses, educational organizations, professional associations and government agencies. Mr. Dakin has served as an executive in many leadership positions pursuing business opportunities in multiple markets. Working with cutting edge technology and programs for commercialization of innovation, Mr. Dakin has brought to bear his own creative and communication talents. He has shared knowledge gained through these experiences through extensive writing, speaking and instruction.
Self-described as a parallel entrepreneur (involved in several startup businesses at one time), Mr. Dakin currently holds a leadership position in a number of businesses that have the potential to ‘change the world’. His current lead project is DaVinci Quest, a Web 2.0 company that is building an international community to conduct a series of innovation contests to solve the Top 10 World problems. Other projects include accelerated plant growth, clean energy and even the possibility for forming a new country.
During his career he has engaged in all facets of starting a business, launching several, mentoring a couple of hundred more, winning a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant as principal investigator on small business commercialization of federal inventions, advising Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center at the University at Buffalo on a nationwide search for assistive technologies, prosecuting an international commercial espionage case on behalf of Gates Rubber Company, completing a review of the U.S. Air Force technology transfer system, forming a coalition of economic development groups on behalf of the Colorado Advanced Technology Institute (CATI), co-authoring the State of Colorado Technology Transfer Plan for Economic Development and testifying as an expert witness.
He is the co-author of the book: Technology Transfer: Financing and Commercializing the High Tech Product or Service–From Research to Roll Out that was published by Probus Publishing Ltd. in 1991 and editor of the SoftLaw column of the IEEE Journal on Software during 1993 and 1994. Mr. Dakin was certified as a New Product Development Professional by the Product Development Management Association. He is also a Senior Fellow with the DaVinci Institute, a futurist think tank. Mr. Dakin currently sits on the board of the National Center for Community Collaboration where he advocates for business/charity collaborations and social enterprises. He holds a Juris Doctor degree and a B.B.A. degree in Accounting and Finance from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas.
Speaking topics:
Metaphor of the Seed – an entertaining, motivational and educational presentation on how everything you need to know to run your business you can learn from a package of seeds. A discussion of vision, goals, strategy, resources and marketing. (1 free seed package to every attendee – no charge).
Testimonials from my workshop:
“Karl was great – very comprehensive.”
“Amazing experience”
“Great Presentation”
“Worth the time and money to attend.”
“Good, helpful information moving forward.”
“Very informative with an easy flow.”
