Imagine missing a major new business opportunity by not returning a call. Our dealmaker didn’t make that mistake. Peter Holden knew straightaway that Entragrativ had something special.
Entragrativ – touching new markets
Having worked for a number of top Asian electronic companies before becoming a successful serial entrepreneur, John Hendel had made quite a name for himself as an inventor and technologist.
As GEP dealmaker Peter said: “John is a fantastic entrepreneur with some fantastic products...a visionary.”
When he
couldn’t find the support it needed in Southern California he was left with a hard choice – stay as a regional firm or sell out to a company that would open up the international markets. He didn’t like either option, and talking to Peter convinced him that the UK would give him the success he always knew was there for the taking.
From touch screens to touchless
Specialising in PC and computer screen design, John holds several patents for conventional screens. But he saw the future as touchless and wireless.
It was already happening for him on a local scale, with contracts with WalMart and a few other US companies, and the business run from a small manufacturing set-up with small technical and sales teams.
Making it a reality
A touchless screen does what it says. It’s a great idea because it’s a much quicker way to do more. And when it was still little more than an idea it featured in the Tom Cruise film, Minority Report, with people searching thousands of files by moving their hands across the screen… but not touching it. Now though, it’s real.
The massive extra business benefit of a touchless screen is hygiene. Take a fast-food restaurant, where someone prepares food and then touches the same screen that dozens of nearly-clean fingers have touched. Or a hospital, with the focus on cleanliness to beat C-difficile and MRSA. You can see the point straightaway, just as GEP did when they first discussed it with Entragrativ.
Opening up international markets via the UK
John already knew Peter, our GEP dealmaker in this region, as a former colleague. Peter helped John to realise there were more opportunities for the display technology industry in Europe than in the States.
As the realisation grew so did the relationship, widening from an informal network connection to GEP’s more structured support. Peter explains: “John’s deal with us was about giving him access to international markets and introducing him to people.”
GEP put him in touch with people who could help his business develop and grow.
Rapid expansion
It’s already going really well – John sells products directly into Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Ireland. Perhaps the most exciting area is the NHS. By putting Entragrativ alongside top health service decision-makers, GEP is helping to open it up as a vast potential market for touchless screens.
That’s why John is planning a specialist healthcare sales office in Leeds, on top of the company HQ is in London and the R&D unit in Cambridge. And as the company grows GEP is alongside, to open up contacts, networks and market opportunities that drive that business growth.
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