Steve Grant is the COO of 1965 Innovations Ltd. 1965 Innovations Ltd is the parent company of 8SHOT International - MEGA 2010 Alumni. Their area of expertise is "Sporting, Entertainment and Media." Enter Steve:
8SHOT is truly a convergence of tradition and technology, our product is destined to revolutionize the cue sport industry on a global scale. We have a developed a system whereby on REAL pool tables, using REAL cues and REAL balls players can compete against an opponent in the same room or on the other side of the world having visual and audio contact throughout game play. Our vision system, interface software make this possible via Internet connectivity.
Our product has been trade marked and we have patents filed in all major areas of the world.
Equally as impressive as our concept is our world class team, we have built a brilliant balance of technology, business and marketing experts forming an amazing conglomerate of talent, all is now in place to build a truly global brand.
Sounds fantastic doesn't it ? Well it is, but all this is most definitely post MEGA. Before being guided towards Peta Pash and this marvellous program we were just three founders with a wonderful idea, almost " rabbits in the spotlight " stuff, we never doubted what was in our heads, we just didn't know what to do or where to go. I could write a book on the last three years and will one day, as they say " watch this space ! "
The MEGA course was recommended to us by one it's mentors, a lady from the TIA at the time. We really owe Christine for putting us in the right direction, we all had experience in running our own small businesses but the world in which we were heading was extremely technology based and very new ground for us to tread.
I must admit for me personally it was a little daunting at first as I hadn't been in a classroom environment since teachers college in 1975 and being the oldest attendee I was a little apprehensive at first. That lasted about 10 minutes as everyone was so friendly and reassuring, it was far from my
experiences all those years ago. The way MEGA functions makes attendees extremely comfortable with the whole process and environment, but don't worry you are always challenged to think and be motivated to provide input throughout, which is fantastic and extremely stimulating.
Apart from the obvious multitude of knowledge that I picked up, I was really blown away by the quality of all the other participants, it was so impressive and encouraging to be in the midst of such talent pouring out their brilliant ideas. When you combine this with the highest quality mentors going, the
results can be quite staggering, pitch days completely affirm this year after year.
For 1965 Innovations and 8SHOT, a foundation for success was formulated via MEGA. Our current team and product development is testimony of this. Our first project manager was sourced, our legal representation was assured as Adelta legal were commissioned by us to handle our legals, our accountant was recommended through our involvement, Jason is now a great ally and in fact invested in our business, what a great result. One of our team members and key tech guy actually attended the course the same year I did. The chain events is amazing, there is a myriad of connections that continue to grow even today from this initial networking, in fact our soon to be announced new CEO and TO evolved from a chain events that originated from Christine introducing us to Peta Pash.
The three founders of 8SHOT especially, will always continue to be strong MEGA supporters thus is our belief in MEGA and what it stands for and what it is endeavouring to achieve. I would thoroughly recommend MEGA to anyone, any age who has an idea and belief in themselves and the product they are trying to develop. I think our product may have helped broaden the scope of who this program is suited for as we had minor mobile phone input in 8SHOT when we did the course, in a strange twist of fate, and once again thanks to MEGA, mobile phone applications are now a core element of our product and are major factor in our impending success.
We have gone from those " rabbits in the spotlight " to being on the verge of being in the " International spotlight " with 8SHOT, could we have achieved this without MEGA, we'll never know, but I do know we are most definitely in a much better place thanks to our induction and successful completion of this course.
Sincerest best wishes to all who attend the upcoming MEGA program, your destiny awaits you, Peta, her team and all the wonderful mentors will, like with us, provide you with all the ingredients you'll need to put you on the road to success, the rest is up to you, your resolve and persistence.
All the very best, look forward to seeing you pitch day. Steve
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