XChange Panel: How To Evaluate Tech Startups As Business Partners

During the XChange 2017 conference this week in Orlando, Fla., The Channel Company's CEO Robert Faletra moderated a panel with top industry executives, including Michael Knight, CTO of Encore Technology Group; John Shaw, CEO of Digital Nebula; Michael Lomonaco, director of marketing and communications at Open Systems Technologies; and John Head, chief evangelist for PSC Group.

The panel, "Livin' On The Edge: The Tech Solutions That Will Drive Tomorrow’s Revenue," was a frank discussion among solution providers about how they evaluate new technologies, startups and other opportunities for their customers. The executives discussed the balance required to avoid taking on a trend too early, and investing too much, while also being careful not to miss the next big thing.

In this clip, Faletra asked the panelists how they decide which small startups are okay to do business with. "Are there certain things you worry about," he asked. "You might like their technology, but you have to consider whether or not they will stand the test of time."

The panelists weighed in and even shared examples of what they learned when rolling out an offering too soon, without correctly evaluating their own companies capabilities before bringing in outside help.