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Materials-based ventures face a high degree of technology uncertainty and market uncertainty when engaging in the technology entrepreneurial process. Recently, the lean startup methodology (LSM) has been introduced to practice and education as an integrated approach on how entrepreneurs can resolve these uncertainties when starting up a business. While the literature provides examples of LSM's successful application in a range of application areas, its focus application tends to be on consumer software. The purpose of this article is to discuss the degree to which LSM can be applied to the context of technology entrepreneurship. We find that LSM has strengths in addressing market uncertainty, but is largely silent on addressing technology uncertainty. In situations of a low degree of technology readiness, strongly intertwined process and product innovation processes such as those common in materials translation, and of addressing business markets, LSM may not suffice. We discuss the case of competence leveraging as one where technology uncertainty is lower for materials companies and illustrate the benefits on LSM in this context.

The major challenges facing the 21 st century world demands disruptive technology based solutions. One of the most promising exponential technology set to address world challenges is the Internet of Things (IoT) based Trillion Sensor System (TSS). The IoT supports many revolutionary commercial and societal solutions including wearable or unobtrusive medical sensors, Industry 4.0, power and water grids, smart cities, food production, education, transportation and roadway infrastructure needs. However, to support these solutions the current IoT infrastructure needs improved spectrum and the use of between one to ten Trillion Sensors (TS). The development of a robust IoT based TSS infrastructure would create an addition to world GDP equal to that of the U.S. GDP to double the worlds GDP. This new IoT based TSS would create a high paying job base that will form a new vibrant world middle class and an abundant economy. Yet while much is written about the ability of the IoT to transform society little effort is focused on its infrastructure. If this is true there is cause for concern. We add to the literature by developing a precursor road mapping construct which focuses on the service sector and supports 3 rd generation road mapping techniques. We utilize the emerging IoT TSS technology base as our case study. We utilize the best thoughts of hundreds of experts from three organizations focused on accelerating IoT TSS road mapping efforts.

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