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Key Risks

Touchtop Technologies, Inc.

KEY RISKS

KEY RISKS

 

Risk of Defects and Development Delays

TouchTop Technologies may experience schedule overruns in product and software development triggered by factors such as insufficient staffing or the unavailability of development-related software, hardware, components, materials or technologies.  Further, when developing new products, the Company's development schedules may be altered as a result of the discovery of software bugs, performance problems, or changes to the product specification in response to customer requirements, market developments, or Company initiated changes.    Changes in product specifications may delay completion of documentation, packaging,  or testing,  which  may,  in  turn, affect  the release  schedule  of  the  product.    When  developing  complex  display devices, the  technology market  may shift  during the development  cycle, requiring  the   Company   either  to   enhance  or   change  a   product's specifications to  meet a  customer's changing  needs.   These factors  may cause  a product to  enter the market behind  schedule, which may adversely affect  market acceptance of the product or place it at a disadvantage to a competitor's  product  that  has  already gained  market  share  or  market acceptance during the delay.

As indicated in the Marketing, R&D and Enterprise sections of this plan, tests on the breadboard design of TouchTop's LEDCD and testing on its alpha version display driver and intelligent driver editing code considerably reduce the risk that development delays will occur.

Management of Growth

TouchTop Technologies anticipates rapid and  substantial growth in the number of its employees  and the scope of its operations,  resulting in increased responsibilities  for management and  added pressure on the  Company's operating and  financial systems. To  manage growth effectively, TouchTop Technologies will need to continue to improve its operational, financial and management  information systems and will need to hire, train, motivate,  and  manage a  growing  number  of  employees.   Competition  is intense for  qualified  technical,  marketing,  and  management  personnel.  There  can be  no assurance  that TouchTop Technologies  will be  able to  achieve or manage any future  growth, and  its failure to  do so  could delay  product development  cycles  and marketing  efforts  or otherwise  have  a material adverse effect on TouchTop Technologies' business,  financial condition, and results of  operations.

TouchTop Technologies' founders have participated in a number of successful ventures.  They have proven their ability to manage growth and take a product from cradle to grave meeting the demands of rapid growth time and time again.

Key Risks/Time Line 29

Touchtop Technologies, Inc.

 

 

Competition

Because of  the rapid  expansion of the  information display  market, TouchTop Technologies will  face competition from existing and new entrants, possibly including TouchTop Technologies' customers.  There  can be no  assurance  that  the  Company's competitors  will  not  develop information display products that may be more effective than TouchTop Technologies' current  or future products or that the  Company's technologies and products  would not be rendered obsolete by such developments.

Many  of  TouchTop Technologies'  current  and  potential  competitors have longer  operating  histories, greater  name  recognition, larger  installed customer  bases,  and   significantly  greater  financial,  technical,  and marketing resources than the  Company.  As  a result, they  may be able  to adapt more quickly to new  or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements, or to devote  greater resources to the promotion and  sale of their  products than  TouchTop Technologies.   There  can  be no  assurance that  the Company's customers will  not perceive the products of such other companies as substitutes for TouchTop Technologies' products.

As with most competitive software offerings, the  principal  competitive  factors affecting the market  for information display  include effectiveness, scope of product  offerings, technical features, ease of  use, reliability, customer  service and  support, name  recognition, distribution  resources, and  cost.   Current  and potential  competitors  have established,  or may establish in the future, strategic  alliances to increase their  ability to compete  for  TouchTop Technologies' prospective  customers.   Accordingly,  it  is possible that new competitors or  alliances may emerge and  rapidly acquire significant  market share.   Such  competition  could materially  adversely affect  the  TouchTop Technologies'  business,  financial  condition,   and  results  of operations.

Management believes that this risk is significantly mitigated by the development lifecycle for display technologies.  As indicated in previous sections of this plan, all other known viable alternatives to LCD require significant capital expenditures and offer only marginal performance improvements.

Dependence on Key Personnel

TouchTop Technologies'  success will depend,  to a large  extent, upon  the performance  of its  founders and the senior management  team and  technical, marketing  and sales personnel the Company will recruit in the early stages.  There is shrewd competition in the software industry to hire  and retain qualified personnel, and TouchTop Technologies  will actively search for  additional qualified personnel as the Company grows.   TouchTop Technologies'  success will depend  upon its ability to  retain and hire additional key personnel.   The loss of the services of key personnel, or the inability to attract additional qualified  personnel, could have  a  material  adverse  effect  upon  the  Company's  results  of operations and product development efforts.  

TouchTop Technologies currently  plans to put $700,000 "key man" life insurance policies on the lives of each of its founders.  As the Company grows, or if directed to do so by interested parties, this coverage will be increased appropriately.

Key Risks/Time Line 30

Touchtop Technologies, Inc.

 

Risk of Errors or Failures; Product Liability Risks

A malfunction or the inadequate  design of products produced using TouchTop Technologies'  LEDCD technology could  result in tort  or warranty claims.   While the  Company will attempt to reduce the risk of such  losses through warranty disclaimers  and liability limitation clauses  in its license  agreements, and by maintaining  product liability insurance, there can  be no assurance that such measures  will be effective in limiting  TouchTop Technologies' liability for  any such damages. The  Company  currently  intends to  purchase product liability  insurance and it may  seek additional insurance coverage as  it commences  commercialization  of  its products.    There can  be  no assurance that adequate additional  insurance coverage will be available at an acceptable  cost, if at  all. More importantly, a publicized actual or  perceived product defect could adversely  affect the market's  perception  of TouchTop Technologies' products.  This could  result in a decline  in demand for TouchTop Technologies'  products, which could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Liquidity and Capital Requirements; Dependence on First Round Financing and Cash Flow From Operations

  TouchTop Technologies  anticipates that  its  cash flows in from operations and cash generated from first round financing of approximately $2.3 million will  be adequate to  satisfy its  capital requirements based on the plan presented herein.  TouchTop Technologies' future  capital requirements, however, will depend on many factors,  including its ability to  successfully market and  license its technology.   To  the extent that  the funds  generated by this Offering and  from TouchTop Technologies' on-going  operations are  insufficient to fund TouchTop Technologies' future operating  requirements, it may  be necessary to raise additional funds, through public  or private financings.   Any equity or debt  financings, if  available at  all, may be  on terms  that are  not favorable to  TouchTop Technologies and,  in the  case of  equity financings,  could result in dilution  to TouchTop Technologies' shareholders.   If adequate capital is not available,  TouchTop Technologies may  be  required  to curtail  its  operations significantly.

These risks are not unique to TouchTop Technologies, Inc..  However, the tentative agreement with NEEC to license TouchTop Technologies' LEDCD system significantly reduces this risk.  See the "Summary of Significant Forecast Assumptions" and the prospective financial statements for a more thorough presentation of management's intentions and expectations.

Key Risks/Time Line 31

Touchtop Technologies, Inc.

 

 

International Operations

A core component of TouchTop Technologies' development plan is overseas licensing of its technology.  To the  extent TouchTop Technologies expands international  operations,   currency  fluctuations  could  make  TouchTop Technologies' contribute   to fluctuations in  TouchTop Technologies' operating  results.  Political instability, difficulties  in staffing and  managing international operations also pose risks to the development  of international development efforts.  Moreover, the laws of Japan or Korea or  the enforcement  thereof,  may not  protect the TouchTop Technologies' products and intellectual property  rights to the same  extent as the  laws of  the United  States.   There  can be  no assurance  that these factors will not have a material adverse  effect on TouchTop Technologies' business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The risk of currency fluctuation is mitigated, to a large extent, by the Company's intention to transact business in US dollars.

 

Key Risks/Time Line 32.

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