Project TBD (Jan 14)
Attendees: Dustin J Ross, Bliss Perry Date: January 14, 2026 Type: Strategy
Summary
Entrepreneurial Readiness & Approach
- Both aligned on readiness to commit fully when right opportunity emerges
- Dustin advocates for “spending” vs “accumulating” approach
- Building relationships happens faster when you have concrete project to discuss
- Need clear ask to engage effectively with potential advisors/board members
- Shift from exploration to execution mode by end of quarter
Business Constraints & Framework
- Software-first product that can be pitched as AI company
- Viable commercialization within 24 months
- Must involve physical world applications (not pure consumer tech)
- Focus on commercial viability this quarter, reconcile with national security mission later
- Avoid frontier tech requiring 15+ years R&D
Primary Product Hypothesis: Supply Chain Visualization
- Deep tech supply chain analysis and visualization platform
- Target: semiconductors, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, robotics
- Software solution for mapping complex global supply chains
- Enable supply chain flexibility and redundancy planning
- Key value propositions:
- Identify bottlenecks and single points of failure
- Provide alternative supplier recommendations
- Early warning system for geopolitical disruptions
- Potential marketplace functionality for supplier connections
Market Opportunity Assessment
- Macro trends supporting supply chain focus:
- US-China competition driving supply chain reshoring
- AI boom increasing demand for semiconductor inputs
- Political instability creating need for supply chain resilience
- Free trade retreat requiring domestic manufacturing capacity
Alternative Ideas Explored
- VR/AR training platform for tradespeople (Duolingo for plumbers)
- Employee monitoring software to assess AI replacement viability
- Metadata tracking for deepfake identification
- Content curation tools for information overload
Quarter Goals & Deadlines
- End of quarter goal: Complete press release for product hypothesis (March 18)
- Milestone deadlines:
- March 9: Lock in specific product hypothesis
- March 12: Rough draft of press release
- March 18: Final press release due
- Strategy sessions scheduled: February 2 and March 8
Meeting Cadence & Structure
- Weekly knowledge exchange meetings: Wednesdays 4-5pm
- Monday morning check-ins via Signal (Jbperry to lead)
- Monthly strategic orientation sessions
- Communication via Signal + Google Drive file sharing
Key Relationships to Develop
- Immediate targets: Dasher (meeting tomorrow), Steve Blank, Ali (semiconductors professor)
- Supply chain expert at GSB business school
- Jonathan Burke for independent study sponsorship
- Technical consultants vs full-time technical co-founders
Research & Validation Next Steps
- Desktop research on supply chain software competitors (Jbperry)
- Customer discovery with deep tech companies
- Supply chain textbook/canonical resources review
- Quantum computing expert meetings (Alex Lupkin tennis + lab visit)
Action Items
- Jbperry: Desktop research on supply chain visualization landscape, identify GSB supply chain expert, schedule Joe (semiconductors) meeting
- Dustin: Schedule Ali meeting, synthesize meeting notes, set up Signal communication protocol
- Both: Prepare supply chain discussion points for Dasher meeting tomorrow