Entrepreneurs in Consumer Electronics [Professional Development]

This article is the first in a series of interviews with technology entrepreneurs who have crossed the chasm from academia to run successful businesses. What were their biggest fears, challenges, and victories? Is an academic mind set a help or a hindrance in the business world, and how well does it prepare entrepreneurs to deal with ambiguity? International tech entrepreneurs share their stories and what they have learned along the way, from inception of "the idea," raising funding from poker-faced investors, building a team and a company culture, and interacting with commitment-shy clients and commercial partners. Many academics and young engineers imagine that a new technology will be able to stand on its own merits in the business world; those who have made the journey often tell a different story. In this column, we feature an interview with the founders of IRYStec Software Inc., Tara Akhavan and Afsoon Soudi.