A High-Tech Business Venture: Start-Up, Growth and Closure: My Preparation for the Business Venture

From conception of a novel idea to the production and marketing of kilowatt-range fuel cells (PEM or proton exchange membrane) and related products achieved in the business venture is what this book is about. The urge to start a business came from the momentum generated through suffering of being laid off from a job and going through the changes from job to job for a few years. Finding an innovative idea for the business, establishing the business, getting funding for the development of the business, making and selling products-these are all steps of entrepreneurship. Some people may be a natural entrepreneur, others may learn from the family tradition, and still others may get it from the inner urgings. Establishing a business in the high-technology area, in particular, starting it from scratch requires proper education, training, strong motivation, and personal drive. It requires a tremendous push from various sources to start a business. Another important motivation for having my own business was to give my family a stable environment for living. I suffered a lot during the period I was looking for a job and was moving from one place to another. I moved from Toronto (Canada) to Texas (USA), Texas to Connecticut, and from there to Arizona, then to California, and back to Texas. Such moving around (and the instability it creates) is not favorable for the dependents and, in particular, to children in their formative ages. If they do not have to move, they would be more secure and stable. It took about fifteen years after my PhD education when I was able to start my own business. Coming from a third-world country was another disadvantage for me-for many things I did or could not do.

Haripada Dhar received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in 1973 specializing in Electrochemistry from the University of Ottawa, Canada. His Ph.D. thesis work dealt with investigations on the studies of electrical double layer. Earlier, he received his Master’s degree from Saint Francis Xavier University, also in Canada. Dr. Dhar is the President of BCS Fuel Cells, Inc. He has established himself as a leader in the PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell industry offering simplified and easy-to-operate fuel cells and systems. Dr. Dhar is an electrochemist having both academic and industrial experiences. He has a strong background in work related to fuel cell development. He has carried out half-cell measurements related to hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction on gas diffusion electrodes. He carried out detailed investigations on the extent of catalyst poisoning by CO (carbon monoxide) present in hydrogen fuels. He has carried out optimization studies on the development of high power density fuel cells, and regenerative fuel cells. He is one of the early leaders in the development of self-humidified fuel cells, including designing and building PEM fuel cell stacks and systems. The work in the PEM fuel cell area has led to the issuance of 4 US patents. Dr. Dhar has introduced about 15 models of stacks and systems for sale and has sold about 500 fuel cell stacks and systems. He has about 45 publications, including 5 patents and 2 book articles. He has authored one book, ＂Something Worth Reading for Inspiration,＂ published in June 2017.