For Subscribers

Small World Nanotechnology will soon mean big changes in the way you do business.

By Amanda C. Kooser

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Rick Snyder, CEO of Ardesta, a holding firm in Ann Arbor,Michigan, has a mantra: "Smaller, faster, better,cheaper." He's talking about "small tech," aterm that describes nanotechnology, microtechnology andmicro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Nanotechnology inparticular has gotten a lot of coverage as big companies likeHewlett-Packard and Intel have begun to introduce nano intocomputing.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what small tech is because ithas so many wide-ranging applications. "I would call it moreof a revolution than an evolution," says Snyder.Nanotechnology, for example, deals with matter at an atomic andmolecular level--that is, with matter often described as being lessthan the width of a human hair in size. It's appearing ineverything from stainproof coating for fabrics to scratch-resistantcoating for eyeglasses to miniscule computer chip circuits from HPLabs.

Research funding for small tech is enormous. Ardesta is devotedto investing in and helping launch various small tech ventures withan ultimate goal of bringing actual products to market. Manybusinesses in this fledgling technological area are smallentrepreneurial start-ups and spinoffs from research institutions.Life sciences and materials manufacturing are two industries thatwill really feel the early effects of the growing small techmarket.

Eventually, though, small tech will touch just about everything.Synder calls it pervasive and transparent. Some applications areout already and operating in your business right under your nose.Microtech is built into inkjet cartridges and portable projectors.At SmallTimes.com, aclearinghouse for information on small technology, the sectiondevoted to applications is an eye-opener: A recent visit to thesite brought up articles on nanotech use in products such as tennisrackets and LCD monitors, among others.

There are a million microscopic reasons to get excited, butit's important to keep them all in perspective. Synder sees anaccelerating growth curve over the next five years as small techmakes its way into real-life markets. But you shouldn't expectcompanies to shout "nano" or "MEMS" in theirproduct advertising. The way you'll know small tech has touchedyour business is when Snyder's mantra comes into play:"Smaller, faster, better, cheaper."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here's When the New Apple iPhone 17 and MacBooks Are Being Released

Apple also has a home device in the works. Here's when to expect a new lineup of Apple products.

Growing a Business

The Best Domains Are Gone — But Here's How Savvy Founders Still Snag Them

Why do so many founders fail to land premium domains? Because the best ones are already taken, priced sky-high and nearly impossible to secure — unless you know how to play the game.

Leadership

How to Recover from a Bad Business Decision (and Rebuild Trust)

When you're the one calling the shots, you're going to get things wrong now and then. Thankfully, getting it wrong can be just as instructive as getting it right.

Growing a Business

Why Your Old Marketing Tactics Are Killing Your Growth in 2025

Using marketing tactics from a couple of years ago doesn't just put you behind — it makes you disappear.

Business News

Microsoft Executive Says Using AI Has Saved $500 Million in Productivity Costs, as the Company Conducts Mass Layoffs

Microsoft is leveraging AI tools for cost savings in various departments, including customer service.

Business News

Here's How Much Google Software Engineers, Product Managers, and Data Scientists Make in a Year

Data revealed in federal filings shows how much Google is compensating its employees.