ROWAN — Master Chronological Roadmap

Dated, detailed documentation of every idea, concept,
sketch, material thought. Physical + digital backup.
This is your prior art protection.
The date you can prove = your legal priority.
Non-delegable. This is you only.

Pull your employment contract. Read every IP assignment clause.
Know what they claim BEFORE you file anything.
Finding out after = catastrophic.

Has she contributed to the INVENTIVE concept itself?
(Not the business model — the actual invention.)
Co-inventorship must be declared on patent application.
Wrong declaration = patent invalidation risk.

Find 2-3 IP attorneys: materials science / consumer products focus.
Schedule free consultations. Do NOT hire yet — just identify.
Ask Luckett for referrals. Hult/Vanderbilt network is your asset.

Already flagged. Get written confirmation before sharing
materials concept with any AI tool.
Your IP is worth protecting before it's worth sharing.

Search tess.uspto.gov for:
└── "Edaire to Wear" — Classes 25, 35
└── "Rebel With a Cause" — Class 41
└── "Watch Me" — Class 41
Confirm no conflicting marks.
This is free and takes 1-2 hrs per mark.
Do this BEFORE engaging trademark attorney.
Saves money and avoids filing doomed applications.

File as INDIVIDUAL inventor. Establishes priority date.
12 months of patent pending protection.
Must happen BEFORE any public disclosure.

Your hours breakdown:
└── Prior art search (you + attorney): 5-8 hrs
└── Technical disclosure drafting: 8-12 hrs
    (writing up YOUR invention — your brain is
     the irreplaceable input here)
└── Review + revision: 2-5 hrs

Attorney does the legal translation.
YOU provide the technical substance.
This cannot be delegated.

Delaware recommended (best for future investment rounds).
EIN: free via IRS.gov.
Business bank account: separate from personal — always.
Operating Agreement: defines co-founder split + roles.
DO THIS EVEN IF IT FEELS UNNECESSARY.
CRO must review — it defines her stake.

Intent-to-Use filing — protects the name before you launch.
Classes: 25 (footwear) + 35 (retail services)
Filing fee: $700 (2 classes × $350)
Attorney: $1,500-3,000 (strongly recommended)
Timeline to registration: 10-18 months — file NOW
                           so it lands before you launch

Why ITU: You're not selling yet.
         ITU reserves the name while you build.
         Statement of Use filed when you actually launch.

Separate LLC. Name TBD. Minimal activation — just the container.
Costs almost nothing to form now.
Costs a LOT to untangle IP later if formed after IP generates.
Piggyback on E2W attorney engagement — marginal added cost.

Longest lead time item in the entire roadmap.
IRS determination: 3-12 months. Start NOW.
You cannot access USDA grants or foundation grants
without 501(c)(3) status.

Your hours:
└── Board identification: 3-5 hrs
└── Bylaws review: 3-5 hrs
└── Form 1023 mission narrative: 10-15 hrs
    (CANNOT be delegated — YOU write this)
└── Financial projections review (CRO): 2-5 hrs
└── Filing + submission: 1-2 hrs

Attorney handles compliance.
Psychiatrist friend scopes clinical sections.
CRO builds the financial projections.
YOU write the Watch Me mission with authority.

Both marks, Class 41 (education/youth programming services).
Filing: $350/mark = $700 total
Attorney: $1,000-1,500/mark = $2,000-3,000 total

Why now: Grant funders and donors search for your brand.
         "Rebel With a Cause" in particular — memorable,
         but memorable names get squatted on.
         File before you announce anything publicly.

Note on "Watch Me": Search TESS carefully first.
         Common phrase — need to confirm availability
         in Class 41 specifically for youth programs.

System for Award Management. Required for ALL federal grants.
Takes 1-3 weeks to process — do NOT let this hold up SBIR timeline.
Free. Annual renewal required.
Do this the day R&D Entity is formed.

Federal R&D grant. Non-dilutive. No equity given.
Lives under R&D Entity. Success rate ~15% — apply to multiple.

Best fit agencies for your profile:
└── NSF — materials science + consumer innovation
└── DOD/DARPA — materials + defense angle
            (self defense line opens this door 👀)
└── DOE — advanced materials manufacturing

Your hours:
└── Agency research + solicitation ID: 5-8 hrs
└── Technical narrative (YOUR expertise): 25-35 hrs
    This is why YOU are irreplaceable here.
└── Commercialization plan (CRO leads): 8-12 hrs
└── Budget development: 5-8 hrs
└── Registration + submission: 3-5 hrs

Ask Luckett if Vanderbilt has SBIR support resources.
Many universities offer free proposal assistance.
Time this around lighter academic periods.

Requires 501(c)(3) status — why ⑨ starts early.

Key targets:
└── Annie E. Casey Foundation
└── Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
    (specifically transition-age foster youth —
     aligns perfectly with Watch Me age tracks)
└── Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
└── Coastal Community Foundation (SC Lowcountry)
└── SC DSS program contracts

Write once, adapt for each funder.
Board member with nonprofit experience carries this.
Consider volunteer grant writer once 501(c)(3) is live.

Requires 501(c)(3) status.

Key programs:
└── Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)
    Deadline: Feb 28 annually
    SC contact: Ronneshia Green, Columbia office
    Covers: land acquisition, facility dev, training programs
└── Community Facilities Grant
    Covers: rural facility construction
└── Rural Cooperative Development Grant
    Deadline: Sep 15 annually
    SC contact: April Salters

CRO assists with budget development.
You provide the farm + program narrative.

Proof of concept. Not production ready.
Validates your materials hypothesis.
Prototype changes every investor conversation.

Your hours:
└── Manufacturer/fabricator research: 5-8 hrs
└── Technical specification documentation: 8-12 hrs
└── Iteration + review: 5-10 hrs
└── Testing documentation: 3-5 hrs

University biomechanics lab validates (Vanderbilt connection).
YOU specify. Manufacturing partner builds.
Document everything — notebook + photos.

Must happen within 12 months of provisional filing.
Attorney does the heavy lift. You review for technical accuracy.

Your hours:
└── Technical review of attorney draft: 5-8 hrs
└── Revision discussions: 3-5 hrs
└── Final review + approval: 1-2 hrs

Execute IP Assignment Agreement simultaneously:
You (individual) → R&D Entity
Written, notarized, filed with USPTO.
Cost: $1,500-3,000 additional (attorney)

Visual identity, brand language, coming soon website.
NOT a full e-commerce build yet — waitlist capture only.
CRO leads brand voice + positioning.
Hult design students? Trade experience for design work.
YOU approve everything.

Small batch. Direct to consumer first.
Pre-orders ideal — validate before manufacturing at scale.
CRO leads go-to-market.
YOU sign off on materials + product quality.

Jewelry friend collab campaign:
Time this with launch. Cost: shared/minimal.
Natural entry point for her company too.

Filed when E2W officially launches (use in commerce established).
Converts ITU application to registered trademark.
Required within 6 months of Notice of Allowance
(extendable in 6-month increments, $125-225/extension).
Attorney handles — you provide specimen (photo of mark in use).

Day program. Borrowed or rented facility — before Grand Oaks.
Real foster kids. Proves the model before you build the property.
Grant funders want proof of concept before funding facilities.

Your hours:
└── DSS partnership development: 8-12 hrs
└── Program design (psychiatrist friend
    + tutoring friend framework): 10-15 hrs
└── Facility arrangement: 5-8 hrs
└── Staff/volunteer recruitment: 5-10 hrs

Board member with nonprofit ops experience carries day-to-day.
YOU are founder and vision holder — not day-to-day operator yet.

Only if SBIR + revenue isn't sufficient.
NOT required if non-dilutive capital covers burn.

You raise AFTER:
└── Prototype exists ✅
└── Patent filed ✅
└── Early revenue ✅
└── Grant credibility ✅
You negotiate from strength, not desperation.

Target investors:
└── Forerunner Ventures, Female Founders Fund
└── XFactor Ventures, Halogen Ventures
└── Materials / deep tech investors (via R&D entity angle)
└── Impact investors (E2W + Watch Me story is powerful)

CRO leads financial narrative.
YOU lead technical + vision narrative.
SAFE note recommended for first round.

Criteria:
└── SC Lowcountry ✅
└── Agricultural / equestrian zoning
└── 25-50 acres minimum
└── Cross country course capacity
└── Southern Live Oak potential ✅
└── USDA rural eligibility confirmed

Rough SC Lowcountry land costs:
└── Land (25-50 acres): $75,000-$400,000
└── Barn + facilities: $100,000-$300,000
└── Cross country course: $50,000-$150,000
└── Watch Me program buildings: $75,000-$200,000
└── Infrastructure/utilities: $25,000-$100,000
─────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL GRAND OAKS BUILD: $325,000-$1,150,000

Layer 1: USDA Farm Loan Programs
   └── Low interest agricultural property loans
   └── Favorable rural terms
Layer 2: USDA Community Facilities Grant
   └── Covers Watch Me program buildings
Layer 3: USDA Rural Business Development Grant
   └── Feasibility + development planning
   └── Requires 501(c)(3) ← already done by now
Layer 4: Conventional Agricultural Mortgage
   └── Serviced by Equine LLC revenue +
       Watch Me grant income
Layer 5: E2W Revenue Contribution
   └── By Month 24 E2W generating consistent revenue

Grant offset potential: $100,000-$500,000+
Cash required (down payment only): $65,000-$230,000

Separate entity. Name TBD.
Owns horses, equipment, facility operations.
Leases facility to Watch Me (creates documented program
cost for grant reporting — clean accounting).

Revenue model:
└── Lessons (all ages, all levels, all disciplines)
└── Cross country schooling fees
└── Work/teach offset for Watch Me kids
└── Board if applicable

This becomes your home. The hours blur here. 👀

Class 41 (equestrian instruction + youth programming services).
File before Grand Oaks opens or any public announcement.
ITU — you're not operating yet at filing time.

Separate entity. Name TBD.
Different brand voice than E2W — same materials platform.
License IP from R&D Entity.
Hire brand leadership — you provide strategic direction.
Majority carried by Men's Brand hire.

Classes: 25 (footwear) + 35 (retail services)
File before any public announcement.
Same ITU process as E2W — reserve the name first.

Under E2W umbrella.
Open conversation with gun shop friend when her timeline aligns.
Two companies completing each other's picture.
She teaches them to shoot.
You put the weapon on their feet.
That's not a collab — that's a movement. 👀

Clothing line partnership agreements: CRO leads.
Jewelry friend campaign: natural, she's your friend.
Capsule collection structures vary — attorney reviews all.
Cost shared in collab arrangements.