Send comments and submissions to Lori Martin, Larta VOX Editor, at voxeditor@larta.org

SSTI, the State Science and Technology Institute, calls Larta University one of the "...best programs in the country," having "...helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, implemented innovative programs, and assisted client companies to raise hundreds of millions of dollars."

The Entrepreneurship Series is a set of nine unique workshops offered through Larta University that provides a comprehensive, step-by-step process to increase a company's business success. Class topics range from building effective management teams to forming valuable strategic alliances.

Sessions are three hours of intensive and interactive learning and are designed to deliver the most relevant and important information in the most succinct and effective manner possible. Instructors are battle-hardened business and technology experts who have been exclusively chosen to present in a memorable fashion that will allow you to readily apply successful strategies to your business.

John Bell and Tony Leal, general partners of the Los Angeles-based shoe distributor and retailer "IFShoe" project, participated in the Entrepreneurship Series that completed in June, share their reflections on their experience:

Q: Please describe your business and the challenges you faced entering the Entrepreneurship Series.

A: Our incubator project, IFShoe, needed to strategically define its vertical retail segment and ultimate marketing mission clearly, along with a firm understanding of internal technology business process issues, which would effectively address and manage our unique supply chain requirements. We also needed a real understanding of what the Venture Capital market would expect of us in order to grow their interest in this project, and eventually, attract their venture funding to this retail project. We projected our capitalization requirements at the first stage of funding to be approximately $10 million dollars.

Q: How would you describe your overall experience throughout the nine-course series?

A: Incredibly informative and real world knowledge based seminars. Our team was able to train for what we considered a venture capital competition second only to an Olympic triathlon event. This is truly a mini-MBA (credit bearing) program.

Q: How did your company benefit from the program?

A: We'll know very soon. We recently submitted our project on July 4th, 2005
for initial review by TPG Ventures, of San Francisco & Menlo Park, CA,
the small venture capital unit of Texas Pacific Group of Fort Worth, Texas.

Q: Who (types of businesses, people) would you recommend to enroll in the Entrepreneurship Series 2005-2006?

A: Anyone who has a great idea and needs real world guidance to get their project off the ground. The people at Larta have the expert knowledge, real-world experience, professional contacts, and a unique understanding of the venture marketplace that we couldn't find anywhere else. Their guidance and patient encouragement was invaluable to us, so much so that we were confident enough at this early juncture to approach one of the largest venture capital firms in the world with our unique retail project. We know that we will be successful!

For more information on participating in Larta's Entrepreneurship Series, which will commence again in October, please contact Joe Escamilla at 213.765.4829.

Larta University's Course Schedule

International News

JETRO "BIZMATCH" OPPORTUNITY at CEATEC Japan 2005

Tuesday, October 4, 2005 - Thursday, October 6, 2005

This coming October, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) offers a great opportunity to meet with Japanese high technology companies seeking business partnerships with U.S. companies. If you are attending the "CEATEC Japan 2005 Show, October 4-6 at Makuhari Messe Chiba, Japan, please consider participating in the BIZ Partner matching event! Last year, 20 Japanese companies such as Epson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC, and Sony participated in this event. Web site address is http://www.jetro.org/. There is no charge for this event!

The application deadline is Friday August 5, 2005.
For more information, please contact Oren Bernstein at 212- 997- 0451.

This calendar lists events endorsed by Larta Institute.

August 9: LAVA 15th Annual Venture Capital Panel
Join us in our 15th Annual panel of venture capitalists for a lively discussion of the current market for risk equity capital across a wide range of industries and financing stages.

September 4-10: BioMission to Japan 2005
This September, the North American and Japanese biotechnology industries will converge during a program providing access to current market intelligence and partnership opportunities in Japan. Join the JETRO BioMission to Japan 2005, and meet face-to-face with top industry, government, and academic leaders in Japan's biotechnology and life science industries. Program includes: BioLink Forum participation, BioJapan 2005 admission, Business matching, and additional networking opportunities.

For further information please contact Masaru Nishiura at 213-624-8851, or John Ishikawa at (213) 624-8855 ext 119.

September 21-25: Taiwan Nano Tech 2005
From the heart of Taiwan comes another spectacular treat for young and thriving nanotech companies. Taiwan Nano Tech 2005 -- Creating New Fortunes, New Industries, and New Possibilities -- running Sept. 21-25 is a highly-focused event that offers six dynamic activities: the 2005 Taiwan Business Alliance Forum, International Nano Technology Exhibition, National Nano Project Management & Evaluation Conference, partnering opportunity meetings, a conference and a workshop. These events will bring to light the latest trends and development opportunities in Taiwan’s nanotech industry, as provide information on the business and investment strategies that have been helpful in bringing this industry to new heights.

October 4-6: JETRO "BIZMATCH" OPPORTUNITY at CEATEC Japan 2005
The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) offers a great opportunity to meet with Japanese high technology companies seeking business partnerships with U.S. companies. If you are attending the "CEATEC Japan 2005 Show, October 4-6 at Makuhari Messe Chiba, Japan, please consider participating in the BIZ Partner matching event! Last year, 20 Japanese companies such as Epson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC, and Sony participated in this event. There is no charge for this event!

October: Entrepreneurship Series 2005-2006 Begins
Stop spinning your wheels and instead learn to grow your business efficiently and effectively. Larta University introduces the Entrepreneurship Series, a disciplined approach to success. Sessions are three hours of intensive and interactive learning and are designed to deliver the most relevant and important information in the most succinct and effective manner possible.

November 8: Project T2 - Technology Transfer Conference
Larta Institute presents the third annual Project T2 Conference, the nation's leading showcase of new university technologies. Discover the newest innovations spinning out of top universities. Connect with the talent in America's leading R&D center, Southern California. Network with world-class researchers, investors, and corporations. Learn creative new ways to finance spin-out ventures. Register Now!

November 10 (tentatively scheduled): Corporate Investment & Strategic Alliance (CISA) Conference, Fall, 2005
Experience a unique opportunity to meet 25+ Fortune 1000 corporations looking to invest in growing companies by participating in our company's showcase. Visit www.CISAconferences.org, and click on "Get Advance Notice for the next CISA" for more information.

Larta Institute's Full Events Calendar

Larta Institute
connecting people to drive innovation

We bring people together to move technologies into the marketplace. Our client solutions include: conferences, training workshops, technology transfer, advisory services, and research and analysis.

Since 1993, companies helped by Larta Institute have raised over $1.5 billion in capital. Larta Institute's conferences and seminars provide insights to thousands of businesspeople each year. Larta Institute's weekly electronic magazine on business innovation is read by over 20,000 people.

www.Larta.org

Los Angeles Office:
Larta Institute
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Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tel: (213) 744-1314
Fax: (213) 744-1791

Washington DC Office:
Larta Institute
c/o Kelly, Anderson & Associates
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Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 740-8330

Chicago, IL Office:
Larta Institute
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Chicago, IL 60611