A Network-Centric Approach to Fostering the Commercialization of Innovation
A Larta Institute Authored Paper

Governments around the world seek the formula to drive innovation and stimulate entrepreneurship; however, fueling an innovation ecosystem requires directing the right people, capital and resources to a complex and unpredictable process. The makeup of regions will require a different set of tools for the job. Some regions can lack a critical mass of S&T-based companies and entrepreneurs, so strategies of inclusive innovation may be sought. In other instances, scientists conducting research in government labs and universities are relied upon to spin off ventures from their work... Read more...

Mentor Support Key to Starting a Business
Sangeeta Badal and Rajesh Srinivasan, GALLUP

Social capital is important at every stage of entrepreneurship, but it is particularly important when the potential entrepreneur needs access to resources and expertise at the startup. Gallup surveys in 83 countries indicate that adults who have access to a mentor are three times more likely to say they are planning to start a business... Read more...

Larta CEO Rohit Shukla will join 11 other experts on high-growth entrepreneurship policy, in March, at the International Research and Policy Roundtable as part of the Kauffman Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool, UK. Shukla will debut and present his paper A New Training Paradigm for Entrepreneurs: the "Network-Centric" Approach and contribute to the development of global policy roadmap for advancing entrepreneurship.

Qualcomm Joins Larta Industry Advisory Board

Larta’s Industry Advisory Board (IAB) welcomes its newest members from Qualcomm Wireless Health, NRG Energy and O-Innovation, LLC. Larta’s IAB includes over 60 senior executives and technology scouts from Fortune 1000 companies who provide market based feedback to Larta program participants while receiving advanced access to Larta’s pipeline of 300+ innovations per year.

A Look Back at the 2011 Ag Innovation Showcase

HEC-TV covers the 2011 Ag Innovation Showcase at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO – the premier event where VCs and Strategics meet and discover the most promising new agritech. Keep your eye out for the 2012 Ag Innovation Showcase “Save the Date” announcement. Watch the video.

Our pick of Larta-alumni companies that are making the news and already on their way to making it big!

Artaic Wins Gold Prize at MassChallenge’s $1M Competition

Artaic, a 2011 NSF-CAP1 participant first featured in the June's LartaVOX, recently took home the Gold Prize and $50,000 from MassChallenge’s global startup competition. The prize money will help advance Artaic’s commercialization through the development of new sales tools for their “mass-customized” mosaic projects.

Paul Reiss, Artaic Cofounder and Creative Director, said “The Larta program has helped us hand-in-hand to develop our strategic technology commercialization plan. It's the combination of funding and the strategic support that makes a big impact.”

Culmini’s Konnectology Helps Patients Make Informed Decisions

Culmini, 2009-2010 NIH-CAP graduate, is helping patients make informed decisions about their personal healthcare by using a statistical methodology to turn healthcare analytics into easy-to-understand guides. They’ve developed a virtual database called Konnectology and have recently launched their first online guide: the Kidney Transplant Guide. Patients now have a resource for objective and scientifically valid information about the best kidney transplant centers, how to shorten their wait for a kidney, and more.

Culmini enrolled in Larta’s NIH-CAP seeking help on commercializing their Konnectology system. Constantia Petrou, Founder & CEO says “The CAP program has been extremely helpful in crafting our Konnectology expansion strategy.”

New Paradigms to Fund & Move Biotech
January 10-12, 2011 - Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco, CA

New Paradigms is guided by key individuals from biotech, pharma and the investment community to advance R&D through alternative sources of funding, non-traditional partnering strategies and innovative approaches to drug approval for the successful commercialization of new therapies. Co-located at the same time as the JP Morgan Healthcare event, on-site networking partnering services are available to registered attendees. The pre-conference Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, also offered as a stand-alone event, covers how to build a biotech company and assess decisions to do an IPO. Use discount code CANP for 20% off registration.

14th Annual Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering Conference
February 6-8, 2012 - The Island Hotel, Newport Beach, CA

The 14th Annual Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering Conference will deliver new strategies to capture a competitive advantage through corporate venturing and innovation initiatives. Corporate venturing is a vehicle used to capture innovation, provide a window for acquisitions and an opportunity for strategic partnerships. Attaining a leading edge is at the top of the corporate agenda for global growth and provides the skills needed to increase profitability and market share. Register with code CVLRTA for a discounted rate of $1,195.

FLoW Clean Energy Business Challenge - Open for Applications
February 15, 2012 - Application Deadline

First Look West (FLoW) invites student teams throughout the Western USA to participate in the Department of Energy’s national business plan competition for clean energy. FLoW offers $200,000 in prize money as well as mentoring programs, legal start-up packages, and the opportunity to pitch to investors. Apply by February 15th. Not located in the Western USA? Find info about the competition in other regions here.




Visit our Events Calendar for a list of Larta's partners' events.