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Connecting people to drive innovation
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June 2011 v.1, n.30
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Editor: Mike Rudis |
As part of its services, Larta Institute works with emerging businesses in many
of the areas referred to in the articles of this publication, such as IT, electronics,
biotechnology and cleantech.
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www.larta.org |
To sponsor VOX, Larta events or publications, contact Carlos Gutierrez. cgutierrez@larta.org |
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Stimulating Innovative Solutions in Agriculture
The 2011 Ag Innovation Showcase
Rohit Shukla, CEO, Larta Institute
Food and fuel are at the
heart of humanity’s concerns. Food security and availability, epochal events
that cause widespread damage to crops, diversion of food crops to their
cultivation for fuel are part of the dramatic backdrop to major concerns that
are driving change and even unrest. Yet there are significant reasons for
optimism. Innovation is creating new solutions, new approaches and new ways of
thinking about the problems that have exploded into our consciousness... Read more...
Demystifying Mentoring
Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review Blog Network
When people think of mentoring,
they often think of an older executive counseling a young upstart. The senior leader
advises the junior employee on his career, how to navigate the world of work, and
what he needs to do to get ahead. But mentoring has changed a lot in the last few
decades. Just as the notion of a 50-year linear career with a single company or
in one industry is outdated, so is the idea that career advice must come from a
wise old sage...Read more...
The Squeeze of the VCs: Four Conspiring Trends
Amy Siegel, MedCity News
A favorite rant of many med tech entrepreneurs involves their disdain for venture
capitalists. They wax poetically about not taking money from traditional venture
funds. For some start-ups, it may be a chest-thumping expression of sour grapes,
while others eventually cave and raise a VC round. Increasingly, though, emerging
companies are making real on the threat and advance a long way with no or relatively
little traditional venture dollars... Read more...
Larta CEO to Speak at GIST Conference in Rabat, Morocco
Larta’s CEO, Rohit Shukla, will speak at the Economic Development through Science and Technology Conference
in Rabat, Morocco, June 16-17, 2011. The Conference is the third and concluding
event in a series organized under the U.S. Administration’s Global Innovation through
Science and Technology (GIST) initiative, which aims to advance innovation and technical
collaboration between the US, Middle East, North Africa and Muslim Asia. GIST states
its mission is “to build and to sustain science and technology (S&T) excellence
in the region through locally-established programs that leverage the discoveries
of the global scientific community toward innovative ways to improve quality of
life and economic prosperity.” This final conference is intended to establish the
initiative as a sustainable program that will involve exchanges between entrepreneurs,
support organizations, consulting resources and funding opportunities across all
participating countries.
Shukla will lead a panel on “Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship” on June
16 and then also will co-facilitate the concluding track on : “Building Partnerships
for Innovation: Forming Strategic GIST Alliances” which will kick-off the initiative’s
implementation agenda.
Over 250 entrepreneurs, regional experts and leaders from over 25 countries are
expected to attend the conference.
Larta Closes Out 2010-2011 NIH-CAP
The 2010-2011 National Institutes of Health
Commercialization Assistance Program (NIH-CAP) came to a close at the beginning of June. This
will mark the conclusion to the 7th consecutive year of the NIH-CAP.
For the Commercialization Training Track (CTT), participating companies concluded
the program via ‘close-out webinars’. Each CAP company presented their takeaways
and lessons learned from the program, as well as their commercialization plans for
the next 18 months following CAP, to NIH and Larta staff during these ‘close-out
webinars’. Larta conducted these webinars from late April to early June to accommodate
the schedule of the companies, principal advisors, and NIH. A total of 60 companies
completed their ‘close-out webinars’ and concluded the program.
Companies enrolled in the Accelerated Commercialization Track (ACT), were working
with their PAs on finalizing their targeted outcomes and completing their final
report in the program portal. This year, ACT companies worked on various targeted
outcomes, including development of regulatory strategies, sales/market strategies,
licensing/partnership strategies, term sheets, and financial models. Experts within
Larta’s network were brought in to assist the companies in completing these outcomes.
20 companies participated in the ACT program this year.
Global Bridge: Malaysia CAP Concludes
Larta’s Global Bridge: Malaysia CAP is coming to an end as the
last group of participating companies partake in Feedback Sessions with industry/investment
experts in the field of their choice. These sessions are able to provide companies
with fresh perspectives, real world input and constructive feedback on their commercialization
strategies. It is also a key opportunity to meet and network with top industry experts.
Larta has engaged its network to provide Feedback Sessions to 17 life sciences and
ag biotech companies from Malaysia. The impressive list of high level industry participants,
from companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Cargill, Novus, Life Technologies Corporation,
Intellectual Ventures, Cornell University, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ashland,
NovaQuest, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Council for Responsible Nutrition,
Buchalter Nemer, Venable, and Henry Schein, also serves to grow companies’ industry
networks for downstream commercial success. Each company leaves the program with
a solid framework to guide their commercialization progress in today’s competitive
marketplace.
New Members Join Larta Industry Advisory Board
In the business of “connecting people to drive innovation”, Larta maintains a diverse Industry Advisory Board (IAB) that we leverage to the benefit of participants within our Commercialization Assistance & Global Bridge Programs. Larta’s IAB includes senior executives from Fortune 1000 companies in the agritech, chemicals, materials, cleantech, electronics, IT, software and life science industries who provide market-based feedback and access to Larta program participants. Recent members include executives from 3M, Bayer, Bayer CropScience, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, Novus International, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, and Woodward. We wholeheartedly thank each member of the IAB.
Jameson & Company Sponsors Larta Commercialization Assistance
Programs
Larta is proud to announce that Jameson & Company, CPAs will be joining our select group of
distinguished sponsors in support of two of Larta’s National Institutes of Health
and Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center Commercialization Assistance
Programs (NIH-CAP & TATRC-CAP).
With over 30 years of experience in providing accounting services and advice to
government grantees, including vast experience of the SBIR world, Jameson & Company
will serve as a valuable resource to the life sciences companies coming through
the NIH-CAP and TATRC-CAP. We are excited to have Jameson and Company providing
customized webinars to current and alumni CAP participants as well as participating
in the 2011-2012 NIH-CAP Commercialization Training Workshop in Los Angeles, CA.
WilmerHale to Present Panel at BIO International Convention
Larta Sponsor WilmerHale will be presenting a panel on “The Myriad Case and the
Patentability of Isolated DNA Molecules” at this year’s BIO International Convention
in Washington, DC. While the Convention runs from June 27-30, this particular panel
will take place on the 28th. WilmerHale partners Seth Waxman and Mark Fleming, counsel
Allen Nunnally and senior associate Thomas Saunders will discuss the briefs, oral
argument and, perhaps, the Federal Circuit’s decision on the Association for Molecular
Pathology v. USPTO case, in addition to the future of the issue and related patent
issues. Click here for complete details.
SBIR/STTR Extended "As-is" Through September 30, 2011
Only hours before the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs were set to expire, Congress
passed the “Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011”.
This 4-month extension effectively maintains the SBIR and STTR programs “as-is”
until September 30, 2011 (the end of the fiscal year).
In the time of this small victory, we cannot forget the ultimate goal of
full Reauthorization and the influence those involved in the small business community
can have on our Congressmen.
Our pick of Larta-alumni companies that are making the news and already on their way to making it big!
Larta NIH-CAP 2010/11 Participant Laser Tissue Welding
Laser Tissue Welding (LTW), a current NIH Commercialization Assistant Program participant
(NIH-CAP), is a privately owned biotherapeutic medical device company located in
Humble Texas, and was founded and incorporated in Delaware in 2004. LTW’s innovation
is a new paradigm in surgical care, an enabling combination surgical device that
seals hemorrhage and fluid leaks accurately, instantly on demand without burning.
The technology uses a diode laser and two human serum albumin biodegradable bio-materials
to enable surgical interventions on vascular solid visceral organs as the liver,
kidney and spleen and hemostasis in coagulopathic patients requiring surgery... Read more...
Current NSF-CAP1 Participant Artaic Makes TV Debut
Artaic, a current NSF-CAP1 Participant with the technology
to create custom mosaic art in an innovative, timely and cost effective manner,
was recently featured on styleboston's "Plugged In" segment. View the video
to see Artaic's art around Boston and hear Artaic Founder and CEO, Ted Acworth speak
to the inspiration behind Artaic and the technology that makes it all possible.
Since, Artaic's mosaics have also made an appearance on the Do It Yourself Network.
NSF-CAP1 Alumnus NanoLite Systems Gains Interest
As January 2011 came to a close, 117 Larta NSF-Commercialization Assistance Program
(NSF-CAP1) participating companies successfully completed the program with the submission
of a Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal to the National Science Foundation. While the program
ends, the ongoing journey toward commercial success and an extended relationship
with Larta is just beginning for many companies. One such company is NSF-CAP1 alumnus
NanoLite Systems, LLC... Read more...
2011 Bio International Convention
June 27-30, 2011 - Washington, DC
Leadership. Partnerships. Breakthroughs.
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Keep pace with the pulse of the global biotech industry in Washington, DC.
The 2011 BIO International Convention draws the largest gathering
of biotech thought leaders and decision makers together for 4 dynamic days of collaboration
to spark breakthrough solutions and drive the industry forward.
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Register and book housing today! Visit convention.bio.org.
Midwest Clean Tech 2011: Brinks Innovation Competition
September 14, 2011 - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, IL
Midwest Clean Tech pulls together top keynotes, panel speakers, innovators and financiers from the clean tech community. In conjunction with the conference, the Brinks Innovation Competition is a one day program exhibiting Midwest excellence in Clean Technology innovation, products, and services. Entering the competition presents your firm the opportunity to demonstrate your technology to high-level judges, enhancing your image and creditability within the funding community, and market your technology and firm to the clean tech community. The deadline to take part in the Brinks Innovation Competition for this year is June 28, 2011, and is fast approaching. Read more...
Visit our Events Calendar for a list of Larta's partners' events.
