In another win for Larta Institute, alum Biopsy Sciences, a Tucson, Arizona-based medical device company, sold the intellectual property and commercialization rights to its Bio-SEAL™ technology to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company. Biopsy Sciences was a participant in the 2006 “NIH-Commercialization Assistance Program (NIH-CAP), a program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and developed and managed by Larta Institute to provide expert commercialization assistance and training to Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) NIH- funded companies.

- Biopsy Sciences

Stonybrook Purification, a spinout of Stony Brook University, today announced the close of the first tranche of a $4.1 million Series A investment led by Battery Ventures. T2 Venture Capital (T2VC), the founding investor and early incubator of the company, also participated in this round, along with new investors Modern Water and TianDi Growth Capital. The company will bring to market a novel concept for increasing the performance of high flux membranes for a variety of purification, filtration, and desalination applications. The technology has the potential to significantly increase the performance of and reduce the costs of processing water on a large scale.

- Stonybrook Purification

DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX) announced on August 22nd the acquisition of the assets of Veatros, L.L.C., a Kansas limited liability company. Veatros's technology was designed to conduct real-time digital video processing and will be used by DivX primarily for the purposes of producing enhanced video search and discovery services. Veatros was spun out of the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center at the University of Kansas. T2 Venture Capital, the venture affiliate of Larta Institute backed Veatros in its recent growth.

- Veatros

Xradia participated in Larta Institute's Entrepreneurship Assistance program in 2005 and was selected to present at the Venture Forum within the NIST ATP (Advanced Technology Program) Showcase. Xradia designs and manufactures a suite of ultra high resolution 3D x-ray microscopes and fluorescence imaging systems for non-destructive imaging of embedded internal structures. Important applications include 3D imaging of advanced semiconductor IC's and packages as well as biological specimens ranging from single cells to small animals. As a result of the Forum, Larta facilitated key introductions to investors and corporate partners at the Forum, including Harris & Harris Group, Inc. In late 2006 Xradia announced the closing of a $7.0 million equity in a series D financing round led by Harris & Harris Group, Inc.

- Xradia, Inc.

Ascendent Telecommunications Inc., an Encino, CA based company, attended the Venture Forum in 2003. While doing business as Ascendent Systems, the company raised $7 million more to close its Series B round at $14 million. The company, which provides voice and messaging products to businesses, received a $5 million equity investment from existing shareholders ComVentures and Enterprise Partners Venture Capital as well as $2 million in debt financing from Comerica Inc. Together, ComVentures and Enterprise Partners bought out the remaining institutional investors' stakes, which include Kline Hawkes & Co. and Forrest Binkley & Brown. Research In Motion Ltd. has acquired voice mobility vendor Ascendent Systems for an undisclosed amount. Though now a wholly owned RIM subsidiary, Ascendent will continue operating as a separate entity, keeping its branding, partnerships and dealer programs intact.

- Ascendent Telecommunications Inc.

Networks In Motion, Inc., based in Irvine, CA, attended the Venture Forum in 2004. Chairman and EVP of Business Development Stephen Petilli, a Larta Institute board member, helped found the company in 2000 and has successfully managed to commercialize its products and present GPS navigation as close to users as the cell-phone. This Irvine-based company has raised $10M in a Series C funding round. The companies numerous clients and partners include Verizon Wireless and Nextel.

- Networks In Motion, Inc.

Scanimetrics Inc., a presenter at Larta’s 2005 Project T2 conference, recently announced the completion of a second round of total equity financing in excess of $6.5 million. “We partner with each customer to design a customized solution for their particular needs. This funding will allow us to open new markets and to pursue additional customers in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim,” explains Steve Slupsky, Scanimetrics President & CEO. Scanimetrics Inc., an Edmonton-based semiconductor testing company, is commercializing a completely new method of testing semiconductor chips using microscale radio frequency technology. Scanimetrics’ non-contact testing technology will enable chip manufacturers to significantly reduce testing costs, increase testing process speed and reliability, and eliminate manufacturing defects caused by physical contact. Scanimetrics is working with some of the world’s largest semiconductor chip makers and equipment suppliers. Scanimetrics began operations in June 2003, jumpstarted by a $50,000 prize awarded at the VenturePrize business plan competition.

- Scanimetrics, Inc.

Vcom3D participated in the 2006 Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The DARPA-CAP was run by Larta and designed to assist DARPA's SBIR Phase II awardees in the commercialization of their technologies. VCom3D was one of the companies selected from the program to be featured the 2006 Venture Forum. VCom3D's technology is now set to change the intercultural communications US Army soldiers engage in every day. Whatever it be Arabic, Dari or Pashto, the wrist-worn iPod with Vcom3D software not only displays the text and plays the selected phrase but also shows a video of an avatar using sign language to clearly convey the message soldiers intend. The device is currently being tested by the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division in Iraq and it is hoped it will help bridge the language gap in the process of creating a stronger national Iraqi military.

- Vcom3D

Targacept, a biopharmaceutical company, issued a statement in February 2006, that it had received an initial $10 million payment from AstraZeneca as part of an exclusive global license and research collaboration agreement made in December, 2005. Then in March, it announced that it will look to sell 5 million shares at $11 to $13 each in an initial public offering filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2006. Targacept participated in the ATP Entrepreneur Education Workshop managed by Larta Institute in March 2005. The ATP workshop and mentoring program provided participants with a comprehensive roadmap to help move their technologies into the competitive marketplace.

- Targacept, Inc.

TherMark Holdings, Inc. (www.thermark.com), a developer of laser-marking technology, and presenter at Larta's 2005 Venture Forum announced the completion of its $1.7 million series A round of financing led by Pasadena Angels and Tech Coast Angels. TherMark Founder and Chairman, Paul Harrison, says "Larta Institute provided a great learning experience and I'm convinced that we will deliver the projected returns (and more) to our investors. We're doing very well and keeping within reasonable variation on our sales projections and cash requirements". TherMark allows manufacturers to place photographic-quality serial numbers, part ID numbers, logos and other text on virtually any hard surface material, including glass, metal, ceramics and plastics. The company has several patents in North America and internationally. Current customers include automobile manufacturers, medical instrument makers, kitchen and bath ware makers, and companies in dozens of other industries.

- TherMark Holdings, Inc.

Vivo Biosciences Inc. (VBI) was introduced to several investors, including Toucan Capital Corporation, at Larta Institute's 2005 Venture Forum, where the company presented its NIH-SBIR supported biotechnology in conjunction with its participation in Larta's 2004-05 National Institutes of Health Commercialization Assistance Program (NIH-CAP). Vivo Biosciences and Toucan Capital commenced investment discussions immediately following the May, 2005 Venture Forum, and reached agreement over the summer for Toucan Capital to provide $2 million in funding for VBI's drug-testing technology, which may cut years off the current human drug discovery process.

- Vivo Biosciences

Biopraxis presented at Larta Institute's 2004 Venture Forum and went on to receive more than $9.3 million in grants, contracts and investments from the government agencies. "Biopraxis received extraordinarily personal attention, support, and help from the Larta staff and team. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase the users' technology and the company," said Ann E. Grow, Vice President and CTO of Biopraxis. Biopraxis, Inc. develops microSERS, low-cost tools for rapidly analyzing large numbers of environmental and clinical samples for thousands of toxic compounds.

- Biopraxis, Inc.

Language Weaver presented at Larta Institute's 2004 Venture Forum, where it was chosen Most Promising Start-Up Company of the Year. Later the same year, Language Weaver received $4 million in a financing round led by Palisades Ventures, which was introduced to the company at the 2004 Venture Forum. In December, 2004, Red Herring Magazine chose Language Weaver from among 900 companies as one of the nation's Top 100 Innovators. Language Weaver develops unique approaches to automatic language translation.

- Language Weaver

VisiJet hired Larta Institute in 2004 to prepare a comprehensive research report on the cataract and refractive surgery markets. Later the same year, VisiJet received $2 million in financing from LibertyView Special Opportunities Fund and other institutional investors. "Larta's research was instrumental in our fundraising efforts," said Norman Schwartz, Corporate Counsel and a member of the VisiJet Board of Directors. VisiJet, Inc. is a medical device company that develops and markets innovative ophthalmic applications.

- VisiJet

Voice Genesis presented at Larta Institute's 2004 Venture Forum and later that year received $3 million in bridge round financing and $2 million in VC capital. The company received an additional $500,000 in an angel round of funding in 2005, and in September, 2005, received an additional $1 million investment from Keiretsu Forum, an angel group. Mark Marriott, the company's CEO, credits Larta Institute with helping them hone their presentation and provide introductions to contacts that proved instrumental in helping the company complete follow-on rounds of investment.

- Voice Genesis

XCom Wireless presented at Larta Institute's 2002 Venture Forum and the following year raised $2.5 million in private capital from Ardesta LLC. Daniel Hyman, President and CTO, found that Larta Institute provided XCom with "…important contacts with key people and valuable workshops on starting a technology venture."

- XCom Wireless

eTeam was a recipient of a CalTIP (California Technology Investment Partnership) award through Larta Institute, and presented at Larta Institute's 1999 Venture Forum. eTeam raised $3 million in funding the year following its presentation at the Venture Forum. In August, 2005, eTeam was acquired by NC4, a leader in situational readiness. eTeam develops applications to help government agencies and private companies better communicate and collaborate with each other. eTeam's technology was credited as a vital and integral part of New York City's emergency response system used in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

- eTeam