Job Corner
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TTO Seeks
Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Licensing Associate
TTO is seeking a Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Licensing Associate for its Boulder office. The Licensing Associate identifies, solicits, and evaluates invention disclosures for patent and market potential; markets technologies to commercial partners; and tracks and develops a portfolio of associated intellectual property. Please review full requirements and apply online at www.jobsatcu.com (posting #807021).
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Spotlight On: |
CU-Boulder Technology of the Month:
CU2346B - Power-Optimal Attitude Control
for Spacecraft
UC Denver Technology of the Month:
CU1206H - Peptide-Based Vaccines for
Influenza, SARS, HIV and Ebola Viruses
CU Licensee Company of the Month:
Mentor InterActive, Inc., based in Boulder,
CO, was founded in 2004 by faculty members of
the Center for Computational Language and EducAtion Research (CLEAR; known at
that time as the Center for Spoken Language Research) at the University of Colorado
at Boulder. The
company, which is managed by Hank Kaplan, Chairman/CEO, Brian Kohn,
President/COO and Eric Feiner, EVP
Marketing and Sales, publishes and markets interactive software based on the
proven Foundations to Literacy reading program developed at CLEAR through a
license granted by the University
of Colorado. Mentor also holds licenses
from CU for speech recognition and facial animation technologies.
Mentor InterActive has signed a licensing agreement with Nintendo of America Inc. to develop My Virtual Tutor™: Reading for Nintendo DS™
and Wii™ video game systems. My Virtual Tutor™: Reading makes learning to read fun,
affordable and portable. With the help of Mentor InterActive's proprietary
virtual tutor, children can conquer early reading through individualized,
adaptive learning exercises and interactive books. Mentor Interactive has
partnered with FillpointSVG, a leading distribution service and Internet
fulfillment provider in the video game industry for sales and distribution
of My Virtual Tutor™ Reading for Nintendo DS. The first products in the My
Virtual Tutor™: Reading line were well-received at the recent E3 video game
industry trade show, and will debut in September 2009 at leading retailers
throughout the US and Canada.
The series will be comprised of three titles created for children in Pre-K
through Second Grade. |
CU Technology and Licensee Companies in the News |
miRagen
Therapeutics, Inc. Accomplishes Funding Milestones and Secures Series A
Extension CU licensee miRagen
Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving
patients' lives by developing innovative microRNA (miRNA) based therapeutics
for cardiovascular and muscle disease, announced the achievement of several key
milestones resulting in the approval of the second tranche of last year's $8M
Series A financing. In addition, miRagen secured a $4 extension of the Series
A, bringing the total funding of the Series A financing to $12M.
Biovitrum
Selects Megapharm as Distributor in Israel Biovitrum AB
has entered an exclusive distribution and marketing agreement with Megapharm
Ltd. allowing Biovitrum's products Kineret� (a CU-developed treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis) and Kepivance� to be commercialized in Israel.
Avigen
Considers $3M Acquisition by MediciNova
CU
licensee Avigen is contemplating an
acquisition deal that would see its takeover by MediciNova just months after it
seemed liquidation was on the cards if a previous $20.5 million buyout
proposal by Biotechnology Value Fund
(BVF) failed. The merger of MedicaNova and Avigen would combine further
clinical development of ibudilast (Avigen's AV-411 and MediciNova's MN-166) for
the potential treatment of neuropathic pain, drug addiction, and multiple
sclerosis (MS). |
People |
Podcast:
Dr. Sara Honn Qualls, CU-Colorado Springs New Inventor of the Year
W3W3 radio spoke with Sara Honn Qualls about her research into family
development in later life and clinical interventions, and the development of
neurological wellness and assessment tools for elderly care management.
UCCS
Professor Joins $5M GM Advanced Battery Research Group Gregory
Plett, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Colorado at
Colorado Springs, is joining three UM engineering faculty members and a team of
engineers at General Motors as part of a five-year, $5Mn award that established
the GM/UM Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains, which will accelerate
development of advanced battery technology for use in future electric vehicles,
hybrid electric vehicles and extended range electric vehicles.
UC
Denver Cancer Researcher Receives Coveted HHMI Award University
of Colorado Denver School
of Medicine cancer researcher Jianfu Chen has been named a Damon Runyon Fellow
and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow. This fellowship provides promising
young scientists with independent funding ($140,000 each) to work on innovative
projects. Dr. Chen studies molecular mechanisms of gene-folic acid interactions,
determining whether folic acid may have a role in cancer prevention.
Do you know of a recent
award, new position or transition of interest to the CU tech community? Please
send information to [email protected].
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TTO's Learning Laboratory: The Student Connection
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Anschutz Summer Legal Interns Angela Morrison joined the TTO in May after finishing her first year of law school at the University of Colorado.She is helping to analyze bio-based intellectual property and licensing opportunities for both the Boulder and Anschutz TTO offices. Angela has more than eight years of laboratory research experience from both academia and industry, in the United States and Australia. She earned a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Molecular Biology from Colorado State University,
and plans on practicing intellectual property law after completing her J.D.
Mike Biggs is currently a student
in the MBA program at UC Denver, completing a dual specialization track in
entrepreneurship and sustainability management. Mike has a BS in mechanical
engineering from UC Berkeley and, prior to his graduate work, worked for 15
years in the medical device industry. At
the TTO, Mike applies his mix of technical and business expertise to assist
startup companies with market opportunity analysis, business model development,
and financial modeling. Leveraging his technical background, MBA, and work at
the TTO, Mike is looking for opportunities to work with startups in biotech or
cleantech.
Annmarie Cording is a third year
law student at the University of Colorado School of Law. Annmarie joined TTO in
May 2008, and conducts prior art and patent justification research on new CU bioscience
technologies. She also drafts license
agreements and other IP-related contracts. Before coming to the University of Colorado,
Annmarie received a B.A. in Biology-Psychology from Immaculata
University in Pennsylvania. Annmarie is interested in Colorado's biotech industry and start-up environment, and plans to pursue a career in entrepreneurial law after she graduates in 2010.
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Upcoming Events |
Reznick Group's Annual Renewable Energy Conference
July 27-29, Inverness Hotel & Resort, Englewood
The 2009 symposium will explore the
critical relationship between technology and business in creating the
infrastructure needed to further develop the electric vehicle. Additionally, it
is designed for leaders looking to improve their understanding of renewable
energy technologies, transactions, valuations and business issues and capital
structures.
CBSA
BioBreakfast
July 29, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Financing
a bioscience company has always presented challenges, but in these difficult
times finding funding is becoming more challenging than ever. During the July
BioBreakfast, learn from the experts on where to find funding, their
predictions on the future of financing, and advice on how to garner funds for
your company.
Call for Applications: NREL
Industry Growth Forum
July 31
National Renewable Energy
Laboratory is pleased to invite you to apply to the upcoming 22nd NREL
Industry Growth Forum in Denver.
Join the ranks of sustainable energy companies who have gleaned windfall
funding and focused expertise from within the catalytic atmosphere of the Forum
- to learn more and to access
the application process, please visit the website.
Boulder/Denver New Technology Meetup Group
August 4, CU- Boulder
This ongoing event provides a forum for technologists and entrepreneurs to
showcase the new (especially web-based) technology developing in Boulder/Denver
tech community. Five companies have five minutes each to demonstrate their new technology, followed by five
minutes for Q&A from the audience.
CBSA
Finance Seminar
August
6, Republic Plaza, Denver
Hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), details and registration online.
2009
North American Biochar Conference
August
9-12, CU-Boulder
The
conference is designed to advance our understanding of the policy, business,
scientific, and technical opportunities and issues implicated by the
large-scale usage of biochar
as both a sequestration agent and soil amendment.
CBSA
+ CSIA 2009 Annual Wine Tasting
August
13, Denver Botanic
Gardens, Denver
This
event attracts hundreds of key decision-makers. With an expected attendance of
more than 300 technology and bioscience professionals again this year, this
event will take professional networking to a new level. Hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) and the Colorado Software and Internet Association (CSIA).
Colorado Green Tech Meetup
August
13, CU-Boulder
An ongoing event to support
eco-entrepreneurs and others people involved and/or interested in green tech:
energy generation, transportation, construction, and efficiency technologies.
Businesses and researchers present new technologies, and attendees may announce
business news, job openings, fundings, etc.
Colorado
Alternative Energy: A Workshop on Opportunities
August 29, CU-Boulder
This fall`s event will spotlight
the economic and employment growth areas surrounding alternative energy and the
new energy economy. Five speakers will
present their organizations' efforts to promote alternative energy business,
including representatives from the Governor's Energy Office.
Toy and Game Designers'
Workshop
August 29, CU-Colorado Springs
The 2nd annual Toy and
Game Designers' Workshop hosted by UCCS will be held on August 29, 2009 at the
Upper Lodge on the UCCS campus. Workshop
participants will hear presentations on topics ranging from concept generation
and evaluation to attributes of good games and trade shows to protecting ideas
as well as presentations on prototyping, working with an agent, marketing, and
video game creation. Sponsored by the UCCS El Pomar Institute for Innovation
and Commercialization (EPIIC).
To have your event featured here, please send an
email to [email protected]. |
Innovation in the News |
Colorado
Boasts 3 Cities in Milken Institute's North American High Tech Top 50 A new
study from the Milken Institute shows three Colorado
metro areas (Denver-Aurora, Boulder and Colorado Springs) ranking
in the top 50 of the "North America High Tech Economy: The Geography of
Knowledge Based Industries Ranking" (full
report).
Evolution
of VC Industry Shifting to International and Cleantech Investment The global
economic downturn has many venture capitalists altering strategies, including
reducing investment levels in the short term, according to the 2009 Global Venture
Capital Survey by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and the National Venture Capital
Association (PDF).
The survey, which measured the opinions of more than 700 venture capitalists
worldwide, also shines headlights into the post-recession landscape, predicting
that the cleantech sector is poised to become the leading investment category
and that the globalization of the venture capital industry will intensify.
Roundup: University,
Community, State, National and International Initiatives
Venture
Funds Rising for Georgia Tech Startups In late
June, the Georgia Research Alliance announced that its GRA Venture Fund has
raised $11.25M from venture capital investors to help startup businesses
incubated in the GRA's VentureLab commercialization program, a public-private
effort to create new technology-based companies out of local university
research. The funds will be matched by $7.5M provided by the State of Georgia,
for a total of $18.75M. New Model for Funding Support to Small Businesses Passes Tennessee Legislature
The "Tennessee Small Business Investment Company Credit Act" was sent in early
July to Gov. Phil Bredesen for his signature. The legislation, designed to create
a pool of at least $84M in capital, utilizes a competitive process to select
several venture capital funds to make direct investments in small business
headquartered in Tennessee.
These venture capital funds can be for-profit or non-profit partnerships,
corporations, trusts, or limited liability companies.
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External Resources |
New Social Network
Serves Student Entrepreneurs Two students at the NYU School of Business recently launched FledgeWing, a new social network that
aims to connect aspiring student entrepreneurs with one another as well as with
mentors, investors, and industry professionals.
Useful Stats: Inventors
per 1,000 Residents (1980, 1990, 2000, 2005) The methods of measuring the "innovativeness" of a region take many forms
- using data made available through the Office of the University Economist at
Arizona State University, Boulder is ranked 3rd in the number of
patent inventors per capita by metro area (with 2.53 inventors per 1,000
residents). (View the
full data table.)
Building
Today's Platform Company For entrepreneurs developing innovative technology,
the platform business model is making a comeback.
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Parting Quote |
"In this environment, it
pays to be either a very early-stage investor or a very late-stage investor. The
classic Series B round, where a business is still finding its legs and
remaining capital requirements are at best an estimate, carries more risk given
higher burn rates and the climate's uncertainty around future financings. So,
we're seeing reduced investment levels as firms either invest smaller sums in
very early-stage companies, or invest traditional sums in fewer and much
later-stage companies. The middle ground has been largely vacated."
Steve Fredrick, general partner of Grotech Ventures, in the 2009 Global Venture Capital Survey (PDF)
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