Larta to collaborate with Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Larta is pleased to announce the commencement of a collaboration with the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Larta will be working with the Kauffman Center on two projects: an expanded, in-depth update to Larta's Federal Technology Funding Guide, to be distributed by the Kauffman Center and Larta, and the production of a comprehensive, multi-sector manual and a video based on Larta University's classes on Business Presentation: From Investor to Customer.
more information >

Larta Opens New OC Office
Larta has now officially opened its Orange County field office. Here is the contact information: 7545 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 100
Irvine, CA 92618-2934
(949) 789-1110

Larta University September Session: Intellectual Property
Intellectual property can be the primary asset of a technology company, and strategic management of IP can attract capital and monetize revenue, and impact the long-term results of a company's success. This workshop covers the most crucial legal and business strategies any company should know before exposing its technology to a competitive marketplace, including: copyrighting and trade secrets, working with an independent contractor to develop a product, and licensing.
more information >

~Other Announcements

VentureNet 2002 Applications Now Being Accepted
If you are an entrepreneur looking for investors, submit your application today to make a capital presentation at VentureNet 2002. VentureNet brings together Southern California's most promising companies with prospective investors and strategic partners from around the country, including all venture capital firms in Southern California, numerous venture capital firms from Northern California and elsewhere in the country, angel groups, individual angel investors, and investment bankers. Now in our seventh year, VentureNet 2002 will showcase 12 of the best and hottest software and information technology companies. Prior to the conference, the 12 presenting companies will be intensely coached by the selection committee and other professionals.
more information >

DARPA-like Office Proposed for Homeland Security
A draft report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recommends the Department for Homeland Security include a centralized office for research and technology development and the senior-level position of undersecretary for science and technology, according to several published reports. The final version of Maximizing the Contribution of Science and Technology Within the New Department of Homeland Security, which was available on the PCAST website temporarily, is to be given to the President next week.
more information >

~Larta in the News
Sponsored by:

What can small tech do for its country? Just ask, says top soldier (Small Times)
America's top general is urging small tech developers seeking U.S. Defense Department dollars to get out of the labs and make friends with the military's war fighters. Myers made the comments here at the recent DARPATech, a conference of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA is the branch of the US Defense Department that helped jump-start the microsystems industry and now is heavily funding nanotechnology efforts.
full article >



Business, Investment and Entrepreneurship:
Top Ten Innovators 2002 (Red Herring)
They are a rare breed: brilliant, patent-producing scientists who are also successful, profit-seeking serial entrepreneurs.
full list >

Venture Capital Funds Remain Weak (Wall Street Journal)
Performance of venture-capital funds remained weak through the first quarter of this year though there was a slight uptick, according to data released by Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association.
full article >

It’s About Time: Corporate Responsibility Law Finally Makes Lawyers More Accountable (Knowledge at Wharton)
The current corporate scandals have taken a heavy toll on CEOs, accountants, bankers, analysts, and even consultants. But until now one group has escaped any serious talk of blame, let alone indictment--lawyers.
full article >

Digital Media :
Game consoles hot as summer (Hollywood Reporter)
The $100 May price drops on video game hardware from Microsoft and Sony, along with a $50 slash from Nintendo, have successfully spurred sales during the normally slow summer months. In May and June, Sony remained the console leader with its PlayStation 2, while Microsoft's Xbox sales have nearly doubled, outselling Nintendo's GameCube every month this year except April, according to NPD Group.
full article >

Music sales dive--don't blame pirates (Reuters)
Video may have killed the radio star, but Forrester Research on Tuesday said Internet piracy was not to blame--as record labels have claimed--for the 15 percent drop in music sales in the past two years.
full article >

Bioscience and Nano:
First language gene discovered (BBC News)
Scientists think they have found the first of many genes that gave humans speech. Without it, language and human culture may never have developed.
full article >

Opposition to Nanotechnology (New York Times)
Now that nanotechnology is toddling into commercialization, it is encountering the same real-world headwinds that have impeded biotechnology.
full article >

This events calendar is provided as a service by Larta about events vetted and endorsed by Larta.

August 22: Adclub Roundtable: Music and Marketing, The Cutting Edge
Faced with seismic change, the music industry is taking the lead with innovations that are relevant to all marketers. What's new online? What alliances are being forged between music and product marketers? What's the impact of new technology? How is consumer behavior evolving? What does the future hold for new artists? Hear the latest out-of-the-box thinking, get some new ideas, and enjoy an appearance by a surprise guest artist. Speakers: Marilyn Batchelor, VP Strategic Marketing, MCA Records, Chris Douridas, VP of Music at AOL. Moderator: Farida Fotouhi, President, Reality2. 217 Lounge, Santa Monica. 6-8pm.
more information >

August 24: Southern California Monte Jade Seminar
This conference is for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs-to-be and the venture capital community. The event will take place at the Arcadia Community Center. For RSVPs or more information, Email to RSVP >
more information >

August 26: Town Hall Tech Talk Live presents, John T. Chambers President and Chief Executive Officer Cisco Systems, Back to the Basics in the New Internet Economy
In today's volatile economic climate, companies and countries are getting "back to the basics" of focusing on profits, cash and productivity. Cisco System's CEO John Chambers will discuss how the most successful organizations integrate business and technology solutions and streamline them across their entire value chain or ecosystem of partners. These "networked virtual organizations" leverage a much broader network of networks to increase flexibility and drive operational efficiency for dramatically better competitive performance.
more information >

August 27-29: International Satellite and Communications Exchange Conference and Expo
The ISCe Conference offers a pre-conference program and two days of comprehensive presentations and candid discussions from industry and government leaders focusing on the use of satellite policy, emerging technologies and dual-use capabilities.
more information >

August 29: TiE Southern California presents The Future of Telecom, and Issues of Raising Capital
Tie Southern California will have their Networking and Monthly Meeting on “the Future of Telecom” and “Issues of Raising Capital” on Thursday, August 29, 2002 at the Executive Dining Room in the Anderson School at UCLA, Westwood at 6 pm. Keynote speakers are Alex Naqvi, Founder of Luminous Networks, and Mohan Ananda, Founder of Stamps.
more information >

September 10th: Tech Coast Life Science Innovation Conference
This premiere and unique conference, presented by Venture Point Tech Coast SBDC, provides essential information, strategies, and contacts enabling life science companies and start-ups to maintain fast growth, while minimizing the sacrifice of precious equity. The conference's mission is to help local companies successfully access capital for R&D from the NIH, Homeland Security, and US DoD's SBIR Programs. This conference also connects California companies to many other crucial technology, financial, and strategic resources available. The conference will bring answers, tools, and resources to capitalize on the new intellect, advances and markets that are emerging.
more information >

Larta's full event calendar >

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