Where Investors Fear to Tread
A MoneyTree report released from PricewaterhouseCoopers this week found that venture capital deal flow for Q3 of 2002 decreased 26% from the previous quarter, reaching the lowest level in over four years. The long-awaited investment turnaround is likely to continue until profitable IPOs and acquisitions, as well as solid revenue models and sales, become a foreseeable reality.
full article >

Liberalization of China's Financial Markets Calls for Effective Market Regulation
China's financial markets have long been only partially open to foreign ownership. However, much of that changed with the announcement last week by the Ministry of Finance, China Securities Regulatory Commission, and State Economic and Trade Commission removing restrictions on selling state-owned shares to foreigners.
full article >

~Opinion

(The views of the articles in this section do not necessarily reflect the views of Larta or its employees, but represent the views of the author, who is responsible for any facts, statements or opinions.)

Financial Performance of Supplier Alliances - Managing for Mutual Financial Return
by Larraine Segil, Larta Board Member; CEO, Lared Group
Many supply relationships would generate far more value if they were managed like alliances. A supply alliance that looks costly in the first stages of development may create great returns in the last stage of development.
*The Lared Group will be leading the Larta U workshop this week*
full article >

Letters to the Editor

Re: Uncle Sam: The New VC?
If Uncle Sam were a VC, he'd be bankrupt.
read the letter >

~Larta Announcements

Business, Investment, and Entrepreneurship:

Special report: China - When fools rush in (Red Herring)
Technology companies are dashing to China in search of salvation and sales. Many will return broken and beaten.
full article >

Embedded RTOS suppliers offer one-stop shopping
(EE Times)
Wind River Systems Inc. and Green Hills Software Inc. have taken a first step toward what may be a sweeping change in the way embedded-software companies do business. Instead of selling a variety of point products under perpetual, project-based or royalty-based licenses, they're offering a simpler and perhaps cheaper solution: fully integrated development suites priced at around $15,000 annually per seat.
full article >

Special: The CEO Under Fire (Fortune)
Inside the world of today's embattled chief executives.
full article >

Digital Media:

The end for movie rental stores? (CNN)
The anticipated online movies-on-demand venture formed by five major Hollywood studios was launched Monday, marking the first time a large supply of recent, popular films are available legally on the Internet. The effort, called Movielink, allows people to download films over a high-speed Internet connection.
full article >

Critics Wary of ‘Trusted Computing’ (Newsweek)
To thwart hackers and foster online commerce, the next generation of computers will almost certainly cede some control to software firms, Hollywood and other outsiders. That could break a long-standing tenet of computing: that PC owners ultimately control data on their own machines.
full article >

Nanotech:

Nanosys Returns to Cal to License More IP (Nanotech Planet)
Nanosys Inc. and the University of California have completed another licensing agreement for intellectual property from the lab of Dr. Peidong Yang, a professor of chemistry at the University of California-Berkeley.
full article >

Security:

Stage Set for Homeland Act (Wired)
Now that the Republicans have regained control of the Senate, the Homeland Security Act--which affects electronic privacy-- might be passed ahead of schedule.
full article >

Telecom:

Riding the Next Wave (Washington Post)
Telecom may be in the dumps, but that hasn't stopped researchers and companies from working on cool innovations to try and find the "next best technology" for the sector. The sweet spot right now? Wi-Fi, the wireless networking technology based on the 802.11 technical standard that allows users that don't want to be chained to their desks to access a network remotely. Problem is, the technology is often clunky and expensive, so a lot of innovation is still needed before it takes off.
full article >

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

November 12: PricewaterhouseCoopers' Technology Forecast 2002-2004, Volume 2: Emerging Patterns of Internet Computing
Although the Internet has grown explosively over the past ten years by every measurement imaginable, we are only beginning to understand the global networked computing utility—often referred to as "The Grid"—that the Internet could ultimately become. Ongoing innovations in microprocessors, server architectures, storage networks, resource management, and a
host of other areas will provide a scalable infrastructure based on commodity technologies, first at the level of the individual enterprise, and eventually at the level of the entire world network. Join us for a discussion of Technology Forecast 2002-2004, Volume 2: Emerging Patterns of Internet Computing and gain a better understanding of these technologies and how they will affect your organization as you prepare for the future. Additional event on November 19 in Irvine.
more information >

November 14: Jetro 's 4th Tuesday Technology Exchange, Academia and Industry: A Crucial Link for Economic Success
Over the last 20 years, Japan's status regarding industry-society has been changing from "catch up" to that of a "front runner" compared with European countries. Now, the global environment is evolving and other Asian countries are rapidly gaining economic power. With Japan's progressively low birth rate, which leads to a decrease in labor power, Japan finds itself having to continuously create new markets and new products to survive in the competitive global market. Therefore, a new environment and infrastructure for promoting innovation needs to be developed.
more information >

November 16: The International Corporate Directors Institute's Corporate Governance Summit
The Corporate Governance Summit is designed to educate and inform CEOs and Directors on key issues affecting boards in today's business environment. The two-part conference includes a morning session with a keynote speaker and afternoon breakout sessions designed for publicly traded companies and emerging companies.
more information >

November 21: Doing Business In India: Opportunities in the World's Largest Free Market
India is the world's largest free market, with a population of more than one billion people, and a middle class of more than 250 million people who can afford American products and services. Business in India is widely conducted in English and there is a well-structured legal system based on Western law. With the tremendous opportunities available in India, US organizations need to know how they can benefit from one of the most dynamic and vital markets in the world. This conference is recommended for Top Executives of companies from all sectors, Importers/Exporters, Investors and Entrepreneurs interested in exploring opportunities offered by the huge Indian market.
more information >

November 21: Homeland Security Symposium, Terrorism: Impact on Our Lives, Jobs, and Communities
This one-day symposium will present helpful strategies for countering and responding to acts of terrorism. Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Fadi Essmaeel, "Terrorist Motives and Intents.” Luncheon Speaker: Dr. Dave Banks. Center for Asymmetric Warfare: An Interagency Test, Training and Experimentation Asset. Presented by the Society of American Military Engineers, Oxnard-Ventura Post.
more information >

December 3: PricewaterhouseCoopers' Shaking the MoneyTree
Please join the industry experts of PricewaterhouseCoopers and a distinguished panel of local VCs for their comments on the results of the 3rd Quarter 2002 PricewaterhouseCoopers/ Venture Economics/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Survey. To RSVP or for more information, please send an email.

Other Articles :

Battle for Video Game Recognition (LA Times)
Publishers expect console software sales to jump 25% this year, but a record number of competing titles may dilute profits. full article >