Week of July 28 - August 3, 2003 ~ v.5, n.30
Top Stories

Exporting Technologies Not As Hard As It Seems
Despite declining exports, many industry observers say international business opportunities are plentiful for U.S. technology exporters with the right products and partners.

Understanding the Corporate Buyer
Selling your services to corporations is an attractive proposition, but the best clients are not always the easiest to get. C.J. Hayden shares five secrets for capturing the corporate clients.

House Approves 63% Increase for Homeland Security R&D
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could have more money to spend on science and tech initiatives in fiscal year (FY) 2004.

Rohit Shukla on KNX Radio
Rohit Shukla, Larta President & CEO, will be featured on KNX 1070 Radio's Business, High Tech and Entertainment Hours as part of their New Business Challenge. Rohit will critique business elevator pitches sent by listeners (all pitches must have been received by July 24th 2003), and will choose the best for the chance to submit business plans and have them presented to investors.

Fidelys in the News
Fidelys LLC, Larta's consulting partner, has received a great deal of attention for its recently announced deal with Summit Specialty Chemicals LLC, a subsidiary of Japan's Sumitomo Corporation. Read about it in Larta's Press Archive.

Tech Interns Available
Technology entrepreneurs from Japan are available for unpaid, part-time internships with U.S. technology companies. These hand picked and innovative entrepreneurs are determined to offer tangible help to your business. In addition to their internship work, they can serve as an introduction point for emerging trends in Japanese technology. For further information, please email Stefanie Chao at schao@larta.org.

Coming Soon: Nanotechnology White Paper
This white paper will track the growth of the nanotechnology industry and how it has transformed a broad range of industries, making it the biggest thing in technology since the Internet.


Bioinformatics White Paper
Learn more about bioinformatics and the obstacles preventing it from emerging into a profitable sector within the life sciences industry.

Electronic Games Industry White Paper
The latest industry statistics, trends, announcements and forecasts, with an overview of the hardware and software sectors of the gaming industry.

Medical Device Industry White Paper
Details the US medical device industry, which has been a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy economy, generating over $55 billion in sales in 2002.

Full list of Larta's publications >

Send comments, articles, requests and suggestions to James Klein, Larta VOX Editor, at voxeditor@larta.org

Larta University

August 5: Preparing the Financial Forecast Model
This workshop will explain how to build a financial forecast model. Using Excel, you will learn how to create your forecast from the bottom up, using the primary elements of your business (sales, cost of goods sold, staffing and overhead) to construct an accurate Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet in a format that potential investors will find attractive.
Location: Downtown Los Angeles

August 26: Protecting Trade Secrets from Employees and Contractors
Trade secrets are some of a company's most important assets, but unlike patents, they're often overlooked and not properly protected. Many companies are not even aware that certain lists, techniques, formulas, processes and/or methods are considered trade secrets, which can be legally protected. This session will teach you to identify your trade secrets, take appropriate practical and legal measures to protect those trade secrets, and will discuss why doing so provides a competitive edge and adds value to your company's bottom line.
Location: Downtown Los Angeles

September 17 & 18: Entrepreneurship Series #4: Protecting Your Technology: Intellectual Property Rights
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.
Locations: Century City and Irvine

PricewaterhouseCoopers Expert Access Series
This series combines Larta University’s classroom-style seminars with the advisory expertise of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to provide a set of four high-impact workshops that address finance, audit, tax and accounting topics for technology start-ups. Classes are interactive and structured to present the most important aspects of accounting for growth and start-up companies. Instructors are PwC Partners with extensive experience serving technology companies and who understand the key business and accounting issues that are inherent in the industry. Classes are basic to intermediate level and require no prerequisites and no advanced preparation. CPE credits are available for Accounting and Auditing and/or Taxation.
Locations: Los Angeles and Irvine

Larta University's full course schedule >

Tech Sector News
Sponsored by LATimes.com

Top Stories in Hot Technology Sectors

Biotech
Biotechs' Lobbying Begins to Pay Off (WashingtonPost.com)
Victories Pile Up as Spending On Political Causes Soars.

more Biotech articles >

Wireless
House May Block Part Of FCC's Media Plan(Washington Post)
Cap on TV Station Ownership Would Remain Unchanged.

more Wireless articles >

Software
Microsoft Moves to Weather Time of Slow Growth (New York Times - registration required)
Microsoft today outlined a new corporate approach designed to allow the company to weather a period of slow growth in the computer industry.

more Software articles >

Semiconductors
China, AMD team on Opteron supercomputer (CNet News.com)
China plans to create the world's third most powerful supercomputer, which will also be among the first such machines to use the Opteron processor from US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices.
more Semiconductor articles >

Investments
Sony's Profit Falls 98% on Weak Demand (New York Times - registration required)
The Sony Corporation, Japan's second-largest consumer electronics maker, said its profits plunged 98 percent in the April-to-June quarter because of sliding revenue from the company's movies, games and television sets.

more Investment articles >

Get the Latest So Cal Investment Report
Larta's Sand Dollar Report 2003: An Analysis of Venture Investing In Southern California features comprehensive new data and interviews with leading venture capitalists. The report includes PricewaterhouseCoopers/Venture Economics/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Survey.

Events Calendar

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

July 27-30: SIGGRAPH 2003
ACM Siggraph presents the world's largest marketplace of computer graphics and interactive techniques. The latest information and glimpses into the future.

July 30: How To Get Discovered…On A Budget
The Software Council of Southern California will share some effective, real-world techniques to get discovered on a limited budget. Hear what a panel of PR and advertising professionals suggest, and then hear from some companies how they used these and other approaches to get discovered in their marketplace without spending the big bucks.

August 4-5: iWireless World
Meet industry leaders at LA's largest wireless industry event. Join our third annual summit devoted to the practical solutions for wireless enterprise, mobile computing, consumer content and applications.

August 5: Preparing the Financial Forecast Model
This Larta U workshop will explain how to build a financial forecast model using Excel to create accurate Income Statements, Cash Flow Statements and Balance Sheets in a format that potential investors will find attractive.

August 12: Accounting & Taxes for Technology Companies
A class at the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission's Business Technology Center taught by Yvonne Flint, CPA; Jim Rider, CPA, MBT; and Mark Schaefer Associates of Mark Schaefer Associates.

August 20: Build Your Brand with Public Relations
Brown bag lunch series by LACCDC's Business Technology Center. A public relations campaign is essential for launching new products, creating new markets and establishing the credibility of new technology companies. Successful public relations consultants Michael Goldstein and Robert Sax will discuss strategies and tactics that will put your company on the road to recognition and riches.

August 21: Big eSchmooze
The San Diego Regional Technology Alliance (RTA) presents the fifth annual Big eSchmooze at the San Diego Aerospace Museum. The RTA has partnered with UCSD CONNECT and BIOCOM to make Big eSchmooze 2003 the biggest and most powerful tech and biotech networking event San Diego has ever seen.

August 26: Protecting Trade Secrets from Employees and Contractors
Trade secrets are some of a company's most important assets, but unlike patents, they're often overlooked and not properly protected. This Larta U session will teach you to identify your trade secrets, take appropriate practical and legal measures to protect those trade secrets, and will discuss why doing so provides a competitive edge and adds value to your company's bottom line.

August 26: Venture Physics I – Harnessing Market Forces for High-Tech Venture Growth
The Business Technology Center hosts this program for high-tech companies. Markets adopt advanced technology in a predictable and characteristic manner. This characteristic is the result of powerful economic and market forces governing the adoption of new technology and the sensitivity of buyers to risk and uncertainty. By harnessing these forces, ventures can catapult themselves into new markets with minimum cost and effort.

September 10: PwC Series #1: Start-Up Accounting and Tax Issues
Larta and PriceWaterhouseCoopers present a seminar to address issues including stock-based compensation and cheap stock, start-up costs, tax loss and credit preservation, maximizing research tax credits, and other matters.

September 17 & 18: Entrepreneurship Series #4: Protecting Your Technology: Intellectual Property Rights
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.

September 24: PwC Series #1: Start-Up Accounting and Tax Issues
Larta and PriceWaterhouseCoopers present a seminar to address issues including stock-based compensation and cheap stock, start-up costs, tax loss and credit preservation, maximizing research tax credits, and other matters.

Larta's full event calendar >

Larta Job Opportunities
Larta currently has the following job opportunities available. Interested candidates please email resumes to jjohnson@Larta.org.

Business Development Associate
Business Development Associate will assist the Business Development Director with sales, new business sourcing, and marketing.

***** Tech Marketplace *****
Now Available From Larta
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Paper
World Nano-Economic Congress
   Sept. 8-10
   Washington, DC
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smalltimes
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Now available from Larta
   The Sand Dollar Report 2003
PricewaterhouseCoopers
   MoneyTree Venture Capital Survey & More
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most comprehensive survey of venture capital investment
Rainmaker & Sun
   Integrated Marketing
   Contact:
Rena Conner for free marketing consultation
   818.789.9928
 
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******** About Larta ********

Since 1993, Larta has been closely involved with cutting-edge business trends, growing sectors, and innovative companies. We apply this "insider" knowledge to help our clients find new customers, open new markets, tackle tough issues, and raise capital.

Companies helped by Larta have raised over $1.5 billion in capital. Larta's seminars provide insights to 1,000 businesspeople each year. Larta's weekly electronic magazine on business innovation is read by 20,000 people.

www.Larta.org

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Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tel: (213) 744-1314

Fax: (213) 744-1791

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16269 Laguna Canyon Road
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Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 789-1110

 

Larta is the think tank for technology businesses. We apply knowledge in practical
ways on behalf of cutting edge companies, investors, governments, and professionals. Larta drives
the technology markets through four core services: business training, market research, consulting,
and capital programs.
     
714 W. Olympic Blvd.
Suite 750
Los
Angeles, CA 90015
Tel: (213) 744-1314
Fax: (213) 744-1791
www.Larta.org


Orange County Office
16269 Laguna Canyon Road,
Suite
100
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 789-1110 

Larta VOX Brought to you
By:
Staff Writer and Reporter - Wendy Hall
Larta Research Economist - Ketaki
Sood
Editor - James Klein
Managing Editor - Victor Hwang
Publisher -
Rohit Shukla
Technical Advisor - Stefanie Chao

Sponsorship: To sponsor VOX or other Larta events or publications, contact
Carlos Gutierrez

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