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Top
Stories |
 Is Southern California's Venture
Capital Downturn Finally Coming to an End?
Venture capital investment
declined in Southern California in 2003 as both the dollar amount and the number of venture capital
investments fell from 2002 levels. However, this marks the smallest year-to-year decline in venture
capital in Southern California since the dot-com bust in 2000, indicating that the downturn in
venture capital activity in the region might finally be coming to an end.
 The Global
Entrepreneur
Global entrepreneurs will need new managerial skills, access to global
marketing and financial networks, greater protection of proprietary information and intellectual
property, the ability to tap into new technologies wherever they are being developed, and the
information to obtain skilled professionals from new centers of entrepreneurial activity.
 Shukla Speaks on
Governors Association Panel
Larta Institute CEO Rohit Shukla will participate on the "How
States Win" panel of the Science,
Technology and Economic Growth A Practicum for States, a National Governors Association Center
for Best Practices event March 22 and 23 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
 Come see 50 Companies Compete to be Company of the Year
The Venture Forum
is the largest showcase of investment-worthy companies in Southern California. "The annual Venture
Forum is a must attend VC event!" said Randy Lunn of Palomar Ventures. The 10th annual Venture
Forum, on April 1, 2004, will feature 50 companies from all sectors and stages, selected by leading
investment and industry experts. Attendees will learn about the most exciting technologies in the
marketplace. Investors will access one of the largest deal pipelines in the nation. Service
providers can actively participate in the growth of emerging companies.
 Available Now
from Larta Institute
The Sand
Dollar Report 2004: An Analysis of Venture Investing in Southern California
The Sand
Dollar Report 2004 features a historical analysis as well as the latest information and data on the
venture capital industry in Southern California, and includes interviews with leading venture
capitalists in the region. Available with the purchase of Larta Institute's Sand Dollar Report 2004
is PricewaterhouseCoopers/Venture Economics/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree
Survey.
 Available Free from Larta Institute
Federal
Technology Funding Guide 2004
Larta Institute's Federal Technology Funding Guide is
recognized as the nation's leading survey on federal government technology funding. Learn how to
apply for and win government grants. Includes an in-depth look at SBIR and STTR programs, two
critical sources of R&D funds for small businesses. Don’t miss your chance to receive federal
technology grant money. Download the report
free of charge.
Larta
Institute's Publications
Send comments and submissions to James
Klein, Larta VOX Editor, at voxeditor@larta.org |
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Larta
University |
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SSTI, the State
Science and Technology Institute, calls Larta University one of the "best programs in the
country," having "helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, implemented innovative programs, and assisted
client companies to raise hundreds-of-millions of dollars.
March 18: Entrepreneurship Series #9: Attracting Capital: Financing Strategies for the New
Venture
With the ever-worsening state of the VC industry, emerging companies need
strong knowledge of the most realistic options available for financing in the current marketplace.
This workshop considers different financing strategies, including VC financing, angel financing,
government funding, and loans. You will learn what is required to approach each financing source,
and when not to waste your time. If you determine that outside equity financing is not for your
company, you will learn other strategies and techniques to help your business move forward,
including bootstrapping, partnering with customers, and leveraging.
Location: Los
Angeles
April 15: How to
Prepare Winning Proposals for SBIR and STTR
This seminar will provide a brief
overview of SBIR and STTR programs, while focusing on how to prepare winning SBIR and STTR
proposals; bringing attendees one step closer to winning federal money. The workshop is for companies that already have an interest in using
the SBIR/STTR programs to pay for R&D activities and the capability to compete in a
scientifically and technically challenging program. Participants will walk away with a step-by-step
process for convincing reviewers to assign the highest possible ratings to their proposals, and the
proposal preparation process will become demystified.
Location: Los Angeles
Larta University's Course
Schedule |
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Top
Stories in Hot Technology Sectors
Biotechnology
Lawmakers eye biotech incentives (San Francisco Business Times)
As more
biotechs prepare to move drugs from approvals into production, some state lawmakers argue tax
incentives for manufacturing are just what the doctor ordered.
more
Biotech news
Communications
MCI Audit
Wipes $74 Billion in Profits From Balance Sheet (Washington Post)
The cleanup of
WorldCom's tainted books reveals pre-tax losses of $74.4 billion not previously reflected in the
company's financial reports for 2000 and 2001, MCI said.
more Communications news
Consumer
Electronics
Virgin May
Show Apple a Thing or Two (BusinessWeek)
iPod and iTunes are digital music's top act,
but the hip Richard Branson's marketing muscle makes him a challenger to be feared.
more
Consumer Electronics News
Hardware
Sun:
Darkest Before the Dawn? (BusinessWeek)
While CEO Scott McNealy swears new products
will guarantee his outfit's solid future, only sales and profits can banish Wall Street's
doubts.
more Hardware news
Internet
Internet
slows job search (CNN Money)
Survey shows hiring process slows when employers
bombarded with online resumes from job seekers.
more
Internet news
Investments
Too much
VC? Far too much says Focus (Red Herring - registration)
Focus Ventures estimates the
overhang is much bigger than suspected.
more
Investment news
Nanotechnology
Nanotech
being seen as next big thing States, colleges jockey for research dollars (NASVF)
Not so long ago, almost every state wanted a "silicon" of some sort, a forest, a
prairie, or even just an alley. Next, their longings turned to "bio." Today, everybody wants
"nano." Nanotechnology is the latest rage among states and regional groups looking to revive
battered economies.
more
Nanotechnology news
Security
FBI adds to
wiretap wish list (CNet News)
A far-reaching proposal from the FBI, made public
Friday, would require all broadband Internet providers, including cable modem and DSL companies, to
rewire their networks to support easy wiretapping by police.
more
Security news
Semiconductors
Reversal of fortune puts chip makers on defensive (San Diego
Union-Tribune)
Two years ago, computer chip designer Rambus Inc. appeared to be losing a
multifront war: A deal to use its technology in Intel-based PCs soured, its tactics sparked a
federal antitrust complaint and it faced a multitude of lawsuits.
more
Semiconductor news
Software
Seeds of
Oracle's Antitrust Defense (Washington Post)
Oracle Corp.'s steady-as-she-goes
third-quarter financial results lend themselves to a variety of interpretations.
more
Software news |
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Events Calendar
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This calendar lists
events endorsed by Larta Institute.
March 18: Entrepreneurship Series #9: Attracting Capital: Financing Strategies for the New
Venture
This Larta U course considers different financing strategies, including VC
financing, angel financing, government funding, and loans. You will learn what is required to
approach each financing source, and when not to waste your time.
March 20: The Global
Entrepreneur
Presented by IIT Alumni Association and Caltech-MIT Enterprise Forum.
Moderated by Los Angeles Times Senior Economics Editor Jim Flanigan, this unique event brings
together entrepreneurs who are changing the world, creating new jobs and new technologies, and
raising stockholder value around the world.
March 22-23: Science,
Technology and Economic Growth: A Practicum for States
National Governors
Association Center for Best Practices hosts a two-day event that addresses the challenges of
technology growth and funding faced by governors across the nation.
March 23 and 25: SBIR
Workshops
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding workshops in Northern
and Southern California intended for small businesses interested in the EPA's Small Business
Innovative Research Program in general, and the Pacific Southwest Region Phase 1 Solicitation in
particular.
March 31: Budget and Trade
Deficits: Linked, Worrisome in the Long Run, but not Twins
Technolink Association
and the National Association of Business Economics present Special Guest The Honorable Edward M.
Gramlich, Governor, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to discuss budget and trade
deficits.
April 1: 2004
Venture Forum
The Venture Forum is the largest showcase of investment-worthy
companies in Southern California. The 10th annual Venture Forum will feature 50 companies from all
sectors and stages, selected by leading investment and industry experts. Attendees will learn about
the most exciting technologies in the marketplace. Investors will access one of the largest deal
pipelines in the nation. Service providers can actively participate in the growth of emerging
companies.
April 13: Livermore LifeScience Conference 2004
Elbert Branscomb, chief
scientist for the Department of Energy’s Genome Program and the former director of the Joint Genome
Institute in Walnut Creek, is among the speakers scheduled for Livermore LifeScience Conference
2004 at Wente Vineyards in Livermore.
April 15: How to
Prepare Winning Proposals for SBIR and STTR
This Larta U seminar will provide a
brief overview of SBIR and STTR programs, while focusing on how to prepare winning SBIR and STTR
proposals; bringing attendees one step closer to winning federal money.
April 21: Mergers
& Acquisitions
This Larta U session will provide an opportunity for
entrepreneurs to learn about the “path to liquidity”. The course will discuss what makes a
successful acquisition candidate and what a business can do to maximize value before the sale
process and how the M&A process works and how to maximize value during the sale
process.
April 26-28: Global
Conference 2004
Milken Institute's 7th Annual Global Conference will be held at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Each spring, this event brings together some of the most
extraordinary people in the world – from business executives, institution investors and
philanthropists to government leaders, academics and Nobel laureates – to discuss, debate and
deliberate today’s crucial social, political and economic issues. Larta VOX is offering
attendees a $1,000 discount: put in discount code LARTA2004GC when registering. Registration
deadline is April 16, 2004.
Larta
Institute's Events Calendar |
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Job
Opportunities |
Larta
Institute
Business
Development Associate
The Business Development Associate will assist the Business
Development Director in sales, new business sourcing, and marketing. As Business Development
Associate, you will aid in selling and marketing sophisticated consulting services, training
programs, and custom packaging Larta Institute's capabilities into tangible, sellable
products.
full description
To apply for this or any position, email a resume and cover letter to: jobs@larta.org.
Larta
Institute's Job Opportunities
Progressive Policy Institute
(PPI)
Research Assistant
PPI is looking for
a motivated, organized individual to assist with the administrative activities and research and
writing efforts on a project focused on state and federal policy related to technology,
telecommunications, the Internet, and the New Economy.
Send resumes to: Progressive Policy Institute,
Attn: Admin Dept, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20003; or Fax: 202.544.5014,
or Email: jobs@dlcppi.org.
PPI's
Job Opportunities | |
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Come see
50 Companies
Compete to be
Company of the
Year
"The annual Venture
Forum is a must attend VC event!" said Randy Lunn of Palomar Ventures.
Click here
to register now! |
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sponsored by
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Larta
Institute
connecting people to drive innovation
We bring people together to move technologies
into the marketplace. Our client solutions include: conferences, training workshops, technology
transfer, advisory services, and research and analysis.
Since 1993, companies helped by Larta Institute
have raised over $1.5 billion in capital. Larta Institute's conferences and seminars provide
insights to thousands of businesspeople each year. Larta Institute's weekly electronic magazine on
business innovation is read by over 20,000 people.
www.Larta.org
Los Angeles Office
714 W. Olympic Blvd.
Suite
750
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tel: (213) 744-1314
Fax: (213) 744-1791
Orange County Office:
2 Peters
Canyon Road
Second Floor
Irvine, CA 92606 |
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| Sponsorship: To sponsor VOX, Larta events or publications, contact Carlos
Gutierrez | |
