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

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.

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

April 21: Mergers & Acquisitions
It is virtually every entrepreneur’s dream to build a business that eventually provides a significant monetary return to the company’s shareholders through a liquidity event. The two primary ways for a company to enact a liquidity event are through an IPO or through a partial or complete sale of the business. In 2001 and the first half of 2002, there were approximately 140 IPOs compared to approximately 15,000 M&A transactions. This 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.
Location: Los Angeles

Larta University's Course Schedule

Top Stories in Hot Technology Sectors

Biotechnology
Bioethics Panel Nudges Lawmakers (Wired)
President Bush's Council on Bioethics released a report on reproductive biotechnologies that could finally push the U.S. government to an agreement on human-cloning legislation.
more Biotech news

Communications
Tearing Down the Walls in Telecom (BusinessWeek)
In a few years, it "will be a sectorless industry," with phone, cable, and even power companies all selling the same communications services.
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Consumer Electronics
Microsoft's iPod killer? (CNet News)
Microsoft is expected to unveil copy-protection software this summer that will for the first time give portable digital music players access to tunes rented via all-you-can-eat subscription services--a development that some industry executives believe will shake up the online music business.
more Consumer Electronics News

Internet
Say G’night, Hotmail (Red Herring)
Google’s new Gmail service once again pits the company against Net bigwigs Microsoft and Yahoo.
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Hardware
Gateway extends networking gear to small businesses (CNet News)
Gateway will begin selling networking gear to small and medium-size businesses as it looks to tap into a new market for the company.
more Hardware news

Investments
IPO Sector Started 2004 With a Bang (Wall Street Journal)
The resurgence in IPOs experienced in the first quarter is giving the new-issues market a split personality.
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Media
Eisner Gets to Keep Pooh's Honey Pot (BusinessWeek)
A judge's surprising and scathing dismissal of a long-running royalty suit could save Disney hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is hot: For mundane products (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The technology is now used to strengthen coatings, plastics, paints.
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Security
'Pirate' Bill Aims Law at Song Swappers (Washington Post)
Federal law enforcers would get more authority to prosecute people who illegally trade songs and other copyrighted material on the Internet under a bill introduced by a pair of powerful senators.
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Semiconductors
Chip shipments jibe with growth forecast (CNet News)
Semiconductor sales are keeping pace with the industry's expectation of a better showing in 2004.
more Semiconductor news

Software
Sun Enters Microsoft's Orbit (Wired)
Struggling Sun Microsystems reached a sweeping, $1.6 billion settlement with Microsoft and said it plans to cooperate with its longtime nemesis, a company it had branded an unrepentant monopolist.
more Software news

This calendar lists events endorsed by Larta Institute.

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: National Hydrogen Financing Forum
Hear and meet a competitively selected group of promising hydrogen companies seeking capital and strategic partnerships to accelerate their growth. Organized by the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and the Center for Economic and Environmental Policy (CEEP).

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.

April 26-28: MEMS IV - ASME 4th Annual MEMS Technology Seminar
ASME Institute brings industry and academia together by providing continuing education courses in the fields of MEMS and nanotechnology. Two new courses have been added for 2004, and two 3-hour nanotechnology tutorials will be presented on Sunday, April 25th to introduce and familiarize attendees with nanotechnology and show its integration with MEMS.

April 26-29: Technology Connections: Funding, Strategies and Partnerships
The 2004 National SBIR/STTR Conference And Small Business Tech Expo (SBTE) will be held at the Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Sessions will focus on the full spectrum, from basic guidance on how to write winning proposals to managing your project. Registration fees go up after April 2nd. Pre-conference registration CLOSES Friday, April 9th. After this date, you will ONLY be able to register for the conference on-site in Atlanta.

April 27: The Investment Capital Conference: Sources of Capital for Emerging Growth and Middle Market Companies
The Los Angeles Venture Association's Investment Capital Conference (ICC) is a one-day event that brings together principals of emerging growth and middle market companies with the information and resources they need to raise investment capital.

April 28: Selling the Steak, Not the Sizzle: Technology Marketing in the New Century
This Larta workshop will teach you what marketing strategies and specific tactics work and those that are best avoided. Learn from industry experts as they share their real-world experiences in the technology trenches about what works in today’s environment.

April 29: BioMed Expo 2004
This 4th annual biomedical exposition has a program of nationally recognized speakers representing venture capital, economic development, industry and academia, with diverse perspectives on the theme of "The Confluence of Science and Commercialization".

Larta Institute's Events Calendar

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.

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