Hopes and Cures

Recently, there was an interesting study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the New England Healthcare Institute, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Xconomy and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative on the Massachusetts Life Sciences Super Cluster, showing the value of a strong science sector economically.   This Super Cluster includes Universities, teaching hospitals, biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies.  Software, [...]

Filed under: BIO, In the News, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: biotech, MA, Pricewaterhouse, Study, VC | No Comments »

A post on SBIRGA asked the question, “Just how short-sighted is the VC community?”  The post discussed a recent analysis by the State Science and Technology Institute (May 28th Digest) of a study conducted by Pricewatershouse’s MoneyTree Report that indicates venture capital companies are making more investments in later stage companies and fewer investments in [...]

Filed under: SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: biotech, capitol hill, MoneyTree, SBIR, SBIRGA, SSTI, venture capital | 1 Comment »

The Times-Standard had a great piece over the weekend discussing when and how the Government gives away “free money.” The authors debunk these myths.  They also discuss the very real grant process that funds innovative new technologies.
They list and answer these myths:

Myth no. 1: Grants are cash money to start businesses. The government will give [...]

Filed under: SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: business financing, entrepreneurs, SBA, SBIR, startup | No Comments »

Policy
·         Federal Grants for Entrepreneurs May Change
·         SBIR Funding for VC-Owned Firms
 
Awards
·         Lentigen Corporation Receives Four Research Grants From the National Institutes of Health
·         Universal Display Corporation Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant from U.S. Air Force to Design Flexible OLED Display Prototype
·         Arkansas nanotechnology company gets $224,000 from EPA to develop “green” lighting

Filed under: In the News, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: Air Force, Entrepreneur, EPA, Lentigen, SBIR | No Comments »

The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship is following the SBIR Debate:

SBIR Bill Advances
A new proposal to reauthorize and modernize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is making fast progress through Congress. Late last month, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5819, a bill to reauthorize the SBIR program—which directs federal research funds [...]

Filed under: In the News, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: Congress, HR 5819, Phase I, SBIR, Technology | No Comments »

 
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
A new way to look at funding
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) raises money and awards grants to academic and biotechnology industry scientists who are conducting drug discovery research for Alzheimer’s Disease, related dementias and cognitive aging.
The way research is funded is evolving and by employing a venture capital model, [...]

Filed under: Finding Cures, SBIR, patient groups, venture capital | Tagged: Allon, Alzheimer's disease, Comentis, Estee Lauder, Fillit, SBIR | No Comments »

Yesterday, the House voted overwhelmingly (368-43), to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.  This bill will allow more biotechnology companies to compete for research funding.
This act will increase access to early-stage funding for treatments and cures for debilitating diseases.  Congress has recognized the capital-intensive needs of emerging biotechnology companies, whose development of a [...]

Filed under: BIO, Congress, SBIR, patient groups, venture capital | Tagged: Committee, House, SBIR, Science, treatments | No Comments »

CNN Money has a great piece describing the variety of projects that compete for and receive competitive SBIR funds – from sticky medical devices and anti-virus computer programs to creative recycling of (cow) waste.  The SBA office of Technology oversees this project of the federal government as a way to fund the early, innovative ideas [...]

Filed under: Congress, In the News, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: Alzheimer's disease, CNN Money, cystic fibrosis, MS, Parkinson's, SBA, vc-owned firms | No Comments »

California Biotech Law Blog posted a summary of recent House hearings on reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).

In the world of biotechnology, the principle at stake is the United States’s claim to be an innovation engine in the global economy. Our members and their scientists are developing disease treatments and cures at a rapid rate, but because these cutting-edge treatments are so new, it takes 10-15 years before they reach the market. In the meantime, they thrive on traditional venture capital and the government’s version of VC: the SBIR program.

If Congress wants to perpetuate the image – and reality – of the US as the center of innovation, they must adapt the criteria for SBIR grants to match the reality for these budding treatments and burgeoning companies.

Filed under: BIO, Congress, Finding Cures, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: biotech, MS, Parkinson's, SBIR | No Comments »

Getting financing can be difficult. This news article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette demonstrates the importance of SBIR funding.
“Not all start-up companies have been able to tap into venture capital to fund their businesses. Mr. Prescott of Crescent Innovations has secured federal Small Business Innovation Research funding, grants and money from [...]

Filed under: Finding Cures, SBIR, venture capital | Tagged: angel investors, biotechnology, financing, SBIR, start-up, venture capital | No Comments »