Synoposis
Thursday MARCH 16, 2006
Time Session Title and Description
8:00 AM
 Registration
9:00 AM Pre-Event Working Session: The VC Eligibility Issue
Headed up by two long-time, leading SBIR advocates nationally, this Pre-event RoundTable discussion -- open to all Event registrants -- will provide some of the background to the highly controversial SBIR-VC Eligibility issue.
     While explicitly NOT the focus of this Event, fallout from this highly contentious issue - which has been ongoing now for a very long time - has been/is part of the backdrop against which the primary focus of this Event is being conducted - that of bringing together growth-oriented SBIR Awardees with the sources of capital needed to sustain that business development.
     The approach here is not be to take sides, nor to argue the case for - or against - the issue as posed by the proposed legislation offered by BIO/NVCA. Instead, the effort is to get to workable recommendations for expedited resolution.
     If that is your inclination, plan to participate in this working session.
Session leaders Jere Glover, former SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy, now Executive Director, Small Business Technology Coalition
Ann Eskesen, Innovation Development Institute
10:00 AM

Main Conference begins:

Opening remarks

This later than usual start is designed to provide many out-of-state participants the option of an early morning flight. limiting their out-of-office time and incurred accommodation costs.
10:05 AM Examining the Form and extent of VC-SBIR Activity:
Speaker/
Discussants		 Ann Eskesen, Innovation Development Institute Format: Context-Setting presentation
Focus and objective: From the very earliest days of SBIR following passage of the enabling legislation in 1983, there has been close connection between SBIR and Venture Capital. A significant percentage of Awardees in every SBIR agency have been/are VC funded at some level. Drawing down on the exquisitely detailed SBIR Awardee databases developed and maintained from the outset by the Innovation Development Institute, this session will examine various aspects of this important condition.
10:40 AM Recent trends in US VC activity: geographic distribution and industry focus. What does that tell us?
Speaker/
Discussants		 Ian Carver, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Format: analytical presentation
Focus and objective: Now in its 12th year, the MoneyTree™ Survey is a quarterly study of venture capital investment activity in the United States. As a collaboration between PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association, it is the only industry-endorsed research of its kind. The MoneyTree Survey is the definitive source of information on emerging companies that receive financing and the venture capital firms that provide it. The issued studies are a staple of the financial community, entrepreneurs, government policymakers and the business press worldwide.  
11:05 AM
 Angel Investors: what makes them special?
Speaker/
Discussants		 John J (Jay) Schwartz,
Stage 1 Strategies, LLC, Newton, MA		 Format: Working presentation
Focus and objective: Business Angels are a hugely important part of the equity capital condition. Many SBIR Awardees needing external capital find whatthye need from among these smaller-scale, private investors.
     These days, in many areas of the country, individual private investors are grouping together both to share information and, in some cases, to leverage on their personal commitment by making group investment. The featured speaker is very active in one such organization - the Keiretsu Forum. Others are involved in this Event
     The focus of this session will be to discuss --- When does Angel financing make sense? What is different about the Angel deal? and, thereby, about the presentation that will resonate well with this type of investor?
11:25 AM First set of In-A-Nutshell Presentations
Overview to all the Nutshell Presentations:
From the more than 70 currently-active SBIR Awardees who originally submitted for a Presentation Slot at this SBIR-VC Event, a total of FORTY-FOUR were eventually selected. For those allocated a Full-Presentation Slot, part of their commitment/ challenge is a 5-minute presentation in Plenary Session synopsizing their Business Opportunity in a Nutshell.
Note that, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, two Full-Presentation presenters cannot be present. Their materials are in the Package and on the Event CD.

Grouped by Presentation Type, the Nutshells from all Fourty selected firms are included in the Event Package. To allow the audience readily to keep track of all these presentations, they are offered in alphabetical order by the name of the Presenting Firm.
Time allocation will be strictly enforced.

Session Moderator: Lawrence S. Nannis, Levine, Katz, Nannis & Solomon, PC, Needham, MA
Presenting Firms in order:
 
  • Amyxa Pharmaceuticals, Woburn, MA
  • Aonex Technologies Inc, Pasadena, CA
  • Argus Medical Inc, Bethesda, MD
  • BioMedical Research Models Inc, Worcester, MA
  • Biosomes Inc, Wilmington, DE
  • Cambria Biosciences LLC, Woburn, MA
  • ComSense Technology Inc, Cleveland, OH
12:05 Noon Buffet Luncheon
1:15 PM The phenomenon of SBIR spin-off:
Speaker/
Discussants		 Robert Kline-Schroder, Creare Inc
Oliver Murphy, Lynntech Inc
Gordon Drew, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) 		Format: Talk-Show
Focus and objective: Particularly among Awardees who have been extensively involved in the SBIR-STTR programs - the large volume winners - the use of spin-off has become a primary vehicle among SBIR-involved firms to achieve market penetration.
    In an unscripted panel-session involving the principals of a number of firms who have already used this approach - some, multiple times - how that has worked, problems as well as successes and issues that have had to be addressed will be examined
1:45 PM Second set of In-A-Nutshell Presentations
Again, in alphabetical order by the name of Presenting Firm, these are a series 5-minute presentations synopsizing in a Nutshell the Business Opportunity of Full-Presentation firms
Time allocation will be strictly enforced.

Session Moderator: Aleksandar Mollov, Keiretsu Forum Boston, Boston, MA
Presenting Firms:
 
  • Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Inc, New York, NY
  • CryoFacets Inc, Raleigh, NC
  • EP Limited, Somerville, MA
  • Gibbard Research and Development Corporation, Haverhill, MA
  • Guardian Solutions Inc, Bradenton, FL
  • ImTelligenceŽ Inc, East Hartford, CT
2:20 PM Staying within the rules: positioning the firm to achieve and maintain full and effective SBIR involvement. Two important issues
SBIR is designed to provide some level of protection to small firms initially against the full rigors of the federal procurement process. However, as a small firm proceeds within the program, the fact of being federally-funded brings its own set of requirements. At this level, SBIR operates within a range of rules and regulations, some specific to the program, a few particular to the agency, most within the larger context of the FAR - Federal Acquisition Regulations - which define federal procurement activity.
   Misunderstanding the complexity and nuance of these factors or simply ignoring their existence, can create a range of unintended, and potentially very serious consequences.
    Involving two highly-qualified players, this session will address two particuarly critical issues for growth oriented, small firms.- that of retaining ownership of SBIR-funded IP and of maintaining SBIR eligibility when in receipt of equity financing.
Topic One Rights to government-funded inventions made under the SBIR-STTR programs
Speaker/
Discussants		 Jacob (Jesse) N. Erlich, Burns & Levinson, LLP
Focus and objective: Offered by the former Chief Patent Advisor for the US Air Force now in private practice, this presentation will address the important issue of ownership rights on subject inventions which fall under the SBIR-STTR programs. Carefully examined will be the detail of differentiating between ownership rights which accrue to the SBIR Awardee and those held by the government. Distinguishing between inventions which come out of what the government funded versus those which are developed from other sources, the emphasis will be on how to identify and to protect ownership of inventions which fall outside the scope of the SBIR-STTR award effort.
Topic Two Structuring external financing to maintain compliance with SBIR size standards: factors to consider
Speaker/
Discussants		 Jere Glover, Brand and Frulla LLP & Executive Director, Small Business Technology Coalition (SBTC), Washington, DC
Focus and objective: Offered by the former SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy in the Clinton Administration and now heading up the primary organization in Washington DC monitoring SBIR-related issues (SBTC), this session will address the critically important issue of maintaining SBIR eligibility when growth of the firm involved raising external capital.
3:00 PM
Refreshment break
3:20 PM Third set of In-A-Nutshell Presentations
In alphabetical order by the name of Presenting Firm, these are a series 5-minute presentations synopsizing in a Nutshell the Business Opportunity of Full-Presentation firms
Time allocation will be strictly enforced.

Session Moderator: Gregory Milman, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Presenting Firms:
 
  • INCELL Corporation LLC, San Antonio, TX
  • Kinetic Muscles Inc, Tempe, AZ
  • Microvi Biotech LLC, Overland Park, KS
  • Nanocopoeia Inc, St. Paul, MN
  • Nobex Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC
  • Phylogenetix Laboratories Inc, Overland Park, KS
  • RemoteReality Corporation, Westborough, MA
4:00 PM Keeping out of Trouble: learning from the top ten mistakes most commonly made by early-stage companies
Speaker/
Discussants		 Joseph S. Ayoub, Jr, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP Format: Working session
Focus and objective: Though structured in the manner of Dave Letterman's Top Ten, this very serious working session is designed perhaps to enable participating BSIR firms to avoid some of the most obvious mistakes often made by early-stage small firms. The very experienced presenter will draw down on the considerable case-experience of several advisors to early-stage, technology-based small firms.
4:25 PM Fourth set of In-A-Nutshell Presentations
By alphabetical order by the name of Presenting Firm, these are a series 5-minute presentations synopsizing in a Nutshell the Business Opportunity of Full-Presentation firms
Time allocation will be strictly enforced.

Session Moderator: Adi R. Guzdar, Aguzdar Consultants, Framingham, MD
Presenting Firms:
 
  • Securics Inc, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Tailored Materials Corporation, Tucson, AZ
  • TPL Inc, Albuquerque, NM
  • Versatilis LLC, Shelburne, VT
  • Vista Engineering Inc, Birmingham, AL
  • Wang Electro-Opto Corporation, Marietta, GA
  • Zweave Inc, Boston, MA
5:05 PM Translating R&D into Real Applications: how to find good, early markets and customers for New Technology
Speaker/
Discussants		 Barry Unger, Boston University Format: Interactive Workshop
Focus and objective: The perennial business challenge for those engaged in cutting edge science and technology research, finding early applications that can be readily and economically commercialized. The problem is compounded when especially when the applications are largely unknown at the time of the innovative research, or when one is making an effort to expand into new areas beyond that of the customer (e.g. a government agency) that paid for the initial R&D.
    Sometimes this is referred to as market research. In practical terms, however, it is better defined as market "search".
    In this session useful concepts to guide this process such as market segmentation and stakeholder analysis will be defined and discussed. After this brief introduction, members of the audience will be invited to share their experiences with approaches for getting the data necessary to become aware of potential application opportunities and to assess them, such as: a) attending and networking at vertical industry trade shows and talking to industry experts; b) telephone interviewing and cold calls to potential industrial users; c) doing a broad gauge campaign of press releases and articles targeted at a mix of industries thought to be sources of applications.
5:45 PM Reception
6:45 PM Nutter TechnoVation Awards:
Award Ceremony & Awardee Presentations

Established by Nutter McClennen & Fish, a leading Boston law firm, the Nutter TechnOvation Awards™ provide selected early-stage technology and life sciences companies from around the country with access to high quality legal services across a range of critical business areas - business organization, contract negotiation, financing strategies, intellectual property protection, licensing, securities law and other regulatory compliance, and tax considerations
        Chosen through a rigorous selection process from among applicant firm nationwide, TechnOvation Award recipients become Nutter clients and receive credits for a package of no-cost legal services. TechnOvation recipients can use the credits for those legal services most appropriate to their business needs. In addition to expert legal representation and counseling from within Nutter, awardees also have access to Nutter’s extended network of professional relationships for practical business advice, financial guidance, knowledge sharing, along with introductions to funding sources and strategic partnerships

Session Moderator: Richard N. Kimball, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP., Boston, MA

Awards Ceremony to latest recipient of a TechnOvation Award™ Awards Ceremony to latest recipient of a TechnOvation Award Jeanne Dietsch, MobileRobots Inc.
Awards ceremony to be followed by 3 minute Nutshell presentations discussing their business opportunity by FIVE of the most recent Nutter TechnOvation™ Awardees

  • Jeanne Dietsch, MobileRobots Inc., Amherst, NH
  • Jim Weldon, Abnaki Systems Inc., North Hampton, NH
  • David Holbrook, Walleye Technologies, Somerville, MA
  • Munther Dahleh and Sridevi Sarma, Infolenz, Inc., Cambridge, MA
  • Martin Bodley, Maestrolabs, Inc., Maynard, MA.
    Maestro cannot attend. They have opted to show a 3 minute video)
  • Award Presentation to most recent TechnOvation Recipient
  • Nutshell presentation equivalent by SIX small firms which have been in receipt of these awards
    • 7:15 PM Business Development Clinic:
    Featured company: TPL MicroPower Technologies, Albuquerque, NM
    Speaker/
    Discussants    		 Charles Lakeman, Presenter
    Panel being selected    		 Format: Live Case
    Focus and objective: Adapted from the MIT Enterprise Forum format, this session will feature a firm that is a start-up, spinning out of an SBIR-involved firm which has been program involved form the very earliest days of the event.
        In advance of the conference, management will have provided copies of their White Paper to a carefully selected group of experts who will serve as their panel and advisors. This paper will address issues with which the firm is currently dealing and into which they are seeking input.
        At the event, following a brief overview presentation by the firm referencing aspects of those concerns, the panel will provide their input. Audience participation is anticipated.
    8:30 PM Day's Events Conclude