links for 2009-01-29

• Venture Voice: VV Show #53 – David Cohen of TechStars
  David tells his own stories of success and failure as an entrepreneur, and his transiton to becoming an angel investor. Show sponsor: FreshBooks – an easy online invoicing provider used by Venture Voice
  (tags: angel techstars)

More Success for Picomole Instruments, a Canadian Angel Top 10 Company

From Picomole’s Message from the CEO, January 2009:

“Picomole enters 2009 with considerable momentum, having recently been named BioAlberta Emerging Company of the Year and a Top 10 Canadian Angel Capital Company. Last year Picomole was invited to participate in the Life Science Alley trade mission (Minneapolis-St. Paul), the Ivey Entrepreneur Forum (Toronto) and the National Angel Capital Organization’s Co-Investment Summit (Toronto). The trend continues this year, with invitations to participate in Invest Northwest (Seattle), BioPartnering North America (Vancouver), and BIO 2009 (Atlanta).

The size of the Picomole team more than doubled in 2008, allowing us to reach important milestones, like full automation of our technology, which in turn enabled us to analyze real breath samples for the first time. Picomole’s team of scientists and engineers continued to build on these advancements, completing our LifeSens prototype ahead of schedule and under budget.

Along with our progress in the lab, we’re making preparations to launch our product. We’ve developed a promotional brochure for the company and unveiled a new look on our web site. I urge you to keep an eye out for updates.

As Picomole begins a new year, I’d like to thank all of our stakeholders and supporters for helping us make 2008 a remarkable success. We look forward to continuing to work toward our goal of launching LifeSens (for research applications) as well as a new analytical service in 2009.”

Summit Keynote Speaker Permjot Valia Back in Canada

The Business Development Centre and the Sobey School of Business at St. Mary’s University has invited Permjot Valia, lunch keynote speaker at the 2008 National Angel Summit and a successful business angel from London, England, to speak to the community and students about the business angel process, his criteria, and his portfolio.

This event is open to the public and takes place this Thursday (January 22) at 5:00 pm at the Scotia Bank Theatre in the Sobey Building on Robie Street at Saint Mary’s University.  It provides an unique opportunity for students to learn from the experience of Mr. Valia, who is much in demand as a speaker at high-value events.  A fun aspect will be the pitches made to Mr. Valia by a small number of students, which will receive his candid feedback.

For more information contact Dr. Ellen Farrell at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University.

Finance Minister’s Economic Advisory Council given Industry Committee Briefing

Inspired by the column written by Gwyn Morgan, founder of EnCana, for The Globe and Mail in early December, the National Angel Capital Organization has conveyed a copy of the May 2008 NACO submission to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, along with a copy of Mr. Morgan’s column, to the Economic Advisory Council established by the Minister of Finance.

We call on every stakeholder in Canada’s commercialization ecosystem, in the next two weeks, to express their support for the inclusion of the measures recommended in this submission in the next federal budget, which will be presented January 27th.

Canada’s Angel investors need the same support other countries give their Angels, if the $5-billion-plus capital gap faced by our growth-oriented start-ups is to be closed. Write today to your local newspapers, to your political representatives, and to the leaders of other business organizations, and lend your voice to our cause!

Ryerson University’s Eyeopener Newspaper profiles Ryerson Angel Network

Photo: Andrew Williamson

In this month’s Eyeopener (the student newspaper at Ryerson University), Terrilynn Kunopaski profiles the Ryerson Angel Network (RAN), which is the first university-led Angel investor group in Canada.

As the article makes clear, RAN provides entrepreneurial Ryerson students with a new set of opportunities for real-world support, feedback and – potentially – investment in their ideas.   The strong support of Ryerson’s leadership and faculty for this groundbreaking organization is evinced throughout, and congratulations are due to everyone involved for their prominent and optimistic debut.

links for 2009-01-20

• Deloitte TMT Predictions 2009
  Watch the Deloitte TMT Predictions fro 2009 here!
  (tags: deloitte predictions2009)

Wisconsin Business Community Seeks Expansion of Successful Tax Credit Program to Stimulate Economy

In these days of economic upheaval and job loss, the Wisconsin business community is proposing an option for job creation that relies on stimulating the businesses of the future, according to an article in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Wisconsin currently has a successful tax credit program, similar to the very successful program in B.C., and businesses in that state are seeking an expansion of the program.

[Wisconsin businesses] wants the state to increase the amount of available tax credits to $50 million a year from $11.5 million and extend the program through 2019. It is set to end in 2015, according to the 2004 legislation known as Act 255 that set up the program.

So why should the state consider expanding such a program? Like the B.C. tax credit program, the Wisconsin program encourages the growth and development of new businesses is by mobilizing Angel investors who invest ‘smart’ capital and increases the odds of the companies’ competitiveness.

Teresa Esser, managing director of Silicon Pastures, a Wauwatosa angel group that is part of the Wisconsin Growth Capital Coalition, notes that this program has been successful in achieving its policy aim of stimulating business and creating jobs.

[Each] dollar the state invests in an angel investment tax credit brings about $4 of investment in Wisconsin, which may yield as much as $400 of economic impact.

NACO wishes the Wisconsin business community luck in securing this expanded program!

Ontario Centres of Excellence Mind to Market Session 15: Making Sustainable Communities Work

Climate Change is one of the most critical and pervasive issues facing us today. In addressing this challenge, Ontario is counting on the innovative actions of its communities to move the province toward a more sustainable way of living. Find out how the City of Guelph is working with academia and industry to develop a unique Sustainable Community Energy Plan to reduce Guelph’s carbon footprint and create economic opportunities. Join Ontario Centres of Excellence and four of Canada’s leading authorities on the subject, as they discuss the role of innovation as a driver for sustainable communities in Ontario.

Moderator:
KAREN FARBRIDGE, Mayor of Guelph

Panel members:
DR. KEVIN HALL, Vice-President (Research), University of Guelph
HUGH MACLEOD, Associate Deputy Minister, Ontario’s Climate Change Secretariat
JASMINE URISK, Vice-Chair, Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc.

Monday, February 2, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre, Royal City A Ballroom, Guelph, Ontario

For more information about the Mind to Market Innovation Series, please visit www.oce-ontario.org/mindtomarket, contact the event hotline by e-mail or at 416-861-1092 x1019 / 1-866-759-6014 x1019.

Regular Registration $55
Table Registration (of $360
Student Registration $25

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this event. For more information, please contact Catharine Ogilvie by email or 416-861-1092 x101

links for 2009-01-15

• Is the Venture Capital Model Broken?
  Lots of people are asking this question: Is the VC model broken? It’s an important question, regardless of what you believe, because it creates debate and change. Few things ever stay the same, and the VC model is no different. And without a doubt, I believe the VC model and startup investment in general will undergo significant change in the next 5+ years. We’re just at the early stages of it. The focus shouldn’t really be on whether the venture capital model is broken, but on how venture capital is going to work in the future; because I think most people agree that change is afoot.
  (tags: vc)
• Venture Capital's Coming Collapse – Forbes.com
  The swashbuckling risk takers in venture capital have been laying giant eggs for a decade. Could this finally be Sand Hill Road's day of reckoning?
  (tags: vc startup business investment)

Deloitte Technology, Media and Telecommunications Predictions 2009

Please join Deloitte as they reveal the future of Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) at Predictions 2009, a live and interactive breakfast seminar for senior level executives of TMT companies.

Be the first to hear the Top 10 TMT trends expected to impact the marketplace and your business in 2009. Duncan Stewart, co-author of the 2009 Deloitte Predictions, will unveil the business implications for industry executives including recommendations on how to take advantage of the emerging trends in TMT.

Register now!
Event details: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at MaRS Centre Auditorium (lower level), 101 College Street, Toronto, ON
Breakfast: 7:30 am – 8:00 am Presentation: 8:00 am – 10:30 am
For more information contact: Sima Acharya. This session is complimentary.

Investment Accelerator Fund puts $500,000 into REGEN Energy

The Investment Accelerator Fund, operated by the Ontario Centres of Excellence, a partner of the National Angel  Organization-Ontario, has announced an investment of $500,000 in REGEN Energy, at an event hosted by Centennial College in conjunction with Centennial’s ongoing research collaboration with REGEN Energy.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Research and Innovation Minister John Wilkinson were on hand for the announcement as per the recently published video clip showing the Premier discussing this investment in REGEN.

REGEN Energy is an investee of Maple Leaf Angels, which in turn is a member group of NAO-Ontario’s Angel Network Program.  Congratulations, REGEN!

BDB’s Cleantech Companies from Israel present at Gowlings Wednesday, January 21st, 7:30 to 10 am

To view a list of companies being presented at this meeting, click here.

Ontario Centres of Excellence podcasts their Mind to Market Breakfast: Return on Innovation

How does recent market turmoil impact the valuation game?  A distinguished panel moderated by Joe Castaldo of Canadian Business magazine, which included Maple Leaf Angels‘ Rob Koturbash, examined this timely question at OCE’s 14th Mind to Market Breakfast on November 27th, 2008.

The podcast of this well-attended event has been recently posted to the Web and here is the link.  Enjoy!