Nature: Making it in the biotech business

Nature: Making it in the biotech business

This article from Nature goes in-depth on how we were inspired to do a panel on "From the Lab to the Boardroom" in how to become successful in the biotech industry. It goes into stressing the importance of leadership skills and networking ability, which VentureForth provides as part of the training program. Here is also the abstract of the panel, which can also be found on our website:

Having a strong background in research is no longer enough for getting ahead in the biotech business. While employers are looking for more than just pure biotech background, as the future leaders in biotechnology, we need to learn how to incorporate our knowledge in science into leadership and management abilities. This panel will focus on the many different paths of how to move from the lab bench to the boardroom. The panelists will share their experiences whether it be through networking or having a mentor that setup their successful career in biotech as well as provide insight into the specific trends and opportunities emerging in the industry today.

• Moderator: Sheldon Schuster PhD. President and Professor, Keck Graduate Institute
• John Dobak, M.D. Founder of JAKK Group
• Alain Baron, M.D Senior Vice President, San Diego, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Connie Matsui, MBA EVP-Knowledge and Innovation Networks, Biogen Idec, Inc.
• Judith W. Zyskind Founder and CSO of Elitra Pharmaceuticals, Inc, & Professor, SDSU

These are a great group of people to know who were once in your position and will be at the conference (Saturday, May 5th, 2007) to share their experiences and help you to stay ahead of the game and be able to do great things.

Also, realize our conference is probably one of the very few events that is FREE!!!!! If you go to BIOCOM, San Diego Venture Group, CONNECT, MIT Forum, etc., THEY ALL COST MONEY!!! We are providing a free event that is for the San Diego community whether you are student, faculty and staff, and industry professional. It's not too late to register. Just go to http://www.ventureforth.org/conferences/biotech/registration.html .

YoungMoney: College Major- Entrepreneur

Newest College Major: Entrepreneur

Here are some interesting thoughts from a recent study about young entrepreneurs.

Once taught only in the school of hard knocks, entrepreneurship is becoming a mainstream college subject, and even a major in its own right, as fundamental to business education as accounting. That’s one of the conclusions of the first phase of the Intuit Future of Small Business Report, which looks at American Entrepreneurship over the next 10 years.

· More than 1,600 colleges and universities now offer programs in entrepreneurship, with demand outstripping the supply of qualified instructors.

· At the college level, the emphasis will widen, focusing not just on high-growth businesses backed by venture capital, but on small business ownership of all kinds.

· Employers are viewing entrepreneurship as a fundamental skill, as key to business success as an understanding of accounting and marketing. *

Researchers are discovering what colleges have known for years. Interest in student entrepreneurship has grown tremendously and that’s going to radically change how the next generation views their career goals.

*Entrepreneurship involves multiple facets of business and can be applied in a company setting as an intrapreneur. Defined by Wikipedia, Intrapreneurship is the practice of entrepreneurial skills and approaches by or within a company or at home.

List of company name etymologies

Starting a company requires a lot of things whether it be having the great idea, sound management, and great workforce, but one thing thing that represents all of this is the name of the company. I found this on Wikipedia List of company name etymologies. As an entrepreneur, deciding on the name of your startup does make a difference.

From Technology Ventures:From Idea to Enterprise (book for ENG 203 Applied Innovation), it states in it's Twenty Principles for Creating Successful Technology Ventures: Principle 10 "The name, logo, and intellectual property of a new venture can provide a proprietary advantage leading to a temporary monopoly in the marketplace."

I hope you can read about the history behind the name of successful companies and be able to create a name that will give you that edge to be successful.

BIOTECH in the NEWS

It's been awhile, but I will try to keep you up-to-date on current topics and issues in the news.

Genentech, Gilead Struggle to Hire as Biotech Booms


Interesting article about the growing opportunity in biotech for scientist due to a shortage of qualified people.

"The biotech business, which generated $51 billion in U.S. sales in 2005, is one of the fastest-growing U.S. industries, creating 40,000 jobs from 2001 to 2004, according to Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. Genentech says the lack of qualified applicants means the company is ``scrambling'' to grow. A drop over the past decade in the percentage of U.S. college graduates pursuing science is making the task harder."

If your interested in biotech, Genentech (Stock Symbol: DNA) is the ultimate company to work for, but don't overlook Gilead Sciences in Foster City, CA. Other companies on the rise are Genzyme (Stock Symbol: GENZ) and Celgene (Stock Symbol: CELG) in New Jersey. Illumina (Stock Symbol: ILMN- don't be fooled by the past couple of months, great opportunity to buy), named by Forbes as the Top Fastest Growing Tech Company in 2007, also is a great local company to work for, and guess what, the co-founder and COO will be at the 4th Annual Biotech Entrepreneurial Conference on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Cal-IT2. We also have the Dean of SDSU's MBA program and former bioentrepreneur with an inspirational behind it. We also have a great group of panelists from a wide range of successful entrepreneurs, executives, VC's, lawyers, and many others to network with. Take this opportunity and use it as a catalyst for your future career in biotech.

Check it out at: http://www.ventureforth.org/conferences/biotech/