Checking in for the New Year
So here we are in 2021. This is not the typical new year. The past year has not been an easy one. It has taken a toll on all of us, and likely will continue to do so for some time to come. Even [...]
Rain and Sunshine
I heard this phrase on the radio a few weeks ago, “rain and sunshine – you need both to grow” and it stuck with me. It could be that 30 weeks into the Covid world here in SF there has been both rain and sunshine [...]
Did you miss this talk? Really?
I love the biotech-life sciences-healthcare scene in San Francisco. So much happening! So many companies, constant news on new drugs, new tools, new results, new approaches. There is a continual flow of seminars, panel discussions, fireside chats and other formats for gathering information. But that’s [...]
Refine and Evolve
It’s been a busy start to the Fall season in my world of startups. A new class has just started at IndieBio. UCSF Catalyst recently finished a round of progress updates for its awardees and is already looking at the next round of proposals. UC [...]
Got government grants? The ticking clock to file patents just got faster!
The regulations governing obligations related to patent filings changed in 2018. But now, almost a year later, I find that very few grant recipients are aware of the recently added obligations or even more generally, of the ones that remain the same. In a [...]
Different Paths
So many biotech start-ups, and so many different ways to navigate from point A to point B. I attended two talks recently which provided a contrast in styles for designing and getting a startup off the ground. Both paths were successful, but success came [...]
I wish I had a role model like that
Sitting in a room several weeks ago, I found myself looking at an unusual sight. In front of me was a panel of 6 women, all very accomplished experienced professionals in the biotech arena – CEOs, board members and investors. Why was this unusual? [...]
Game on – Here we are in 2019!
The ball drops and if we are still awake and not watching the actual event in Times Square, but a replay 3 hours later here in San Francisco, it is now 2019. Another year for new challenges, new goals and new plans. I like the [...]
The Start-up Scene: Investing in Tools and Platforms
I’ve been to a number of panel discussions with biotech investors. Although much of the advice is similar, some bears repeating. Also, this particular panel focused on early stage investing in biotech startups in the tools and platform space. Some insights are more directed to [...]
Potholes and Landmines
It is not unusual for me to hear a startup inquire about a freedom-to-operate (FTO) search. Often, the requesting company is in its nascent stages. I don’t discourage the idea of keeping a good view of the competition and path to market. However, it is [...]