IMAF: First Money In Part 2: Entrepreneurs and Investments Entrepreneurs interested in the Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF) for start-up money should not be influenced by the geographical names, Triad, East, Western, Charlotte, Triangle and, soon, Coastal. “Geography doesn’t play the role it used to,” Tim Janke, IMAF executive director, said. “The way the IMAF family of funds work, we know the process and the... 

IMAF: First Money In Part 1: The Model and Membership Providing seed-stage funding, the first money into a start-up company, is probably the riskiest type of investing. Tim Janke, executive director of the Inception Micro Angel Fund (IMAF), emphasizes that the first round of independent financing is not only risky but absolutely critical. For emerging companies, the first gap in funding hits at $50,000 to $100,000.... 

Novozymes: From a Petro to a Bio Society According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), bio-based products have the potential to replace 10 percent of US oil imports, significantly reduce CO2 emissions, create new revenue streams for US farmers and provide clean tech jobs in rural areas. A study released at the BIO World Congress held in Washington DC in June by the World Economic Forum (WEF) defines how... 

For Durham-based Tranzyme Pharma, the past year has been successful. Highlights include entering into a broad drug discovery partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb and, most recently, a licensing agreement with Norgine B.V., a European specialty pharmaceutical company, for the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Tranzyme’s novel ghrelin agonist, ulimorelin (TZP-101) in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle... 

After eight years in business, Wilmington Pharmaceuticals is successfully executing a business model that transforms existing drugs into fast disintegrating formulations. They capitalize on off-patent formulations or partnerships with a drug’s original developers.  “Like most entrepreneurial ideas, it started by tossing ideas around with friends in the industry and friends who are financially astute in other industries,”... 

SBTDC- Navigating Capital Resources Capital resources are the biggest challenge to any young company, says Paul Ulanch, director of technology development and commercialization for the Small Business Technology Development Center. Ulanch’s team offers counseling and support mostly to tech companies to help them navigate the options of early stage funding options.  “Clients have business plans, but they are not thought... 

Get on the Radar: NCBC and CED  The global recession may be receding, but predictions are that economic struggles may continue for the biotech and life science sector into 2011. For young companies, says Yonnie Butler, director of business development for the NC Biotechnology Center, the advice is to do whatever it takes for your company to survive for the next year or so and then look at approaching the investment... 

BioNetwork, the NC Community College’s specialized training program for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, is taking on the New Year with the launch of a new website, a new Career Launch Pad and a new green initiative. The goal is to stimulate workforce training not only in biotechnology and life sciences but the state’s other critical science and technology industries like healthcare, aerospace and... 

Kenaf Opens Markets for Two NC Companies Growing to heights of 12 to 14 feet in less than six months, kenaf, a member of the hibiscus family, is fast growing, requires few herbicides and fertilizers and converts greenhouse gases in the environment at rate that rivals the rain forests.  The plant has been prized for thousands of years for the absorbency and strength of its natural fibers. Ancient Egyptians used kenaf... 

We’ve started a new electronic supplement to Impact- an eFeature. While I’m on the wait for our web support to set up an archive section on our site, I’d thought I’d post our first two articles to the blog. If you’re interested in receiving the eFeature, send an email to jwoodford@carolina.rr.com. Here’s our first one originally sent out on December 21, 2009. Green Comes Together:...