There are different patterns of scientific breakthroughs or discoveries. A very rare few occur in isolation. Many more are stochastic (random). The ones most important for entrepreneurial pursuit, and also for a scientific career, are those that are happening within
The grad student entrepreneur who started a tools company
The craft of science involves discovery. Because discovery is always pushing ahead and into new frontiers, new methods and tools are developed quite frequently to advance these frontiers or to solve new problems. These tools can be adapted from other
Bioprospecting (part 3) – future opportunities
A sustainable future will certainly include technologies based on microbes and small organisms. These will be found through bioprospecting. The previous post described the first two cycles of innovation derived from bioprospecting. It came from fungal and bacterial products applied
Prospecting for algae, fungi and bacteria – part 1
Algae is a potentially sustainable source of production for materials ranging from food ingredients to fuel. Algae produce a large range of different oils and natural products. Their bioproduction is prolific. For example, crude oil is theorized to be derived
Profiling the startup: Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat went public on the NASDAQ on May 2nd. The Los Angeles-based company makes plant-based alternatives to beef and chicken products. Its Initial Public Offering price of $25 per share increased 163% on the first day of trading, closing
Patent detective work to win a $200 million medical imaging investment
Large companies open facilities in new locations all the time. The reasons may be to access new markets, to expand their manufacturing and distribution footprint, or to access talent and open innovation in an industry hub. When they do this,
The importance of scientific data in biopharma deals
Business development in biopharmaceuticals, and due diligence of those deals, is as scientifically detailed as one can get. Even very early stage start-up companies come to meetings with a lot of experimental results to present. That’s a big contrast to
Hackathon: find a new paradigm for fragrances
We are in a phase of entrepreneurship where new brands are proliferating and even displacing older established brands. Media personalities like 21-year-old Kylie Jenner has become a billionaire with her own line of cosmetics. Last week, Michelle Pfeiffer launched her
The Nova Scotia “start-up” that was acquired for $540 million, and lessons for cannabis
On July 2012, Ocean Nutrition Canada, a producer of omega-3 oils from fish, was acquired by DSM N.V. for $540 million. This is an epic case study. This deal milestone is a buoy in a channel that connects the old
Agricultural technology from Saskatchewan and the $3.5 billion startup
The previous post listed agricultural and plant sciences as a field with the potential to make revolutionary advances with big economic impact. Here is a technology from the University of Saskatchewan as an example. It serves as a good case