Mid-Atlantic BioTech Conference Update

The 2009 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference last week turned out to be a rousing success. The attendees and speakers had plenty of time to mingle and share what is currently happening in biotechnology.

Charlottesville-based Phthisis Diagnostics, LLC was one of the emerging companies selected to give a presentation to the attending investors. Crystal Icenhour, PhD, President & Director of Research said "the current economy presents a challenge when it comes to raising funds. A conference like the Mid-Atlantic Bio provides a great opportunity to meet potential investors, develop relationships with potential strategic partners, and to learn about other emerging technologies."



Virginia investor and member of University of Virginia's Board of Visitor Randal J. Kirk spoke during the plenary session about the next ten years of research, and access to funding sources in a tight capital market.

Next year's Mid-Atlantic BioTech Conference is scheduled for Oct 25, 2010 in Bethesda.

VA Business Schools - New Rankings

Business Week's 2009 Report on Executive MBA programs identified the University of Richmond's program as one of the best for part-time study.

The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business was also recognized for it's non-degree executive education program.

H/T Richmond BizSense.

Another Kauffman Report on Entrepreneurship

The new Kauffman Foundation report indicates

that newly created and young companies are the primary drivers of job creation in the United States. Though perhaps showing some improvement, the Bureau of Labor Statistics update on U.S. employment due out Nov. 6 will likely still show a dismal picture for American workers. Kauffman's analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data showing that companies less than five years old created nearly two-thirds of net new jobs in 2007 could not be timelier.

The report, Where Will the Jobs Come From?, is available now.

Entrepreneurs Instead of Celebrities

Large companies, such as American Express and AT&T, have been incorporating their entrepreneurial clients in their marketing these days, to the benefit of both the companies (no celebrity fees) and the entrepreneurs (no market expense), notes Diana Ransom in the WSJ

[Tom Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes] says that during public appearances he typically asks his audience whether or not they've heard of TOMS Shoes. About 25% of audiences had heard of his company before the spots ran. Now that number is closer to 80%, he says. "There can be no doubt that AT&T is responsible for this increased exposure."

CBIC Luncheon Reminder

The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) is co-sponsoring a luncheon with the Albemarle/Charlottesville Human Resources Association on Wednesday, Nov 4.

The keynote speaker will be Shawn Boyer, founder and CEO of Richmond-based Snag-A-Job. (Earlier Pyle profile of Boyer)

VA Film Festival launches Nov 6

The Virginia Film Festival, November 6 through November 8, will launch with Knuckleball and the 1933 Marx Brothers film Duck Soup.

Here's the full schedule.