 | | February 23, 2010
The May Report: 2/23/2010: Many goings-on at Motorola including departure of Dan Maloney; Deadline for midVentures25 Chicago Startup Applications is February 28th; Illinois is nowhere to be found in Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for"; U of I partners in center to create biological machines
Editor and publisher: ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com, www.themayreport.com, 773-525-3944.
If you missed an article, go here: http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/vwFullNewsletter
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Marcus Stephen Harris LLC Presents: Software Licensing Seminar Series - Revenue Recognition
Click here for more information and to sign up: http://eepurl.com/hxdB
Negotiating software licenses is a complicated process that takes knowledge and skill. Revenue-recognition problems are arguably the leading cause of restatements among software companies. The consequences of getting it wrong can be severe. Some of the basic criteria for recognizing revenue are dependent on the structure and terms of a software agreement.
This seminar will focus on understanding revenue recognition issues and drafting and negotiating agreements so as to minimize revenue recognition issues.
YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO:
• Analyze revenue recognition issues
• Avoid problematic language
• Understand Revenue recognition issues and their background
• Determine alternative ways to address customer concerns
Speakers:
Dave Tuttle is a global financial executive with experience in manufacturing, services, and technology companies. He was most recently CFO of Torex Retail US, a global leader in retail software and hardware technology solutions. He also was responsible for implementing US GAAP revenue recognition in conjunction with IFRS reporting for the London and Europe based businesses.
Previously, Dave held several senior roles with hardware, software, and technology services companies ranging from $150 million to $2.2 billion in revenue. He has been involved with two successful IPO's, several debt offerings, and over 20 acquisitions.
Marcus Harris is an attorney that works with technology companies, software developers and users regarding software development, licensing, ownership and distribution. Prior to starting his own practice he was Senior Corporate Counsel at SSA Global.
Details:
When: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Where: TechNexus?200 S. Wacker Drive 15th Floor Chicago, IL 60606
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Cost: $35
Lunch will be provided
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rawdesignr is a web startup focusing on building great websites for mid size companies, not-for-profit organizations, startups and networking/meetup groups
The Ron May Newsletter Special:
1. At NO cost, we will provide & DOCUMENT a detailed social media marketing strategy for your organization. This includes meeting with your business in person, learning about your goals, creating the strategy & 6 month roadmap (often 4-5 pages long). Again, there is no cost for this, but you must be in the chicagoland area.
2. If you are a not-for-profit organization OR you are looking for a web team for your networking/meetup organization - we do offer our services at 50% discount.
Our organization is built upon transparency & dedication to making sure our clients have a great, modern, clean & easy to use website.
Please contact Robbie at robbie.abed@rawdesignr.com if interested in our services. Our website is http://www.rawdesignr.com.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Scoop section:
-- Deadline for midVentures25 Chicago Startup Applications is February 28th
-- Many goings-on at Motorola as Motorola confirms spinoff of phone, set-top box units
- Motorola extends, modifies CEO Jha's contract
- Motorola exec sued for taking job with rival; Daniel Aderhold, says he had OK from co-CEO Gregory Brown
- Motorola set-top box exec Dan Maloney leaving to head electronics firm
-- Illinois is nowhere to be found in Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for"
-- Ask Dr. Robert: A few thoughts on the healthcare situation
-- Think Tank Live! Addresses Web Marketing Trends
-- TechAmerica Unveils the American Technology Awards, "The Shermans"
-- U of I partners in center to create biological machines (for Feb. 23)
-- Bob Geras: CORRECTIONS ON YOUR COMMENTARY ON THE TRIBUNE ARTICLE on HYDE PARK ANGELS
-- Nancy Munro: Ron should look into 3DInternet run by Kevin Simkins -- in a good way
-- Ira Weiss of Hyde Park Angels: No longer Ron's buddy
-- Ron's response
-- Ira's response with some details on the activity of Hyde Park Angels
-- Jeffrey Meredith: Various things
-- Reminder: EDC 2010 Luncheon Series – February 24th Luncheon, “What is Bad Air Costing Us?”
-- Reminder: Feb. 24: Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable - SPECIAL "Show-and-Tell" Networking Meeting
[Editor's note: May here. First, the chart showing all the universities and their income from licensing revenue seems to have been removed by the Chronicle of Higher Education for non-subscribers, but never fear... I got a copy of the original and Anna will type it up -- hopefully very soon.
Second, I have written a much lengthier response to Ira Weiss which really gets to the point I was trying to make. I'll try to have that for you in the next two days. I was not trying to criticize HPA per se. I was critiquing the local media for its template driven and formulaic approach to discussing angel investing. It has become a broken record. I would like to see a survey and data driven analysis with some rigor: include all angel groups and as many individuals as can be reached; and don't forget to cover tech commercialization and all the business school competitions and the different models that are used to get technology to the marketplace. That is a big job, but it is one that needs to be done rather than the usual "woe is me" Chicago and btw, here's a flicker of hope names such and such angel group. Make the analysis comprehensive and systematic, and most of all, not anecdotal, but data driven. In Ira Weiss' response to me -- the second one -- he refers to how many new members HPA has. I certainly hope so since the Trib article said that each member must invest $50K per year, and if that figure is true, then 55 times $50K equals $2.75MM a year and they certainly have not done that.
Boy do I have a lot of stories for you. At the top of the hit parade: SitterCity; a firm i have written much about (downtown brokerage firm); a fascinating story about NeutralTandem and Peerless and the legal issues between them; and a really big story I cannot tell you about right now, plus lots of smaller stuff.]
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The Scoop section:
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Deadline for midVentures25 Chicago Startup Applications is February 28th
Subject: Deadline for midVentures25 Chicago Startup Applications is February 28th
Date: 2/22/2010 6:09:52 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: gdomoracki@gmail.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Subject: Deadline for midVentures25 Chicago Startup Applications is February 28th
Message:
If you're a startup in Chicago or the Midwest, your company should apply to midVentures25 -- Chicago's largest startup demo day and conference.
Our Application deadline for startup companies is February 28, 2010. The event will be held in Chicago's Loop on March 11, 2010, from 5:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m, where we have over 22,000 square feet of demo space at 200 S. Wacker Drive to showcase the Midwest's burgeoning tech community.
Click here to apply online for a table to demo to investors, meet new partners, and compete for over $7,500 in technology and legal services, computer hardware and free online advertising.
Contact:
Geoff Domoracki, CEO
midVentures Group, Inc.
Phone: 312 613 2735
E-mail: geoff@midventures.com
http://www.midventures.com
Entrepreneurs to showcase 25 investor-ready Midwest technology startups
CHICAGO, IL (February 11, 2010) – The idea is simple. If you assemble 25 of the most promising technology startup companies from around the Midwest in one room, the investors and tech community will come.
Chicago is thriving with innovation as bootstrapping technology entrepreneurs are warming up to the affordability and wealth of startup resources in the region. In an effort to put a spotlight on Midwest technology startups and accelerate this phenomenon, a group of young entrepreneurs have created midVentures25 (http://www.midventures25.com)
.
midVentures25 is a demo day and conference that will showcase 25 of the hottest technology startups for an evening of pitches, ideas, networking and deals. On Thursday, March 11, 2010, the startups will demo their products and services to a room full of over 250 investors, entrepreneurs and the Chicago tech community. Each company selected must fit the following criteria:
1. The startup company must be founded or currently located in the Midwest.
2. The startup company must be no more than three years old.
3. The startup company must possess a high growth potential and be ready for market (i.e., “investor-ready”).
Investors and attendees can expect to see the latest in the fields of mobile applications, internet technology, software, and alternative energy. “The focus of midVentures25 is to show the national technology and investment community that the Midwest has an abundance of early-stage innovators within the technology, consumer, and sustainability space,” said Geoff Domoracki, founder of midVentures, and host of the event.
The Judges
1. Andrew Mason, Groupon
2. Chuck Templeton, OpenTable
3. Jason Heltzer, OCA Ventures
4. Biju Kulathakal, Redbox
5. Adam Siegel, InklingMarkets
6. The Google Execs
The Sponsors
1. Google
2. Illinois Technology Association
3. ChicagoMicro
4. PaskyIP.com
5. GoldCald.com
Entrepreneurs and investors can register for the event at http://midventures25.eventbrite.com.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Location: 200 South Wacker Drive, 12th Floor
Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
About the Hosts
midVentures25 was created by Jonathan Pasky, Geoff Domoracki and the midVentures team, and is held with support from Pasky IP, Goldstein, Caldwell, and Associates, and Google Chicago.
About midVentures
midVentures is a Chicago-based technology venture development firm that focuses on incubating new startup concepts for investors and entrepreneurs. Run by a group of 20-something University of Chicago graduates, midVentures’ clients range from venture capital firms to privately wealthy individuals interested in the technology space. midVentures also actively incubates its own web, mobile, software, and microfinance ideas.
About Pasky IP
Pasky IP specializes in providing intellectual property and technology/business legal services to entrepreneurs and emerging, mid-market and institutional clients. Firm expertise includes high technology patent prosecution, startup general counsel services and IP asset management.
About Goldstein, Caldwell & Associates
Goldstein, Caldwell & Associates (GCA) is a Cleveland-based seed capital investment and business development company that helps young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses. Through seed funding, business development expertise, mentoring and a youth-focused culture, GCA helps portfolio companies accelerate the start-up process. For more information on GCA and its portfolio companies visit www.goldcald.com.
--
Geoffrey Domoracki
312-613-2735
http://www.midVentures.com
Head Guy
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Many goings-on at Motorola as Motorola confirms spinoff of phone, set-top box units
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Motorola confirms spinoff of phone, set-top box units
By John Pletz
(Crain’s) — Motorola will combine its phone and set-top cable box units into a public company headed by Sanjay Jha, splitting it from the rest of the company.
The long-promised breakup likely won't happen until next year, Schaumburg-based Motorola said. Friday, shares of the company were up 42 cents, or 6.3%, to $7.07 in afternoon trading.
The remaining company, led by co-CEO Greg Brown, will contain Motorola's businesses selling police radios and wireless-computing networks. Existing shareholders will get stock in the spinoff, though Motorola's board hasn't decided which company will be spun off as a new entity.
The non-mobile devices business will take on Motorola's $3.4 billion in debt, which will allow the phone and set-top units to be split off without doing an initial public offering.
Motorola has about $8 billion in cash, most of which will be used to bankroll the phone and set-top business, Morgan Keegan & Co. analyst Tavis McCourt predicted Friday in a note to clients.
Both divisions will use the Motorola brand.
The company has been looking at a spinoff for nearly two years, but it had been put on hold because of a decline in the phone unit's fortunes and the falloff in the broader economy.
But in a surprise move, Motorola decided to pair the phone unit with its set-top box division, a move first reported Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal.
Both units face challenges.
The set-top box business is the industry leader but has seen its growth stall because of the falloff in new housing, which drives demand.
The set-top unit would provide a cash cushion against the boom-and-bust phone business.
It has profit margins of about 10%, roughly double what is expected from the fiercely competitive handset business even if Mr. Jha can get it back on track.
The plan combines Motorola's two consumer-focused businesses, and the two public companies would have nearly equal revenue of about $11 billion, with potential stock valuations of about $4 a share each, Mr. McCourt estimated.
If the mobile devices business takes off, it could boost the stock price of that company $1 to $5, he said.
Mr. Jha stressed strategy, not financial, reasons for the move.
"Consumers want to take in-home content with them," Mr. Jha told analysts Thursday. "The cable and wireline markets are converging with the mobile world. All of this creates new opportunities for consumer devices and services."
But analysts were somewhat puzzled by the way Motorola proposes to divide up the company.
Since the home business also includes the back-end equipment used by cable and wireless companies to distribute content, they have some common customers, Mr. Jha told them.
However, Motorola's networks division, which makes the equipment used by wireless carriers, will be split from the home business and put together with Mr. Brown's public safety and enterprise businesses.
By pairing handsets with the set-top box division, Motorola is reverting to the "seamless mobility" concept that was championed by former CEO Ed Zander. But the hoped-for synergies never materialized under Mr. Zander's watch as the decline of the phone business crippled the rest of the company.
"Four years ago seamless mobility was marketing slogan. Today it’s a real product strategy," Mr. Brown says.
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Motorola extends, modifies CEO Jha's contract
Motorola extends, modifies CEO Jha's contract
Feb. 16, 2010
(Crain’s) — Motorola has extended its contract with co-CEO Sanjay Jha to reflect a spinoff that has been delayed.
Mr. Jha, who heads the company's cell phone unit, was hired in August 2008. His previous contract called for a $30-million payout if the company did not complete the spinoff of the phone business as a public company by October 2010.
Prior to Mr. Jha's arrival, the company had originally planned to it spinoff by October 2009, but the recession delayed its plans.
Last week, the company said it now hopes to split Motorola into two separate companies by April 2011. Under an agreement announced Tuesday, Mr. Jha will receive $38 million if Motorola doesn't complete the separation by June 30, 2011.
The agreement also says that Motorola will continue to pay temporary housing costs for Mr. Jha through the spinoff or June 30, 2011. It also will reimburse him for any loss on the sale of his home.
The agreement also revises how much stock Mr. Jha will get in the new separated company. It will range from 1.8 % to 3%, depending whether the market capitalization is greater than $6 billion. Previously it was a flat 3%.
Motorola's total market cap is $16.7 billion, but virtually none of that comes from the phone business, which analysts have said the market values near zero.
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Motorola exec sued for taking job with rival; Daniel Aderhold, says he had OK from co-CEO Gregory Brown
Motorola exec sued for taking job with rival; says he had OK
Feb. 16, 2010
(Crain's) — A laid-off sales executive sued by Motorola for taking a job with rival Ericsson says he had permission from his boss and from co-CEO Gregory Brown to take the new position.
Daniel Aderhold, who spent 31 years at Motorola before being laid off in May as a vice-president of sales in its wireless network unit, says he took a similar job at Ericsson after Motorola lost out in its bid to supply next-generation gear to Verizon Wireless.
Motorola sued Mr. Aderhold last month to prevent him from overseeing the Verizon account for Ericsson, claiming he violated a non-compete clause in his separation package and that he couldn’t take the new position without revealing trade secrets such as product strategy, violating a confidentiality agreement.
Mr. Aderhold’s attorney claims the suit is the result of Motorola’s effort to boost perceptions of its network business, which it has been rumored to be trying to sell as part of its larger plans to split up the company.
"This is part of Motorola’s marketing strategy, to put lipstick on a corpse, which is their networks business, and to keep other employees from abandoning the sinking ship,” says Oak Brook-based attorney Peter Lubin.
A Motorola spokeswoman says, “Mr. Aderhold signed a non-compete with Motorola, and we stand behind the allegations made in the complaint.”
A year ago, Motorola lost out to Ericsson and Alcatel Lucent on a bid to become a supplier of fourth-generation network equipment, known as LTE or long-term evolution, to Verizon. The loss was a serious blow to the viability and value of Motorola’s network-equipment business, Mr. Aderhold states in an affidavit describing a conversation he had with Mr. Brown a few weeks before his departure.
“Mr. Brown told me he lacked confidence that Motorola’s network divisions could compete in the global marketplace with its LTE technology, as the company had recently competed for and lost the major (LTE) technology bid for Verizon Wireless,” the affidavit states. “Mr. Brown thanked me for my many years of employment . . . and indicated he could ‘see no good reason why I should remain at Motorola.’ Further, Mr. Brown stated that he had ‘no angst’ with what company I might work for in the future and that he did not care if, for instance, I went to work at (competitor ) ‘Huawei.’ ”
Mr. Aderhold says that before taking a job with Ericsson in mid-June, he cleared it with Fred Wright, senior vice-president of Motorola’s network business. “Mr. Wright congratulated me on finding a new position, plainly indicated he saw no problem with my employment at Ericsson, as I would not be competing with Motorola since it had recently lost the bid to be an approved LTE vendor to Verizon Wireless.”
But things have changed since then. After unsuccessful attempts to sell the network business, Motorola last week said it would pair the unit with other businesses selling police radios and bar-code-scanning gear as part of a breakup planned for next year. However, the company also is rumored to still be interested in selling the networks business.
“They filed this lawsuit to make it look like LTE is viable,” Mr. Lubin says. “They’ve been unequivocally told by their biggest North American customer they’re never going to be a part of their future plans for LTE.”
Mr. Aderhold is the second executive recently sued by Motorola after taking a job with a competitor. Last month, Motorola sued David Hartsfield, who was an executive in its phone business, after he resigned to take a similar job with competitor Nokia of Finland
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Motorola set-top box exec Dan Maloney leaving to head electronics firm
Motorola set-top box exec leaving to head electronics firm
Feb. 22, 2010
(Reuters) — Motorola said Monday that Dan Moloney, the head of its television set-top box business, has decided to leave the company to become chief executive officer of electronics components maker Technitrol Inc.
The announcement comes after Motorola revealed a plan to separate the company into two parts, one of which will combine the set-top box business and the mobile devices unit.
After the split-off, scheduled for the first quarter of next year, Motorola's Co-CEO Sanjay Jha will head the mobile devices and home unit.
Motorola said Moloney, who joined the company after its acquisition of General Instrument in 2000, played a role in the decision to combine the cellphone and set-top box business. Moloney had worked at General Instrument for 16 years.
Philadelphia-based Technitrol said Moloney would join at the end of March to replace James Papada, who is retiring. Technitrol produces parts for communications equipment.
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Illinois is nowhere to be found in Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for"
From: John P. Katsantonis jpkattt@att.net
Subject: WE ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN FORTUNE'S "100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR"
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:25:52 -0600
To: The May Report ron@themayreport.com
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise: of the "Top 100 Companies To Work For" in Fortune magazine's February 8th annual special report, there is not ONE Chicago company. Nor a single Illinois employer. In fact, the closest company to us geographically is S.C. Johnson out of Racine, Wisconsin...which ranked #83 this year, slipping two places from its #81 ranking in 2009.
The plurality of companies listed are in California and Texas...a couple of Michigans, a few Ohios, etc., etc., etc....no United Airlines, no Motorola, no Kraft, no Sears. Or McDonald's. Or Boeing.
Really, we oughta be ashamed of ourselves.
Oh, well...we've got President Obama, and ex-Governor Blagojevich, and the 2016 Olympics. (Wait..............never mind.)
peace/out~jk
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Ask Dr. Robert: A few thoughts on the healthcare situation
Subject: Back from California
Date: 2/21/2010 10:28:01 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: soapsuds@northwestern.edu
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Dear Ron:
I hope your fever is dissipating. You are right to push the envelope.
I'm back to the grind tomorrow. Running a modern practice is quite a balancing act.
We'll see if the president can actually back administrative simplicity without it backfiring.
Forcing all the bells and whistles on the basic care of patients runs so many risks.
I'm not averse to data collection but it cannot be assumed that decisions should be centralized.
Medicare reform is clearly needed.
The lessons of the Part D fiasco and Medicare Advantage administrative over-lay should be clear at this point. Expansion to non-essentials has also been overly profitable.
Private insurance should be divested of its shareholders and bound by clear regulatory oversight.
Drug prices and new technologies must be entered into the Medicare fee schedule.
Hospital infrastructure must be carefully authorized.
Physicians and patients will take care of the rest.
Dr. Robert
February 21, Two Thousand and Ten
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Think Tank Live! Addresses Web Marketing Trends
Subject: TECH cocktail
Date: 2/22/2010 11:38:58 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: cofounders@techcocktail.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
TECH cocktail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Think Tank Live! Addresses Web Marketing Trends
http://tinyurl.com/yeev9xg
Posted: 22 Feb 2010 05:35 AM PST
Editor’s Note: This article was contributed by longtime Chicago TECH cocktailer David Dalka. You can follow him on Twitter at @dalka.
If you are in the Chicagoland area you might want to head up to Milwaukee to the one-day seminar, Think Tank Live! Digital Marketing & Social Media Summit. The event, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, will focus on educating attendees on how to utilize Internet marketing and social media to attract customers, increase profits and reduce costs.
I.M. Think Tank founder Mary DuQuaine explained:
“This conference is designed to provide professionals with practical ideas that create online marketing results.”
Additionally, Think Tank Live will look to address the following 5 major trends transforming marketing:
Inbound Marketing is Critical for Business Strategy – It is vital for businesses to revisit their value proposition and ensure customer focus. Research key search engine queries with the customer in mind. When speaking at User Generated Content Expo on a panel with David Berkowitz and Brian Solis last year, I stated the following: “Search engines and user generated content are creating focus on a brand’s niche attributes and user experiences when interacting with the brand. Embrace this by adapting your business strategy to pull (search) marketing, listening and innovating.”
Search Marketing & Web Analytics Are Now Executive Level Strategy Issues – Search marketing strategy and web analytics are quickly rising to the top of the executive level. It is both a major revenue driver and ever so slowly becoming a concentration of operational risk. As search marketing and web analytics are displacing creative at the top of the marketing process. You should obtain people who have a rare combination of search marketing strategy, web analytics and an understanding about the business impacts of “The New Emerging Media Skill Set of the Generation X Chief Marketing Officer”.
Realignment of Organizational Structures to Enable Digital Marketing Success – Even if you map out your search marketing and social media strategy, there are still major barriers to effective execution. The scope of these initiatives spans marketing, finance, strategy and information technology. Successful companies will engage c-level executives who spearhead the necessary change management to implement effective, executive strategy level SEO.
Blog Content is Consistently Migrating To Mainstream Media – As traditional journalism continually reduces head count, blogs increasingly break news that migrates to the mainstream media. It is important to align your content creation process with this trend that was discussed in this recent post, “How Breaking Business Stories Migrate To Mainstream Mass Media.”
Potential for Periodic to Become Real Time Management of Marketing Channels and Related Budgets – To outperform your industry peers companies must make continuous, customer driven, incremental changes while performing competitive intelligence. Back when I was at BlackRock during the 80 to 800 employee hyper-growth phase, this was a critical driver to our success. The alternative is to not navigate necessary marketing channel changes, which can lead to business failure which was recently discussed in “Brand Marketing Channel Business Budgeting Strategy Misfortune : Porters of Racine.”
TECH cocktail readers get a special $50 off by using the discount code below. Here are the seminar details:
SEMINAR FOCUS: Educating business executives on how to use the power of Internet Marketing for strategic success.
SCHEDULED TOPICS: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) • Digital Marketing Strategy • SEM / Pay Per Click • Web Analytics • Online Reputation Management • Social Media • Facebook • Twitter • WordPress
LOCATION: Country Springs Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Waukesha, Wisconsin (Map)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Small and Medium Size Business Owners, C-Level Executives (CMO, CEO, CFO, COO), Marketing, Branding & Corporate Communications Managers, Directors of Public Relations and Advertising Specialists, Retained Executive Recruiters, Members of Board of Directors, Information Technology and Web Design Professionals.
DATE: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 8AM-5PM, Check in & voluntary web site audits begin at 8AM sharp!
REGISTRATION FEE: $225, $50 off with code TechCocktail50, includes lunch and after party cocktail event. For more information and to register please visit: http://www.thinktanklive.com/register/
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TechAmerica Unveils the American Technology Awards, "The Shermans"
Subject: TechAmerica Unveils the American Technology Awards, "The Shermans"
Date: 2/22/2010 10:26:02 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2010
Contact: Charlie Greenwald at 202.682.4443 or charlie.greenwald@techamerica.org
Anne Caliguiri Savoie at 703.284.5305 or anne.savoie@techamerica.org
TechAmerica Unveils the American Technology Awards, “The Shermans”
Washington, DC – The TechAmerica Foundation today announced the 2010 American Technology Awards, “The Sherman Awards”. Honoring technology products and services, they are the premiere awards which will recognize the “best of” in technology across the board this year. The awards will be presented during the annual Government and Technology dinner and prior at the American Technology Awards VIP reception held on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC.
“The TechAmerica Foundation is proud to present these awards to many deserving products and services from the technology industry,” said TechAmerica Foundation president Christopher W. Hansen. “This event will be an exciting opportunity to highlight some of the best additions to the tech world this year.”
Winners of “The Shermans” are selected by industry press and technology companies. Awards will be presented in the following categories:
Aerospace and Defense
Business Process Outsourcing
Clean Tech/Green Tech/Smart Grid
Cloud Computing/Software as a Service
Computers and Peripherals
Consumer Electronics
Cyber Security and Authentication
Electronic Components
Engineering Services
Internet Services
Measuring and Control Instruments
Medical Devices
R&D and Testing Labs
Server & Storage Technology
Software
Technology Consulting
Telecommunications
For more information, visit www.techamerica.org/theshermans.
About TechAmerica Foundation
TechAmerica Foundation educates industry executives, policy makers and opinion leaders on the promise of technological innovation to advance prosperity, security and the general welfare. Launched in 1981, the foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit, non-partisan affiliate of TechAmerica, the leading voice and resource for the U.S. technology industry. It disseminates award-winning industry, policy and market research covering topics such as U.S. competitiveness in a global economy, innovation in government, and other areas of national interest. The foundation also organizes conferences and seminars to explore pertinent issues with government and industry representatives and to share the foundation’s findings.
Best regards,
Ed Longanecker
Executive Director, Regional Director of State Government Affairs
TechAmerica Midwest
NEW PHONE: 630-282-4332
ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
www.techamerica.org
AeA & ITAA have merged to form TechAmerica
Where the future begins
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U of I partners in center to create biological machines (for Feb. 23)
From: Kubetz, Richard rkubetz@ad.uiuc.edu
Subject: U of I partners in center to create biological machines (for Feb. 23)
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:04:25 -0600
To: ron@themayreport.com ron@themayreport.com
FOR RELEASE – Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Illinois is a partner in new NSF Center to investigate the creation of biological machines
URBANA, Ill. (February 23, 2010) -- The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $25 million to establish the Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS) Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Part of the NSF’s Science and Technology Centers Integrative Partnerships program, the center’s objectives are to dramatically advance research in complex biological systems, create new educational programs based on this research, and demonstrate leadership in its involvement of groups traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with two of our peer institutions in this new center,” said Ilesanmi Adesida, dean of the College of Engineering. “This grant and this center represent a remarkable investment in one of the most exciting growth areas—the intersections of modern engineering and biology. Collaborations at this level demonstrate a significant commitment to creating and sharing knowledge across a very wide community."
The University of Illinois will receive about $1.66 million per year to support EBICS Center’s research, education, diversity, and knowledge transfer efforts. The Illinois team includes researchers from mechanical science and engineering, electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, cell and developmental biology, neuroscience, animal science, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Center’s educational efforts also draw upon expertise from College of Education and I-STEM.
Headquartered at MIT, the EBICS Center’s research activities will take place at the three partner schools, as well as at a number of other minority-serving institutions. Collectively, they will help create the knowledge, tools, and technologies to “create highly sophisticated, ‘programmed,’ multi-cell engineered biological systems or machines,” according to Roger Kamm, MIT’s Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical and Biological Engineering, and the Center’s founding director.
The EBICS is one of five new NSF Science and Technology Center awards as a result of a recent, merit-based competition.
# # #
Contact: Jimmy Hsia, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, 217/333-2321.
_________________________________________
Bob Geras: CORRECTIONS ON YOUR COMMENTARY ON THE TRIBUNE ARTICLE on HYDE PARK ANGELS
Subject: CORRECTIONS ON YOUR COMMENTARY ON THE TRIBUNE ARTICLE on HYDE PARK ANGELS
Date: 2/19/2010 9:56:44 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: bob@vcbob.com
To: ron@themayreport.com, RONALDMAY@aol.com
Ron,
Unless you're hiding under my bed, how would you know that I do "more deals while farting in his sleep...than HPA has done in four years"?
The facts are:
1) I don't fart that much while I sleep,
2) I'm sometimes awake when writing those checks, and
3) When Cynthia Dizikes of the Tribune called and said that virtually everyone she talked to brought up my name as "The Godfather of Angel Investing" and asked If I'd mind if she used that moniker for me, I told her that was old news and that after all these years I think I've earned "Supreme Exalted Grand Poobah of the Universe". I guess she didn't agree.
--
Bob Geras
LaSalle Investments
___________________________________________
Nancy Munro: Ron should look into 3DInternet run by Kevin Simkins -- in a good way
From: Nancy Munro nancy@knowledgeshift.net
Subject: Someone you should look into
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:15:56 -0600
To: ron@themayreport.com
Ron:
I don’t know if you have run into this organization in the past or not but I thought you should be aware of some of their recent activity. 3DInternet, who was a finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards has recently submitted applications to compete in a Federal Army Virtual World Competition. This is pretty interesting stuff, we recently had 3DInternet participate in one of our Training Technology Tasting programs and was blown away by some of their 3D Technology.
Kevin Simkins would like to see if he could schedule a call with you to set up some demonstrations and thought I could help facilitate this--- so if you’re interested let me know and I’ll pass along the message.
Below is a note he sent me that links to the army 3D competition.
As per my voice-mail, below is the link to the FVWC Evaluations Home Page describing the 23 submissions competing in the 4 separate categories for the first ever US Army RDECOM Federal Virtual World Challenge. Winners in each of the 4 categories will be determined by a group of Government Evaluators and Public Reviews. Winners will be announced in March at the Defense Users Game Tech Conference in Orlando, Florida. I have entered 3DInternet.com with two separate submissions for this challenge, including our HYPER-REALITY platform in the "Skill Building” category, and our IMAGINE collaboration tool in the "Collaboration" category.
FVWC Evaluations Home Page:
http://www.fvwc.army.mil/evaluation_main.php
US Army Federal Virtual World Challenge Link
http://fvwc.army.mil/FVWC-Main.html
Nancy Munro, CEO
630-221-8759 office
630-747-4048 cell
http://www.knowledgeshift.net
___________________________________________
Ira Weiss of Hyde Park Angels: No longer Ron's buddy
Subject: FW: The May Report: 2/18/2010: One word: Lyrica! Northwestern is literally #1
Date: 2/18/2010 11:28:48 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: Ira.Weiss@chicagobooth.edu
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Your no longer on my good side, buddy.
From: Rudnick, Ellen
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 11:26 PM
To: Weiss, Ira S.
Subject: FW: The May Report: 2/18/2010: One word: Lyrica! Northwestern is literally #1 by a factor of greater than six over all other U. S. Universities! NU has a blow out lead in licensing income over #2 U. of Cal. System; A tech event NOT run by the "Mr. Potters
notice how Ron May trashed the tribune article and of course got the facts wrong! Fortunately not many people read the May Report.
Ellen A Rudnick
Executive Director and Clinical Professor
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship
Chicago Booth
5807 S. Woodlawn Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
tel: 773-834-3781
fax: 773-834-4046
visit us at www.chicagobooth.edu/entrepreneurship
___________________________________________
Ron's response
From: RONALDMAY@aol.com [mailto:RONALDMAY@aol.com]
Sent: Fri 2/19/2010 4:57 AM
To: Weiss, Ira S.
Cc: Rudnick, Ellen; ronaldmay@aol.com
Subject: Re: FW: The May Report: 2/18/2010: One word: Lyrica! Northwestern is literall...
Feb. 19, 2010
Ira,
Thanks for your note.
What "facts" do I have wrong as Ellen says?
I wrote that you have:
55 investors
4 years
4 deals
Roughly $3MM in total invested
Are these numbers accurate?
No, they are not. You have been operating for three years, not four.
You have looked at 350 deals. That is good but give me some comps, some metrics.
How does that compare? Len Bland, Dave Carman and BNC Capital Group is looking at 4 deals a month which is at a rate of 48 per year. That is roughly 150 over three years so your 350 is good by comparison. But they have only two guys doing the work.
To quote the article:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hyde Park Angels is ... an important step toward developing an entrepreneurial culture in Chicago."
Seven master's of business administration students from the U. of C.'s Booth School of Business got the idea after being shocked to find so few early-stage investor groups in a city with so many premier universities and research facilities. Entrepreneurs were leaving Chicago for coastal cities that offered more opportunities, said founding member Vishal Verma, who collaborated with the school's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship to launch the group.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Let's see now, "shocked to find so few early-stage investor groups in a city" -- you mean like Claude Raines was shocked to find gambling in Casablanca?
Bill Weaver and his group did more deals. What about Mike Hanna? What about Kirschner and Heartland Angels which is mentioned in the article?
Even as anemic as it was and infested by conflicts of interest, Barry Moltz and Prairie Angels managed to get a few deals done -- and with a great deal of fanfare.
I think it is great that you have a somewhat different model, but how is it different from all the deals Tom Churchwell did while down at the University of Chicago and they were largely angel deals? Remember wasabil.com, recommendr.com, and others? What about the TDB? They co-invested in 37 deals.
You may have the start of something great, but it is not proven yet.
This is not the time for uncorking the champagne. It is a good start, but that is it -- a good start.
Over the weekend I will dig up all the articles by Arsensio Oloroso, Peter Elstrom, David Moberg, Adam Lashinsky, Joe Cahill, and others about angel investing in Chicago, many of which appeared in Crain's in the early 1990s. They read almost exactly the same.
Each article written should not written in a vacuum, oblivious to what has come before it.
Ira and Ellen, did you ever read this article from the year 2000?
http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_42/b3703001.htm
Or better yet, this classic by David Moberg in Inc. Magazine in 1988?
http://tinyurl.com/2k5e9l
Interestingly, both articles start with references to Carl Sandburg. Both articles refer to universities and their role.
Ira, aren't we still singing the same old song "woe is me" for Chicago? The Trib. article is just adding the twist of "woe is me" for angel investing in general.
And part of that song is the obligatory stanza that says something to the effect of "Just wait a bit, things are getting better."
TMR has been down this road before, the road that criticizes a university that then gets its dander up.
http://tinyurl.com/ylqr7lu
Institutional pride, I suppose. Can't we apply some of that famous University of Chicago rigor and intellectual honesty rather than rah, rah sis boom bah?
If you were writing a scholarly academic paper on the topic soul it have the platitudes of the Trib. article or hard data?
And Ira, as far as I am concerned, you are still my gumba. :-)
Maybe I will see you at shul.
One more thing. The chart I linked to Thursday from the Chronicle of Higher Education -- and which does not appear to be available now, unless you subscribe -- had the University of Chicago Start-up companies formed at exactly one firm in FY 2008. That is based on my memory and has to be double checked.
The chart was there yesterday, but they appear to have taken it down.
Ron
________________________________________________
Ira's response with some details on the activity of Hyde Park Angels
Subject: RE: FW: The May Report: 2/18/2010: One word: Lyrica! Northwestern is literall
Date: 2/19/2010 8:39:46 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: Ira.Weiss@chicagobooth.edu
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Ron,
Here are some details on the activity of Hyde Park Angels.
Our network was formally launched on April 6th of 2007 with 7 founding members. Our first meeting was in October of 2007. In In the roughly 2.5 years since our first meeting, our group has invested in four companies and had 5 total rounds of financings. We have grown from 7 members to 55 members.
Our pace of financing is increasing and we are expecting to make more investments in the current year than in any prior year.
I think it is reasonable to evaluate angel groups based on their investment activity and the performance of their portfolio companies. I'm glad that other groups in the city, such as the BNC Group, Heartland and Cornerstone have been active, as the more overall early-stage investing we have in Chicago, the most it will foster our eco-system.
Cheers,
Ira
Ira Weiss
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
5807 S. Woodlawn Ave., #429
Chicago, IL 60637
773 834-3620
ira.weiss@chicagobooth.edu
________________________________________________
Jeffrey Meredith: Various things
_____________________________
From: Jeffrey Meredith jeffmere@gmail.com
Subject: What the stimulus should have scrapped ...
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:26:17 -0500
To: ronaldmay@aol.com, ron@themayreport.com
If there's anything they should have scrapped, it's the following:
* Extension of the first time homebuyer credit - $7 billion
* Increase in individual AMT exemption amount - $70 billion (THIS IS HORRIBLE! And it mainly benefits higher income people. And the Republicans supported it)
So there's $77 billion we could've cut out of the stimulus. Horrible ideas that Republicans for the most part supported ...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Jeffrey Meredith <jeffmere@gmail.com>
Subject: Ezra Klein: Bayh's "a minor deficit hypocrite. But a deficit hypocrite all the same."
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:27:01 -0500
To: ronaldmay@aol.com, ron@themayreport.com
Full Headers
Undecoded Letter
Ezra Klein: Evan Bayh, Minor Deficit Hypocrite
Ezra writes:
An ordinary politician: My impression of Evan Bayh was that he was a major deficit hypocrite. Despite spending all his time talking about the need to reduce spending, he'd voted for all the major spending increases in recent years. When I looked into it, that wasn't true: He voted against the Bush tax cuts, and against the Medicare prescription drug benefit. But he voted for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, opposed sensible tax increases like President Obama's proposed cap on itemized deductions, and sponsored legislation to spend more than $440 billion exempting rich people's estates from taxation.
So: Evan Bayh's not a major deficit hypocrite. He's a minor deficit hypocrite. But a deficit hypocrite all the same. In his exit speech, he describes himself as "a lonely voice for balancing the budget and restraining spending." Of course, there's no such thing in Washington as a "lonely voice" for a balanced budget. There is a cacophony of such voices, and a dearth of such votes. But votes are the only things able to do the job....
Accusing a politician of deficit hypocrisy isn't a particularly serious slur.... But if Bayh's sins are ordinary, so too was his career. Which is why I was surprised to see my colleague Jonathan Capehart term this a "brain drain." I've talked to Bayh before, and... found him special only in his ability to formulate platitudes on the fly....
Take Bayh's dramatic exit. "I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should," he says. "There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving." All true enough. You'd expect that he'd then diagnose the problem and explain how he'll help fix it. But nope. Instead, he simply laments it and then says he'd like a job "helping grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning or helping run a worthy charitable endeavor."
Respectable goals all, but small ball for a senator who has concluded that the American legislative system is so crippled that he can no longer bear to participate in it. Even in this, his most dramatic hour, Bayh was unable to be more than a perfectly typical politician, seeking praise for raising his voice while doing nothing to solve the problem.
__________________________________________
Reminder: EDC 2010 Luncheon Series – February 24th Luncheon, “What is Bad Air Costing Us?”
From: EDC Chicago edcchicago@ameritech.net
Subject: Reminder Wednesday Luncheon
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:10:03 -0600
To: EDC Chicago edcchicago@ameritech.net
2010 Luncheon Series – February 24th Luncheon
“What is Bad Air Costing Us?”
LaTrice Porter-Thomas
Environmental Quality Manager
Cook County Department of Public Health
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, Noon
The Tower Club, 20 North Wacker Drive, 39th Floor
Chicago, Illinois
Join the Economic Development Council on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 as we continue our monthly luncheon series with a noon time presentation by LaTrice Porter-Thomas, Environmental Quality Manager, Cook County Department of Public Health. Ms. Porter-Thomas will present, "What is Bad Air Costing Us?"
Latrice Porter-Thomas graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health, majoring in Industrial Hygiene and began working at the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). She left CCDPH after 3 years for the private sector and she returned to CCDPH three years later to manage the newly created Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)/Toxicology Program. Over the years, this program has been instrumental in educating the residents of Cook County and municipal staff on such IAQ issues as, environmental tobacco smoke, asthma, radon and mold, to name a few.
In 2002, West Nile Virus (WNV) surfaced and proved to be a significant public health threat in Cook County. LaTrice was assigned the lead in monitoring avian and mosquito activity throughout the County in order to gauge human risk. She was promoted to her current position as Environmental Quality Manager. In addition to her above duties, this position also included supervision of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
The luncheon is at noon at the Tower Club, 39th floor, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago. The cost of the lunch and program is $40 for EDC members and $65 for non-members. There is no charge for EDC Corporate and Sustaining Members.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, Noon
Tower Club, 20 N. Wacker Drive, 39th Floor, Chicago
Fee: M $40, NM $65
Reservations are mandatory and are made by replying to this email (edcchicago@ameritech.net), by calling our office at 773-279-8787 or prepaying online. To prepay online visit our website www.edcchicago.org or click one of the links below.
EDC MEMBERS click here to buy a ticket
NON-MEMBERS click here to buy a ticket
__________________________________________
Reminder: Feb. 24: Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable - SPECIAL "Show-and-Tell" Networking Meeting
Subject: REMINDER: Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable - SPECIAL "Show-and-Tell" Networ
Date: 2/19/2010 12:02:20 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: smcg@chicagobooth.edu
Reply To: smcg@am3inc.net
To: marketing-roundtable@lists.chicagobooth.edu
Topic: SPECIAL "Show-and-Tell" Networking Meeting
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Time: 6:00 Registration
6:30 - 8:00 Program
8:00 - Networking and Cash Bar
Location: Gleacher Center - Room 100
To RSVP: Register on-line at:
http://cbac.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=87&club_id=507662&item_id=118327
Questions? Please contact Vivek Prabhu at vivek.r.prabhu@gmail.com.
Session Overview
This is a special evening! In our "show-and-tell" networking meeting, you're invited to bring an item of interest to share with fellow participants. You may want to –
Show a sample of your work.
Come with a BRIEF marketing case to share, from your company or perhaps from a client with whom you have worked.
Discuss a resource that you believe others will find helpful, such as your favorite book, journal, website, chat-room or blog.
And, feel free to use some or all of your time to ask the group for help in whatever form would be most valuable to you right now. Think of what would help your business or career: Business leads? Job leads? Specific marketing resources that others have found useful? People you'd like to meet? Tell us -- the chances are that someone who can be helpful to you will be in the room!
A Note About Participation
Participation at any time in this meeting is strictly optional, and WHAT you choose to share is up to you. The purpose is to get to know each other better so we can offer mutual support, both now and in the future. No Powerpoint is expected ... we're informal tonight! (Although we WILL have an LCD projector available if you wish to use it.)
After our show-and-tell, we'll break for some networking. You'll have a chance to personally meet anyone who has said they have a resource or idea to share, and get acquainted. We'll also conclude with our usual cocktail hour in the nearby Cityfront Lounge! (Cash bar.)
* * * * *
Special Note
Once again, we'll set up a Literature Table in the front registration area before the meeting. You may use the table to distribute copies of anything (within reason) that communicates your business, your capabilities, and/or career interests. This would include a brochure, a fact sheet, a resume, or other items of interest. This will give us all an opportunity to share our interests and find ways to help each other achieve goals.
* * *
Discounted Parking
Chicago Booth has arranged with the AMC Theater-River East Self parking Garage to provide discounted parking:
300 East Illinois Street (AMC Theater-River East Self Park Garage)
$6.00 after 3:00pm
Garage: Self Park Facility
Payment: Automated; at pay-stations by cash or credit card or upon exit pay by credit card only.
To receive discounted rate: There is a card validator at the first floor security desk of the Gleacher Center. The new system for the AMC Theater- River East Self Park Garage is automated. You will only need to insert your parking card in the validator and the new price will be automatically applied. You can validate your parking ticket at any time between your arrival at and departure from the Gleacher Center. When you leave the lot you will be charged for the lower $6.00 fee.
Detailed Directions :
Garage is located next to PJ Clarks and below the AMC Theater.
a) When traveling east on Illinois cross over Columbus and enter the Garage on the left (north) side of the street.
b) If driving west on Grand (north of Theater), you can enter the garage ½ block before Columbus on the left (south) side of the street.
* * *
CHECK YOUR CHICAGO WEEKLY FOR OTHER CHICAGO BOOTH ALUMNI EVENTS OF INTEREST:
For information on other coming Chicago Booth Roundtable meetings, Chicago Booth Alumni Club events, and other alumni events of interest, visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/chicagoweekly/. The Chicago Weekly is updated every Thursday.
* * * * *
ABOUT THE MARKETING ROUNDTABLE
Our mission: The mission of the Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable is to help Chicago alumni and a broader community of marketing professionals learn more, meet other colleagues, and solve marketing issues. Our vision is to be the first choice for learning and sharing new marketing ideas.
About our meetings: Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable meetings are typically scheduled at the downtown campus (Gleacher Center), on the last Wednesday of each month (with some variation), from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. They are free of charge, and no food is served. (Food is available, if you wish, in the cafeteria.) Room location is posted each month at the front desk. Please note date is subject to change - check calendar listing for details.
Guests: Your guests who have an active interest in marketing are always welcome via your personal invitation. Please RSVP and let us know how many to expect! (But please don't post this or any Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable announcement in any public forum).
Got a topic idea? If you have a topic idea, a presenter to recommend, or any questions or suggestions, please contact any Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable Steering Team member:
Bijoy Chacko, 847 598 7016, chackobe@yahoo.com
Peg Conway, 312.347.3918, margaret.conway@cmegroup.com
Manmohan Gupta, manmohan1@gmail.com
Jordan Katz, 312-288-2422, Jordan_Katz@gallup.com
Scott McGarvey, 312.648.6275, smcg@chicagobooth.edu
Vivek Prabhu, (312) 493 4987, vivek.r.prabhu@gmail.com
Les Stern, 847.205.1936, les@lsternmktg.com
Jim Steuer, 773-935-7208, JSEChicago@aol.com
Galen Williams, 312.810.1300, gwmw@sbcglobal.net
________________________________________________
END OF REPORT |