The Life Science Entrepreneur

Bioo Scientific and Texas Tech Collaborate to Suppress the Progression of HIV Using Targeted RNAi

2009-11-16T13:49:00.000-08:00

Dr Premlata Shankar, Professor and Co-Director, Center of Excellence of Infectious Disease Research at Texas Tech University, who has developed RNAi-based treatment methods for HIV infection, recently entered into a collaborative research agreement with Bioo Therapeutics, a division of Bioo Scientific, to leverage their T3™ technology to facilitate the targeted delivery of siRNA into T cells. Dr. Shankar has already successfully used RNAi to dramatically suppress HIV infection in mice by knocking down three key genes which prevented the HIV infection from spreading.

Bioo Scientific’s T3 Technology will allow Dr Shankar to precisely target the delivery of siRNAs in vivo into T-cells, although it can be used to target any cell type. The patent pending T3 Technology functions by conjugating an RNAi agent carrier to a monoclonal antibody to produce a conjugate, which is then loaded with an RNAi agent such as siRNA or miRNA molecules. The RNAi agent loaded conjugate is administered to an animal where it binds to and is internalized by cells recognized by the monoclonal antibody. The RNAi agent is then released to reduce the expression of its intended target. T3 technology can propel the validation of animal experimentation, leading to a better understanding of cellular pathways, the identification of novel drug targets, and the ability to more efficiently deliver RNAi agents as drugs.

“I am delighted to join forces with Bioo Scientific in the development of an advanced monoclonal antibody based technology for targeted delivery of siRNA to T cells and potentially other cell types” Dr. Shankar said. “By combining our scientific expertise and resources, we can speed up the development of robust enabling platforms for efficient delivery to desired cells and tissues in vivo which is critical for translating siRNAs into a novel class of drugs to treat human diseases.”

About Bioo Therapeutics
Bioo Therapeutics is a division of Bioo Scientific, is an Austin, TX based biotechnology company that provides innovative solutions to the life science industry. Bioo Therapeutics was launched to leverage Bioo Scientific’s proprietary drug delivery vehicles and extensive experience in antibody and small molecule research to use as a basis to develop therapeutic agents to combat cancer and other diseases. For more information about Bioo Therapeutics, visit www.biootherapeutics.com.

Bioo Scientific Launches a New Division, Bioo Therapeutics

2009-11-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Bioo Therapeutics, a division of Bioo Scientific, was launched today to leverage Bioo Scientific’s proprietary drug delivery vehicles and extensive experience in antibody and small molecule research to use as a basis to develop therapeutic agents to combat cancer and other diseases. Bioo Therapeutics flagship drug delivery technology is a patent pending antibody conjugation technology which delivers small RNA drugs into specifically targeted cells or tissues. The scientists at Bioo Scientific have made significant strides in developing and using antibody-based agents for the directed delivery of short interfering RNAs by improving the loading capacity of antibody drug carriers and demonstrating their ability to successfully deliver small RNAs into tumors generated from cells expressing the cell surface target. Drugs or toxins can be attached to monoclonal antibodies which target a specific cell type forming monoclonal antibody conjugates. These monoclonal antibody conjugates are used as homing devices to deliver these substances directly into targeted cells. This patent pending technology can revolutionize the delivery of siRNA and other RNAi agents, as well as, other more traditional drugs.

"Bioo Therapeutics is actively seeking to partner with pharmaceutical companies or venture capitalists to make possible the therapeutic potential of this technology. This effort will advance targeted drug delivery which is vitally important for the development of new cures and treatments of cancer," said Lance Ford, VP of Research and Business Development for Bioo Scientific. This research is being supported by funding in part through grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) and clients.

About Bioo Therapeutics
Bioo Therapeutics is a division of Bioo Scientific, is an Austin, TX based biotechnology company that provides innovative solutions to the life science industry. Bioo Therapeutics was launched to leverage Bioo Scientific’s proprietary drug delivery vehicles and extensive experience in antibody and small molecule research to use as a basis to develop therapeutic agents to combat cancer and other diseases. For more information about Bioo Therapeutics, visit http://www.biootherapeutics.com.

Bioo Scientific Won Tech Innovation Award for Technology that Detects Melamine Contamination

2009-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Director of Protein Chemistry and Engineering at Bioo Scientific, Dr Joe Krebs, won the Austin Business Journal’s 2009 Tech Innovator of the Year award in the Biotech/Medical division, for his work on the MaxSignal® Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit. Eighty six people who demonstrated excellence in innovative technological advancement were nominated for the 2009 Tech Innovator of the Year award. Dr Krebs won this award because his work on this kit will protect our food and pharmaceutical supply by allowing companies and government agencies to quickly and inexpensively screen for melamine contamination. The MaxSignal® Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit is a low-cost, high-throughput colorimetric test kit, which detects melamine in food and pharmaceutical samples.

Recently, melamine has rapidly emerged as a major threat to the world’s food and pharmaceutical supplies. Melamine is a dangerous, nitrogen rich organic compound that is illegally added to food and feed to increase the apparent protein content values of food products. Consumption of melamine causes highly insoluble melamine cyanurate crystals to form in the kidney, which damage renal cells and can result in renal failure or death. The recent establishment of a 1µg/g (1 ppm) safety threshold for melamine in infant foods has led to an immediate need for sensitive melamine detection methods.

Based on Bioo Scientific’s patent-pending technology, Dr Joe Krebs and Ms. Jessica Brill, developed a test that meets the requirements of low-cost, speed and simplicity which are desperately needed by food and feed safety customers; a community comprised of government regulatory agencies such as USDA and FDA analysts, as well as academic labs, food processing plants and retailers.

About Bioo Scientific Corporation
Bioo Scientific Corporation is an Austin, TX based biotechnology company that provides innovative solutions to the life science industry. Bioo Scientific offers a complete portfolio of products and services for academic, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and molecular diagnostics laboratories, and for organizations that perform food and feed safety analysis.

As a world leader in food safety testing, Bioo Scientific is dedicated to improving the safety of the world’s food and feed supply by developing accurate, affordable tools, which allow companies to readily screen for pathogens and contaminants. Bioo Scientific’s products are used around the world and can be purchased both directly or through our global distribution network that markets our products in more than 40 countries. For more information about Bioo Scientific, visit www.biooscientific.com.

Bioo Scientific Awarded USDA Grant for Development of Technology to Detect Food Contaminants

2009-10-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

The safety of the public food supply is an important global public health issue. Last year over 300,000 people were hospitalized with food poisoning in the US alone. Because of recent food contamination incidents, Congress just passed a sweeping reform of the food-safety system that will require improved testing of domestically produced and imported food. This reform increases the need for sensitive, reliable and affordable assays to screen and protect our food supply.

As a demonstration of the commitment by the US government to food safety, Bioo Scientific was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant totaling $350,000 from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the development of a new technology to detect the presence of contaminants in food and feed. Bioo Scientific is developing innovative enzymatic assays that are ideal for the detection of low molecular weight analytes, such as melamine, which are too small to be measured accurately using ELISA assays (a traditional assay used for food testing). These assays will be an effective new tool for developing improved procedures for comprehensive yet cost-effective screening of food samples for melamine and other contaminants to better ensure the safety of our food and feed supply.

About Bioo Scientific Corporation
Bioo Scientific Corporation is an Austin, TX based biotechnology company that provides innovative solutions to the life science industry. Bioo Scientific offers a complete portfolio of products and services for academic, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and molecular diagnostics laboratories, and for organizations that perform food and feed safety analysis.
As a world leader in food safety testing, Bioo Scientific is dedicated to improving the safety of the world’s food and feed supply by developing accurate, affordable tools, which allow companies to readily screen for pathogens and contaminants. Bioo Scientific’s products are used around the world and can be purchased both directly or through our global distribution network that markets our products in more than 40 countries. For more information about Bioo Scientific, visit www.biooscientific.com.

Bioo Scientific Facilitates the Analysis of Melamine Contamination in Pharmaceutical Ingredients

2009-08-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

In response to the Melamine Contamination Guidance recently announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bioo Scientific is developing protocols to allow the MaxSignal® Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit to be used to screen pharmaceutical ingredients for melamine contamination. Earlier this month the FDA announced that certain pharmaceutical ingredients used in the manufacture of drug products should be tested for melamine. Melamine is a dangerous, nitrogen rich organic compound that has been recently found in milk products and pet food. Consumption of melamine causes highly insoluble melamine cyanurate crystals to form in the kidney, which damage renal cells and can result in renal failure or death. While melamine contamination has not been found in pharmaceutical products, the FDA wants to implement controls to assure consumers that melamine contamination of the pharmaceutical supply chain will not occur.

Bioo Scientific’s MaxSignal Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit allows pharmaceutical companies to quickly and inexpensively screen pharmaceutical ingredients for melamine contamination. The MaxSignal Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit is a rapid aqueous extraction method that is able to detect down to 0.2 ppm of melamine. According to Dr. Joe Krebs, Director of Protein Chemistry and Engineering at Bioo Scientific, “The robust, specific ability of our unique enzyme reagent to detect melamine in a wide range of chemical matrices makes the Bioo Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit the ideal choice for rapid, cost-effective detection of melamine adulteration in pharmaceutical components.” Bioo Scientific looks forward to working closely with the pharma industry to address this growing health concern. The MaxSignal® Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit is a USDA funded project (2008-33610-18948).

Bioo Scientific Awarded SBIR Grant for Development of Targeted RNAi In Vivo Delivery Technology

2009-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Bioo Scientific, an Austin, TX based biotechnology company, announced today that it has been awarded a $500,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation for the development of a targeted in vivo RNA Interference (RNAi) delivery technology. RNAi is an invaluable technique to characterize gene function and is being evaluated for the treatment of numerous human diseases. According to Lance Ford, Bioo Scientific’s VP of Research and Business Development, “While technologies are widely available for RNAi agent delivery into cells grown on plastic dishes in specially designed incubators, to fully understand gene functions and cellular pathways, in vitro results must be validated in animals. Currently, there are no commercial technologies for the targeted, in vivo delivery of RNAi agents and Bioo Scientific intends to fill this gap”. This grant will enable Bioo Scientific to develop kits and reagents based on the patent-pending Targeted Transport Technology (T3).

T3 involves conjugating an RNAi agent carrier to a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to produce a conjugate, which is then loaded with an RNAi agent such as siRNA and miRNA molecules. The RNAi agent loaded conjugate is administered to an animal where it binds to and is internalized by cells recognized by the mAb. The RNAi agent is then released to reduce the expression of its intended target. T3 will propel the validation of animal experimentation, leading to a better understanding of cellular pathways, the identification of novel drug targets, and the ability to more efficiently deliver RNAi agents as drugs.

Top 10 Trends in Life Science Marketing Webinar

2009-05-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please join us for this free, 45-minute webinar and learn about the top 10 trends that are changing the face of life science marketing. Constrained budgets, technological advancements, and changes in customers’ expectations are a few of the drivers of these trends. This session will provide a summary of these key trends and discuss how to use them to connect with life scientists.

What you will learn:

How to effectively deploy webinars for increased brand awareness and pipeline fortification

Three simple suggestions for gaining immediate benefit from social marketing

The rise and importance of virtual trade shows

Online advertising options that generate optimal results

Leveraging mobile technology for life science marketing

The webinar will be held on May 28th at 12:00 Eastern Time

Register now

Bioo Scientific Receives Grant for the Development of Novel Anti-Viral Therapeutics

2009-05-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

When a virus uncoats its genome after it infects a cell, the cell theoretically has a golden opportunity to attack the unprotected genome before it starts the process of making viral-specific products that cause problems in the cell. Researchers at Colorado State University have recently discovered a mechanism by which several viruses specifically suppress aspects of the cell in order to stabilize their nucleic acids to promote an efficient infection. This finding has revealed a prospective 'Achilles' heel' for viruses that has significant therapeutic potential. In a partnership with Colorado State and the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Bioo Scientific recently received a $1.25 million, 5 year grant award to develop novel methodologies and compounds that will specifically overcome this viral suppression mechanism and allow cells to effectively attack viral nucleic acids.

“We are pleased to be able to contribute our expertise in drug discovery and development to this project” said Dr. Lance Ford, Bioo’s VP for Research and Development. “We are also very much looking forward to working with the cadre of biodefense-oriented microbiologists in the Rocky Mountain region. One aspect of the project that we find particularly exciting is that the treatments we will be developing could then be used to treat infections with multiple viruses of biodefense significance. Theoretically, the therapeutics could even be effective against rapidly evolving viruses like influenza.”

Venture capital boot camp and forum for women-led life science companies

2009-04-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Springboard Enterprises, a national non-profit organization, is currently taking applications from women-led life science companies for the AllThingsLifeSciences 2009 Venture Capital Forum. The companies selected to present at AllThingsLifeSciences 2009 will participate in Springboard Enterprises’ boot camp coaching program. These companies will also be paired with a dedicated team of life science experts and investors who will assist the entrepreneurs with refining the content and delivery of their investor presentation.

To apply or for more information visit Springboard Enterprises. Good luck!

PR Essentials — Getting Effective PR Coverage

2009-03-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Develop a professional website
Make it easy for PR professionals to find your newsworthy information and to contact you.

Write and distribute press releases
Regularly send out press releases of any newsworthy information through distribution channels and targeted media lists.

Establish yourself as an expert in your field
Two of the best ways to do this are by speaking at conferences or writing articles for trade publications.

Develop relationships with the media
Know which writers (including bloggers) cover your area and make sure they know you. Send them your press releases personally and let them know that you are available to answer their questions.

Incorporate social media into your PR campaigns
In today's PR environment social networks, online expert sources and web-induced stories are changing the nature and speed of public relations; therefore, social network marketing should be incorporated into all of your PR campaigns.

Monitor what is being said about you
Google Alerts, Blogdigger and Technorati are just a few of the free tools available for monitoring what people are saying about your company.

Happy Birthday Charles Darwin

2009-02-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Do you think that Charles Darwin ever imagined what type of effect his Theory of Evolution would have on the world? It was obvious even in his lifetime that Darwin's theory revolutionized the study of biology. But now, 200 years after his birth (and 150 years after he published On the Origin of Species), he is still making newspaper headlines. There are few scientists that can say that! Happy birthday Charles Darwin! I hope that you are still as popular 200 years from now (although hopefully not as controversial).

Here are some of the latest articles published in Science and Nature concerning evolution:

A new find pushes origins back 100 million years to an ice-encased Earth. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/204/1

Human hunting alters organisms' size and breeding schedule three times faster than natural forces. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/112/3

The idea that natural selection acts on groups, as well as individuals, is a source of unending debate. Marek Kohn reports on what the two sides disagree about — and why it matters to them. http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081119/full/456296a.html

While not new research, here are 15 wonderfully written examples published by Nature over the past decade or so which illustrate the breadth, depth and power of evolutionary thinking. http://www.nature.com/nature/newspdf/evolutiongems.pdf

Timing PR for Startups

2009-02-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

Timing the release of your first PR campaign should be determined by your company’s goals. Typically launching a PR campaign before your product is ready to deliver is a bad idea. Customers can become disappointed and irritated if they try to purchase a product that is not available. This also tends to upset the employees who have direct contact with the disgruntled customers. Additionally, it will tip off the competition to your plans and give them time to prepare for your launch.

However, there are a few situations where an early PR campaign can benefit a startup.

Some startups want to launch a PR campaign before their product is ready to sell in order to build buzz for a product launch. This should only be done if you can accurately predict when your product will be available and if your competition cannot quickly copy your product.

Startups trying to obtain financing can benefit from using a PR campaign to catch the attention of venture capitalists, angel investors, or other investing partners.

Startups in rapidly developing areas can use early PR campaigns to establish themselves as experts in their field.

Startups with products that have long purchase cycles may want to contact potential customers as early as possible to stay competitive.

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund is Accepting Applications

2009-01-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund is a $200 million dollar investment fund designed to bring the best scientists and researchers to Texas. It is meant to seed disruptive technologies in the following sectors:

Biotechnology & Life Science
Nanotechnology
Advanced Manufacturing & Technology
Energy
Semiconductors
Aerospace & Defense
Petroleum & Chemical Processes
Information & Computer Technology

The goal of the ETF Commercialization Awards is to grow new small businesses and existing businesses to accelerate new products and services to the marketplace to ensure a vibrant economy for Texas and a global leadership position. For more information about how to apply for pre-seed or seed stage money visit the EFT website at http://www.texasone.us/site/PageServer?pagename=tetf_homepage. Good luck!

New Report Describes How Life Science Companies Can Leverage Social Networking Sites

2009-01-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

Today, Red Bridge Marketing released a free whitepaper describing how life science companies can use social networking sites to help meet their corporate goals. Social Network Marketing: The Basics is the first in a series of whitepapers exploring how life science companies can incorporate social media into their marketing activities.

“We live in an exciting time” said Tiffany Smith, Red Bridge Marketing’s co-founder and principal. “Social networking has been growing exponentially the last few years, and companies need to act now to make the most of this direct and inexpensive platform for connecting with customers.”

The whitepaper, Social Network Marketing: The Basics, describes how social networks are altering the way that scientists make purchase decisions. It also details how companies are incorporating social networking into their marketing plans to:

· Increase product and brand awareness
· Increase web traffic
· Improve SEO
· Increase customer loyalty
· Increase success of new product launches

The second paper in the series, Social Network Marketing: Tips for Success will be available in February. For a copy of the whitepapers, contact Red Bridge Marketing at info@redbridgemarketing.com.

Business Plan Competition for Austin-based start-ups

2008-12-17T10:29:00.001-08:00

BiGAustin is seeking entries for its BiG IDEA Business Plan Competition. The BiG IDEA Business Plan Competition is a premier platform for identifying and showcasing entrepreneurial talent in Central Texas. The competition challenges business owners to showcase their business ventures.

Top 3 finalists will present their plans to an audience of over 500 people at the April 17, 2009 BiGIDEA Day Luncheon, where the winner is announced. This annual sold out event is attended by bankers, early stage investors, business leaders, small business owners and local media. Finalists and their business operations will benefit from exposure through activities leading up to The BiGIDEA Day. Winners will receive$10K in cash and prizes.
To learn more about the BiG IDEA Business Plan Competition visit: http://www.bigaustin.org/business_plan_competition.htm

BioVentis Consulting, helping biotech companies raise capital

2008-12-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

This week we interviewed Afif Ghannoum, a principal at BioVentis Consulting (http://www.bioventisconsulting.com/ ). Afif works with clients to formulate corporate strategies, assess technical consulting needs, and identify possible sources of funding, such as grants and private investment opportunities. He also speaks on topics relating to biotechnology, including "SBIR Grant Basics" and "The Top Ten Legal Issues Facing Biotechnology Companies." Before founding BioVentis, he was an attorney at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, and Baker Hostetler, two of the largest firms in the country. As a transactional attorney, part of his practice included representing biotechnology companies at various stages of development. His team has been successful in securing multiple "fast-track" SBIR grants, and includes Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum who has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1995, and is a recipient of the prestigious Bristol-Myers Squibb "Freedom to Discover" award. Dr. Ghannoum also happens to be Afif's father.
Afif can be contacted at afif@bioventisconsulting.com or you can follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/Afif_Ghannoum

What is BioVentis Consulting's primary focus? While we are a general service biotech consulting firm, our primary focus is identifying possible sources of funding, and assisting clients in securing such funding. That includes preparing grant applications, drafting investor proposals, and creating investor presentations. However, our capabilities definitely extend beyond funding assistance. Our consultants assist clients in many other ways, including pre-clinical invitro and invivo evaluation, biomedical writing and reports, and developing strategies for filing FDA applications.

How does BioVentis Consulting help life science companies get funding? We help life science companies secure funding by taking a multi-faceted approach. Nowadays, companies cannot rely on one single avenue of funding, and must be prepared to have several irons in the fire. That is why we work to identify grants (local, state, and federal) that clients may be eligible for, and private investors that are seeking investment opportunities. Once sources of funding are identified, we also assist clients in creating applications, proposals and presentations in order to pursue and secure such funding.

Who should be applying for the SBIR grants? While all life science companies should at least consider SBIR/STTR grants as an option, SBIR/STTR grants are meant to foster innovation. Therefore companies will have to demonstrate what they are doing is innovative, and also show how the grant money will further that innovation. That is definitely a simplistic overview of the SBIR/STTR grant requirements, but gets to the heart of the SBIR/STTR grants.

Why do you think the time is ripe to apply for grant funding? Just two years ago, all a life science entrepreneur needed was a good idea to get significant funding through private equity and venture capital sources. Those days are long gone. Many of those funding sources are concentrating on investments they already have on their books, and waiting out the economy before aggressively looking at other opportunities. Not to say there is not any venture capital and private equity money out there, there definitely is, but it is certainly harder to get a piece of that pie today than in the past. The time is therefore ripe for companies to assess whether they are eligible to receive funding through grants.

Do you have any advice for people who are thinking about starting a company in the life science industry? Everyone knows that the first thing an entrepreneur should do is put together a solid business plan before starting a company. Any business website will tell you that, and it is definitely sounds advice. However, once that is accomplished, it is imperative that entrepreneurs retain legal counsel from the get-go to ensure they do not make any costly mistakes that are hard to undo later on. This applies doubly for life science companies, which are often founded around a single piece of intellectual property. If appropriate steps are not taken to protect that intellectual property, be it through filing a patent, or drafting a solid licensing agreement, companies can find themselves in a big (and costly) mess down the road.

Funding opportunity for life science companies

2008-12-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Zino Society is looking for life sciences entrepreneurs seeking funding to attend ZENO Life, their Life Sciences Investment Forum. Twelve early stage or expansion companies in the areas of life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, and health-care information technology looking for start up or expansion capital will be selected. For more information read the entire article at:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ZINO-Societys-Call-Life-Sciences/story.aspx?guid=%7B6EB5BA5E-C0CB-41C5-8ECD-57C45DEE78D5%7D

LabRoots, The Social Networking Site for Scientists

2008-12-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

Our first interview will be with Greg Cruikshank, Chief Executive Officer and President of LabRoots (http://www.labroots.com/). Greg has a B.S. Degree in Biological Sciences from California State University Fullerton. He brings 10 years of Life Science & Biotech Sales & Marketing experience from companies such as Beckman Coulter, GSK, and Scientist Solutions. He worked for over 5 years selling capital equipment for Beckman Coulter and was awarded “Salesman of the Year” 4 years in a row. Greg then transitioned over to the pharmaceutical sector selling for GlaxoSmithKline for a short period of time before moving to the Internet. For the last 3 years Greg worked for the start-up internet company, Scientist Solutions. Greg was brought on board to generate ad revenue, increase sales, and manage all marketing activities.

What is LabRoots? LabRoots (http://www.labroots.com/) is a free, social networking (web 2.0) site that enables scientists, engineers and other technical professionals to connect, collaborate with, and learn from each other. LabRoots facilitates scientific communication, incorporates advanced data mining techniques to improve targeted communication between scientists, focuses on scientists from all disciplines, and reaches a global audience.

Can you explain the difference between LabRoots and other social networking sites out there? LabRoots, like most other social networking websites, has all the general networking tools such as connections, groups, profiling, and Q&A – but what we’ve done is we’ve built science related applications to compliment them. We have Live News Feeds from science sources; a Publications feature with thousands of publication from reputable sources such as PubMed, IEEE, NASA, and the Gartner Group (we have the API of these sources); an Events feature with hundreds of science events; a Blogging feature; a Jobs feature; a Reviews feature giving our users a portal to articulate their opinions of product, services, schools, books, companies, papers, and more; the ability for our users to Comment/Vote/and Share on any content from the site. Our site has a data mining technology so every profile on the site is mined to bring relevant information to each user. This is great for both our users and advertisers.

How important to the company is your scientific advisory board? Very important. Our Board has helped guide us through difficult decisions and given us insight on many levels.

How are you funding LabRoots? Private investors and revenue from the site.

What issues have you run into that you were not prepared for? Financing is really the most important ingredient to starting a new company. Without funding any company will go under. I would say the biggest issue we have run in to is the failing economy. Who could have predicted this would happen? I don’t think we could have picked a worse time to start our new company, but we did and we will persevere. In addition to the funding issue, finding the right developer is very important. We’ve had our issues with developers, so it’s always good to have find developer(s) with strong background and experience, and people you can trust.