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YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. Sounds obvious? Think of the many BlowHards you know that do not think this way. If you bear this in mind, it will help give you genuine humility and curiosity. A know-it-all never constructs their world with this fundamental viewpoint. Why does it matter? Because you cannot be curious without humility. And genuine curiosity is perhaps one of the greatest assets an innovator can have. View in LinkedIn

BOSTON GAVE BIRTH TO THE US BIOTECH INDUSTRY and is now reaping the benefits with anchor companies and a critical mass. Those other bio-clusters worldwide who wish to emulate this success can learn from Boston's lessons. http://lnkd.in/ckN927 View in LinkedIn

SEEKING VC MONEY? Then you need to read this thoughtful commentary about pure investor-VCs vs former entrepreneur VCs. A key issue to watch is whether the successful entrepreneur-VC has an ego that is out of control or not. That much success can do a real number on ego balance. http://lnkd.in/qQZ-Cg View in LinkedIn

HALF OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS CHANGES THEIR BUSINESS MODEL, a large jump over the year before. Stay current or become history. http://lnkd.in/5DSrv4 View in LinkedIn

"I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT CATALUNYA" is a phrase I have heard many times since moving here a year ago, from level-headed smart executives. This is a statement that I could never imagine being uttered by a British citizen, for instance, and worldwide is a rare sentiment. Add to this sentiment great food, great weather, great culture and a modern infrastructure, and it is no wonder that Barcelona is becoming an emerging Silicon Valley. View in LinkedIn

THE OPTIMIZED CUSTOMER is a business strategy employed by many huge companies. In short, while the customer is very unhappy, they are either tied to the service or it is a monopoly. The company does not care about these unhappy customers. Tried to complain in these situations and get the "on hold" loop and more? This strategy is cynically anti-innovative, anti almost everything good about great customer relations. See it with telecom, electricity, and credit card giants. Even Kafka would have been driven mad. It is a sign of Big is Awful. View in LinkedIn

THE INVENTION OF THE LIDODERM PATCH is an interesting story. Dr Harry Hind was a bay area pharmacist in the days when they did a lot of creative compounding of medicines. His wife had herpes simplex neuralgia (excruciating pain). Weekly lidocaine irrigations gave temporary relief. He went into his basement and tinkered around with topical lidocaine formulations, and found, surprisingly, it had lasting efficacy on his wife. He got a Japanese patch manufacturer involved, and licensed it to Athena Neuroscience for 1 million upfront and 10% royalties. This product grew to a billion in sales. View in LinkedIn

A GOOD BOARD CAN BE INVALUABLE and this article offers some useful guidelines, and sanguine cautions about inexperienced or over-reaching VCs. Choosing compatible VCs is perhaps more important than choosing a good board, especially as they often have a big say in the board composition. http://lnkd.in/nTNYVQ View in LinkedIn

73% OF THE UNIVERSE IS MADE OF DARK MATTER AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS. This should be a humbling piece of information to those who believe we know more. Science is a process of hypothesis, and experimental verification, and new theory building, an ongoing and cyclical process. Be humble. Be curious. View in LinkedIn

BEING A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY IS ENORMOUSLY BURDENSOME and difficult. If entrepreneurs think this is the best outcome for liquidity, please think again. Clue: why would companies spend vast resources to go private? I am waiting for this liquidity option to be disrupted by some clever alternative, because the whole industry around public companies is strangling the life out of innovation. http://lnkd.in/vz6DHd View in LinkedIn