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THE US HEALTHCARE'S OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR is trying to unleash startups to solve healthcare delivery problems, and as such offers innovative young companies an opportunity to make proposals and collaborate. Increasingly, private-public partnership opportunities are emerging, and are real venues for early stage technology companies. http://lnkd.in/VatQVQ View in LinkedIn

HONESTY IN LEADERS HAS A HUGE IMPACT, as seen in this fired CEO's letter to employees. If you are faced with a crisis moment, reflect upon the benefits of honest disclosure. If you have the courage to do it, it will reflect well on you, and if you do not have that courage, everyone will see through your fluff and evasion. Are you really going to "spend more time with my family" as the reason for leaving a leadership position? A great read. http://m.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/fired-groupon-ceos-refreshingly-blunt-memo-to-employees/2013/02/28/a5c9f584-820a-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html View in LinkedIn

THE VA CENTER FOR INNOVATION has engaged in Open Source innovation in search of new ideas (yes, even in Washington!). It appears to have become innovative (really) and multidisciplinary. Worth investigating for public- private collaborative projects. http://lnkd.in/JeYYXb View in LinkedIn

ALONG WITH THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT in early stage tech companies, ensure that everyone signs a disclaimer that says they will not use protected or trade secret ideas from past employment in your NewCo. This protects NewCo from sloppy work in developing new inventions. Suppose you hire BigCo's brightest scientist. Coup! They are sloppy and apply some trade secret from BigCo to your new invention. You can (and will if it's a big idea) be sued by BigCo and it's Game Over. Be scrupulous about this stuff because it is dead serious. View in LinkedIn

ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS TO THE COMPANY BY ALL STAFF in early stage tech companies is something that MUST be done day one by everybody. Along with the CDA and any contract, ensure that everybody signs the Assignment agreement. Example of what happens if not: Scientist and Founder fall out. Scientist refuses to give Founder key data. No recourse for Founder without Assignment agreement. This is a very common and often fatal omission in early stage companies. Generic agreements are available on the Internet. View in LinkedIn

A SURPRISE FINDING IN MENTAL DISEASE of distinct illnesses being genetically clustered continues to bolt the foundations of these terrible diseases to biology, rather than 'character', and with this knowledge, will inevitably (eventually) help guide the search for effective drugs to treat these conditions. http://lnkd.in/iP9KCk View in LinkedIn

EXPERIENCE IS AN ODD QUALITY to quantify. Mentors and Advisors to entrepreneurs are often sought not for their in-depth expertise, but for their experience. This is that fuzzy combination of: been-there-done-that, connections, worldly awareness of the history of graveyards, gut feel about strategies, the ability of empathic listening, and calm-in-the-storm under fire. It is not what the mentor started with in early life, that was more related to expertise, but is suited to their stage in later life. Go find a mentor, young entrepreneur! View in LinkedIn

AN INTERESTING CONTRARIAN VIEW ON COMPANION DIAGNOSTICS from an industry veteran with a realist's perspective. Noting that the companion diagnostic field in oncology is likely to get crowded, and speculating about the impact of this on reimbursement, he offers a cautionary perspective. Remember, though, that private pay by patients in dire need may trump the need fir reimbursement, as most of these patients go to great lengths to get the best treatment. http://www.diaceutics.com/pm-partnering-pharma-retort View in LinkedIn

BARCELONA HOSTS THE MWC, amid a lot of buzz and excitement. This region of Spain is home to a really vibrant entrepreneurial community in high tech. Even Telefonica, the giant telecom, has an incubator for ideas and new ventures in the city. This region of Spain is also vibrant in the Smart City scene, and Biopharma. No longer just a fantastic vacation destination, Barcelona is a player in early stage companies. http://lnkd.in/wU_J3X View in LinkedIn

ANGEL INVESTORS play a critical role in financing one of the hardest rounds -- the first one (Seed round). In the US, most VCs are not active in Seed rounds, while in Europe they are much more active in this space. Two key considerations in Angel deals are board seats and valuation. If the Angel has no sector experience, they do not typically add value on the board. secondly, if possible, avoid valuation-tied deals, and instead offer a discount against the next Series A round. Angel-set valuations can be big problems for Series A rounds if they are set significantly too high or too low. http://lnkd.in/mX9PM3 View in LinkedIn