Category: Uncategorized

LIP SERVICE TO IP" "" "Catalan tech companies usually start on a single IP source, and never expand upon it. The US PATENT OFFICE (www.yspto.gov) has over 7 M patents, only ~25% are licensed. Go and seek IP that can bolster your protection. It is often cheaper than you think. View in LinkedIn

CATALAN COMPANIES DON'T UNDERSTAND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT" "" "BD is not about delegations. BD is about taking the universe and creating exclusion circles to pinpoint the perfect partner abroad. And then generating a customized value proposition, finding a high-level introduction, and making the killer pitch. View in LinkedIn

ONE PLUS ONE CAN EQUAL FOUR" "" "Catalan tech CEOs should be constantly open to, and keeping and eye out, for alliance and merger opportunities. The ecosystem here is ripe for such activity, and will strengthen the emerging crop enormously. View in LinkedIn

THINK INTERNATIONALLY OR PERISH" "" "The Crisis has ended easy handouts of public money. The game is now purely Darwinian survival. Either you figure that out and survive, or if not, your company will die. And figuring it out is about thinking internationally, for Capital, markets, and talent. View in LinkedIn

ALLIANCES AND MERGERS" "" "There is great redundancy in most early stage technology environments. This is usually weeded out over time by healthy mergers and acquisitions. This has yet to happen in Catalonia where this is a rather foreign concept. View in LinkedIn

CATALAN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ARE TOO SMALL" "" "Catalan therapeutics companies have largely been funded on gas fumes rather than the kind of heavy capital engine needed to develop a new drug. It is clear that some investors in this space do not understand this reality. View in LinkedIn

GOVERNANCE TRANSPARENCY" "" "Most Catalan tech companies lack transparent and modern governance, using "Advisory Boards" in lieu of proper boards of directors with teeth to govern properly, and default to back-room deals between investors. This has to change. View in LinkedIn

WHACKY CAPITAL STRUCTURES" "" "Most Catalan tech companies lack modern capital structures (stock option plans). While the Spanish law has silly rules on this, there are work-a rounds that are viable. Some, or most, international investors demand that these are in place before investing. View in LinkedIn

WE NEED A SUCCESS STORY" "" "Catalan investors are on the sidelines regarding investing in technology in part because Catalonia has lacked a high visibility exit. Most other mature technology ecosystems notched up a few successes before the spark was lit. We need to get on with it! View in LinkedIn

BUNDLED DEALS" "" "I think in the coming year or two we will see more bundled technology deals that give investors critical mass and diversification. These kinds of deals may be needed to get over the high hurdle of attracting foreign capital to Spain. View in LinkedIn