MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum

The MidAmerica Healthcare Venture Forum, partnered with MedCityNews.com, unites active investors with corporate business development executives to syndicate investment opportunities with promising Midwest-based healthcare start-ups.

MedCity Media and MHIN (Mid-America Healthcare Investors Network) will unite active investors with corporate business development executives to syndicate investment opportunities with promising Mid-America based start-ups from the medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare IT, agri-health, regenerative medicine, biopharmaceuticals and industrial biotech sectors.

April 22-23 in Chicago.

Learn more here.

Telemedicine Venture Fair at ATA 2013

Interested in working with some telemedicine startups?

Don't miss the Telemedicine Venture Fair at ATA 2013. This is a pre-conference event that requires separate registration. The Venture Fair is on Sunday, May 5.

Register now for ATA 2013 - American Telemedicine Association
May 5 - 7, 2013
Austin, TX


Used code "LinkedInATA" for $50 off your full meeting (non-member) registration. After April 1, the registration price goes up.

Join 6,000 healthcare and technology professionals at the world's largest telemedicine meeting. Featuring over 450 presentations on telehealth and mHealth and industry expo.

Learn more at http://www.americantelemed.org

SCORE ExpertAnswers on writing a business plan

Every business needs a business plan. We don't write business plans in medical school. Some doctors who have creative business ideas never get the opportunity to explore them because they don't identify a viable business model.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.

SCORE ExpertAnswers is a free service they provide and this one answers key questions like:

• Why is the process of developing a business plan as valuable as the plan itself?
• What are the risks of attempting to build a small business without a business plan?
• What’s the key to making projections with a higher level of confidence?

Read the "Master Your Business Plan" on Score.org

New York Digital Health Accelerator (NYDHA) will create some 1,500 jobs

Don't miss this story on Healthcare IT News about how the New York Digital Health Accelerator (NYDHA) will create some 1,500 jobs over 5 years.

The New York Digital Health Accelerator (NYDHA) was created through the combined efforts between the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) and the Partnership for New York City Fund (Partnership Fund).

The investment capital was provided by a syndicate of investors, including Aetna, Janssen Healthcare Innovation, Milestone Venture Partners, New Leaf Venture Partners, Partnership for New York City Fund, Quaker Partners, Safeguard Scientifics, and UnitedHealth Group. The Empire State Development Corporation, Health Research Inc., and NYeC have provided additional funds to operate the NYDHA.

Translational Innovator Career Track?

I'd encourage you to read this interesting story on Forbes titled, "A Translational Innovator Career Track to Support Health Entrepreneurs." It's written by Dr. David Shaywitz, a physician-scientist and management consultant who also has experience in clinical drug development and strategic and commercial planning.

The author gives 4 reasons why clinicians who have a passion for digital health should consider working with entrepreneurs:

1. Evolving Health Information Technology (HIT) Creates Opportunities As Well As Challenges
2. Field Discovery Essential for Medical Innovation
3. Academic Mission Is Best Served by Pressure-Testing Ideas in Real World
4. Right Time and Place

You can read the article here.

MedStartr Launches First Crowdfunding Platform For Medical Startups

New York, NY – July 11, 2012 –MedStartr (www.medstartr.com), the first crowdfunding platform designed for healthcare companies, announced the Company’s launch today. According to the Company, the site enables doctors, patients and healthcare stakeholders to contribute directly to the success of healthcare startups. MedStartr provides a vehicle for startups to market products, generate awareness and raise capital through the increasingly popular method of direct, online funding first made popular by sites including Kickstarter. On the site, companies set a funding goal, and tell their stories in video and text. Companies post at no cost with MedStartr taking a small percentage of funds only when fundraising efforts succeed.

Health 2.0 Spring Fling: Matchpoint Boston

Interested in health care entrepreneurship? You may want to travel to Boston in May for the

Health 2.0 Spring Fling: Matchpoint Boston
May 14-15, 2012

Matchpoint Boston - Face-to-face meetings between entrepreneurs and decision makers from the nation’s leading health care organizations and investors including: Aetna Inc., Angie’s List, athenahealth Inc., AT&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, California HealthCare Foundation, Healthline Networks Inc., Kaiser Permanente, Virgin Healthmiles Inc., and Ziegler.

Entrepreneur Expo Philadelphia 2011 (Philly Startup Leaders)

Philly Startup Leaders present: The Second Annual Entrepreneur Expo.

April 13, 2010 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Solmossen Court, Hamilton Hall, University of the Arts, 320 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

The Entrepreneur Expo is a showcase of work by entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial community. If you’re an entrepreneur, you will be able to talk about your work and hear about the work of others. If you’re interested in new ideas, new business plans, the uses of new technology, or are simply curious about the creative energy in this region, you’ll have a chance to see and meet those beginning to make a difference.

This event is open to the entire community and all are welcome!

Who Will Be There?

Entrepreneurs, students, educators, investors, leaders in the political, legal, and business communities, members of the media, and the public.

2010 Life Sciences & Healthcare Venture Summit

The Life Sciences & Healthcare Venture Summit presented by youngStartup Ventures, is the premier bioscience industry gathering, connecting the CEOs of early stage and emerging growth biotech, pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical device, healthcare IT and diagnostic companies with venture capitalists, angel investors, corporate VCs, investment bankers and professional service firms.

Whether you're seeking funding, partnerships or new investment opportunities, The Life Sciences & Healthcare Venture Summit, now in its 7th year, is one event you won't want to miss.

This premier forum for the emerging growth bioscience industry will feature:

• 35+ Venture Capital Speakers
• 5 Venture Capital Panels
• 50 of the Hottest Emerging Companies Seeking Funding
• Emerging Company Presentations
• High Level Networking Opportunities

Audience Profile: Venture Capitalists, angel investors, corporate VCs, CEOs, CFOs and other senior management of early stage and emerging growth ventures, technology transfer professionals and premium services firms.

Oct 21, 2010 in New York City. Learn more here.

Quid Pro Quo

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Quid Pro Quo:

Quid pro quo (From the Latin meaning "something for something") indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. English speakers often use the term to mean "a favor for a favor" and the phrases with almost identical meaning include: "what for what," "give and take," "tit for tat", "this for that", and "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours". Something like "Reap and Sow" also applies to this phrase.

When I use the phrase Quid Pro Quo, I'm not referring to bribery. The idea of scratching one's back for a favor could be misconstrued as a bribe.

Why am I mentioning quid pro quo? You may have the ability to offer a unique service, but perhaps you don't know how to sell that service. Perhaps you'd like to be a consultant, but you don't know how to begin. One way to get customers immediately is to offer your service in exchange for a service. This way, there is no money exchanged but you may establish customers which will lead to positive testimonials if you do a good job. You'll also develop a reputation and this could help you gain additional customers as you network and meet new potential customers who may be interested in your services. You'll also gain experience and you'll learn where you may need to make improvements.

There are many things you may gain by exploring quid pro quo opportunities, especially when you're exploring a new business model. Perhaps you'll find a potential customer who's willing to exchange services with you.

Working in a start-up company

Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have any experience working in a start-up company? When I graduated from MIT, many of my colleagues went to work in a small start-up. Of course, most of them were computer scientists or software engineers, but some of them were also mechanical and chemical engineers. The advantage of working in a start-up is that you get exposed to many different responsibilities simultaneously. You get to wear "many different hats." So, if you like to get involved in many different aspects of a company, then you'll enjoy the energy and excitement that's often associated with a start-up. Thinking about starting your own company? Make sure you recruit the right type of people who can help you get things off the ground.