Frost & Sullivan has issued a report titled U.S. Nanotechnology Industry: Investment Analysis and Growth Opportunities, which appears to be an analysis of 16 nanotech companies which make up their Nanotechnology Index. It costs US$4950, and is probably a useful report for high-level investors, but I’m afraid they are in for some gentle teasing —… Continue reading New Nanotech Index, plus gentle teasing
If you’re unsure about whether to buy the book Nanotech Fortunes: Make Yours in the Boom, you can wait for my review, or listen to this WallStreetReporter audio interview of the author. One point made is that he expects a series of booms and busts for the next 20 to 40 years. Sounds right to… Continue reading Nanotech Fortunes: Audio interview of the author
Update: see this correction for an even earlier course: http://new.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=1958 –CP To our knowledge, this is the first college course on nanotechnology from a business perspective, being taught at UC Berkeley by Tom Kalil and Drew Isaacs: “Offered for the first time in Fall, 2005, this is UC Berkeley’s first course focused on nanotechnology-based business… Continue reading First "Business of Nanotechnology" course
“Sensors happen to be among the simplest electronic devices one can make from nanomaterials, yielding an abundance of development activity. But of 66 companies claiming to offer nanosensors, only 13 actually harness the size-dependent properties of nanomaterials,” according to a report from Lux Research.
Foresight participating member Norm Wu has two essays available on the Ziff-Davis ExtremeNano site: one on quantum dots and one on “parallel entrepreneur” David Soane of Nano-Tex. From Soane: “even with a very conservative business plan, each project generally ends up taking twice as long (and costing twice as much) to accomplish…with many twists and… Continue reading Norm Wu insights on ExtremeNano
The Patent Baristas have brought together a collection of links relevant to the patent thicket problem, plus some advice paraphrased from a Business Week blog: "with such a fragmented market, few investors are going to be able to understand the competitive landscape. Therefore, many investors might be tempted to believe a patent means more than it does, setting some investors up for a big loss. They point out that very often small cap, nano-companies can skyrocket or plummet on the mere mention of a new patent. Let's be careful out there." Indeed.
Michael Kanellos of CNET News.com writes of a recent lecture by venture capitalist and Foresight Senior Associate Steve Jurvetson: "Nanotech will tap nature's potential, investor says". "Speaking at the Hot Chips conference at Stanford University, Jurvetson asserted that nanotechnology–the ability to make products on the molecular level–will usher in the next great wave of innovation despite the recent cancellation of Nanosys' high-profile initial public offering. That revolution will occur, in part, because scientists will be able to harness or imitate the power of nature."
Chris Thompson writes "CrainTech.com reports that the first International Nanotechnology Business Idea Competition is now accepting submissions from researchers and entrepreneurs interested in winning more than $75,000 in prize money. The competition is targeting (but isn't limited to) researchers who haven't yet developed a business plan. The competition is sponsored by Case Western Reserve University and the Nano Network. Rules and regulations are available at the Nano Network web site The winners will be announced in October as part of NANO Week, which features the Cleveland Clinic's NanoMedicine Summit."
Christine Peterson writes, commenting on the news that Nanosys files papers for IPO. "Nanosys is one of the most prominent nanotech startups, and is planning an IPO, despite having no products: 'We do not anticipate that our first products will be commercially available for at least several years, if at all.' This is probably the beginning of the nano 'boom', which in venture capital cycles is eventually followed by a 'bust'. Let's just hope that it's a normal cycle and not an immense dot.com-style boom/bust."
Anonymous Coward writes "ECON Corporate Services (ECON) www.Investorideas.com, is pleased to announce the launch of the new domain http://www.nanotechnologyinvestment.com. … The site currently features a growing list of publicly traded companies in the nanotech sector, as well as industry and stock news, articles, links, research and resources for interested investors."
