This article addresses a question we have discussed many times in class – whether entrepreneurs can be created. This article suggests that it’s not as impossible as some suggest, but that some steps need to be taken in order to modify the way that entrepreneurship is currently taught. Some of these things include eliminating traditional grading systems, “gamifying” entrepreneurial education (allowing professors to create game-like levels within the educational program to track the student’s progress), teaching “entrepreneurial qualities” through the use of simulations, encouraging mock businesses, and collaborating with other successful entrepreneurs. I agree that students can learn to be entrepreneurial, even if they aren’t typically geared this way, through more innovative classroom techniques. I was happy to read that instructors are pushing for these changes and look forward to seeing these techniques in action.

http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-04-10/designing-education-for-entrepreneurs.html

This article highlights the 5 most pressing issues in biotechnology medicine:

1. Protecting Human Subjects in Clinical Trials
2. Affordability
3. Privacy
4. Stem Cell Research
5. Defending the United States Against Bioterrorism

A similar article came out in 2004. This current article was published in 2017, with the categories remaining the same. It is interesting that more than a decade later biotech medicine continues to have the same hot topics.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-5-most-pressing-ethical-issues-in-biotechnology-medicine

The words “company culture” have been buzzwords in the last few decades, probably most notably in reference to Silicon Valley-type (former) startup companies–their websites abound with pictures of their quirky offices and other perks. However, this article discusses some of the potential downsides in an over-emphasis on company culture. I think that the article raises some good points–I would also add that entrepreneurs should probably avoid an overly-prescribed culture, as this could seem ‘imported’. Overall, companies should strive for a positive culture, but I think that entrepreneurs should not try to copy solutions from others. Instead, they should strive to foster a culture unique to their small business.

This first article discusses the future of kickstarters as crowdfunding as a sophisticated investment opportunity. It has struck me several times that crowdfunding has yet to really take off, providing options beyond investment in products that are early in production and fundraising for the community.

“Unlike most crowdfunding platforms, the entrepreneurs don’t have to raise the money directly. We received commitments from some of the well-known angel groups. We already had several institutions, which is unusual for a seed-stage company. We’re using a civic channel to get to 50 or 100 investors, people who can write $25,000 to $100,000 checks. Part of the reason is it allows us to do more market research since most of them work for companies we would like to work with over time.”

I foresee this being the way of the future, an opportunity for people to invest in an easy to access portfolio that goes beyond stocks. Those that are taking advantage of this opportunity will be successful early adopters, but it will be interesting to see how this develops over the next sext several years.

The second link is just a brief article I found related to this topic. It pushes back on the reliance of startups on crowdsourcing.

Therefore, if you’re putting all of your eggs into the crowdfunding basket, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Crowdsourcing is great, but it is a popularity contest – only the most popular of startups will receive funding. It is important to keep options open, but it is also important to keep an eye on the market. Promoting a startup at the right time is key to riding the wave that may leave a founder with enough financing to reach success sooner than competitors.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170310/NEWS08/170319999/sort-of-like-kickstarter-but-for-grown-ups

http://tech.co/5-challenges-most-entrepreneurs-dont-anticipate-2017-03

https://www.facebook.com/ezraklein/videos/544973535690253/

Interesting video about some of the unique problems that confront innovators. Specifically in the case of the Concorde, supersonic passenger jet.

I stumbled upon this article just after we had the conversation about how the Supreme Court would do well to have a Justice that is familiar with IP Law.

Based on the information on the website, it seems like the fact that UNH is bringing in an IP Law expert is directly connected to promoting intellectual property. She is familiar with developing and running law clinics to support entrepreneurship in the local community, thus bringing important experiential learning skills to the university. As states and the ABA continue to require experiential/clinical learning experience, there is little doubt that this will continue to happen across legal academia.

It will be interesting to see how Intellectual Property at UNH continues to grow, as well if we will see other experts begin to enter Law School Administration.

http://www.nhbr.com/March-17-2017/Nationally-known-intellectual-property-expert-named-dean-of-UNH-Law/

Two US senators have revived their push to get the USPTO and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to better educate small business owners on how to protect and patent their inventions. They are reintroducing the Small Business Innovation Protection Act, which would require the USPTO and SBA to jointly develop in-person or online training materials about the patent process and increase the amount of patent-related information at Small Business Development Centers. The legislation will make it easier to train and equip America’s small business owners with the resources and information necessary to obtain and protect patents. Sens. Gary Peters said in a press release, “Supporting small business and independent inventors is a priority for the USPTO.”

http://techrights.org/2017/04/01/sbipa-and-sba/

The introduction of the legislation is criticised in the above article. Schestowitz says the Act is presented to the public in a misleading manner, as if the solution to a lot of patents is yet more patents. SBA would be compelled to waste budget. Politicians are using a strategy that will never improve things – trying to oversell patents to defend from patents. A patent portfolio for a small business would act only as a retaliation to patent lawsuits. This would not work well for a small business against a large one. What is preferable is a government programme that would sponsor legal defence for small businesses attacked by patent trolls. This would eliminate trolls before they can proceed to extorting the next small business.

Basically the answer is that there a fewer women in STEM related fields, but the article is interesting because it expands on the consequences of holding patents for entrepreneurship. While women own 36% of all businesses in the US, only 3% of venture capital goes to women owned companies.  Holding a patent makes a firm more attractive to venture capital and is a strong predictor of success.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/07/the-patent-gap/492065/

The last portion of this article brings home the point that entrepreneurs must be in tune with what their customers want and not what they think they want. Specifically, the author writes, “It’s a lesson to all brands that you can’t make your decisions in a vacuum.”

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/292450

 

Here is another inspiring story of an entrepreneur in fashion!

http://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/2016/4/4/the-startup-story-of-wunmi-amokeodo