Top 10 Criteria Investors Want To See in a Business Plan

November 15, 2003

1 Proof of concept. Demonstrate a tangible and viable product. Experimental betas should be field-tested or put through simulation.

2 Product diversification. A software designer that commits resources to developing a broad portfolio of applications signals that biodefense is a core business, not just a pet project on the side, and increases funding potential. A combination of hardware and software with mission-specific technology covering diagnostics, mitigation, communication, and recovery flags the firm's versatility and potential profitability by servicing different buyer needs.

3 Product track record. A developer might boast about its overall success in DNA mapping, highlighting examples of prior genomic work using its software. Successful civilian sales can be a good indicator of how revamped applied technology in the defense arena can perform.

4 Scientific talent. A biodefense firm's brain trust should include talent with intense research, academic, engineering, medical, and product development experience. Investors will also look for those who have had careers in or connections with the military, inspiring confidence that managers know how the science can be practically applied to the mission at hand.

5 Knowledgeable managers. While arguably a CEO's main job is business development and navigating politics, he or she should also be highly conversant technically. It wouldn't hurt to have a former medical doctor or lab scientist take the head honcho's seat. The client expects software developers be tuned in to biotechnology issues as much as they are with computer issues.

6 Good connections. Skittish investment bankers will preferentially back firms that have secured previous biodefense funding from one of the federal agencies, venture funds, or grant programs. The rationale is that if the government — the leading client of these products — will back you, then a private investor should as well.

7 Cash is still king. Show that you made efficient use of that cash flow without squandering large sums on overhead.

8 Team player. Also valued are joint venture and consortium relationships with name-brand defense firms. If you successfully team up with a Northrop Grumman or a Computer Associates, that's a winning strategy.

9 The beat of your own drummer. Venture investors like one-of-a-kind proprietary products. The ability for a company to own its niche increases the chance of success.

10 Efficiency. Demonstrate that your operation can mass-produce and deliver large quantities on demand when and where the client wants it.

—Jason B. Lee



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White Papers & Special Reports

sgi whp 2
Managing the Modern Genomics Data Flood
Sponsored by SGI

Managing and storing the perfect storm of multi-disciplined data pouring from next generation sequencers and other omics instruments is a central challenge in life sciences. Discover in this paper how the SGI ArcFiniti storage solution, optimized for unstructured genomics and life sciences data can: 

  • Reduce costs, proactively protect data integrity, and deliver the high performance I/O required for genomics data processing and analysis.  
  • Effectively manage capacities from 156TB to 1.4PB as a disk based, integrated hardware and software platform 


sgi - whp 1
Turning Genomics Data into Practical Insight
Sponsored by SGI

With worldwide sequencing capacity approaching 13 quadrillion DNA bases annually turning genomics data into knowledge is a true computational challenge. Read this paper and learn how the SGI UV coherent shared memory platform can:  

  • Speed results time while cost competitively tackling the most difficult computational problems across all omics disciplines. 
  • Push performance by scaling to extraordinary levels, up to 256 sockets (2,560 cores, 4,096 threads) per single system (one OS image). 

Provide support for up to 16TB of coherent shared memory in a single system image enabling extreme efficiency across a wide range of compute demands. 



accerlys-logo_2012_wh
New Complimentary Market Survey…
Collaborations and Communications Within Drug Discovery Research
Sponsored by Accelrys
This survey was conducted by the Cambridge Healthtech Media Group in January, 2012. It was sponsored by Accelrys related to their HEOS initiative to gather valid information around externalizing collaborative research while improving communications in the cloud. With 310 qualified industry respondents the survey findings reveal useful usage and trends patterns.  An insightful follow-on discussion and webinar related to this survey, and the HEOS by Scynexis SaaS portal is also available on the Bio-IT World website for complementary viewing.
 


Job Openings

tessella logo 
Scientific Software Engineer
Boston MA
$70,000 to $95,000
 

Tessella delivers software engineering and consulting services to leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We are recruiting Software Engineersto work with skilled bioinformaticians and scientists to identify business needs and recommend and develop technical solutions. Applicants require BS, MS or PhD in bioinformatics, biology or chemistry and 2+ years of software development in either: Java, C#, C++, C or VB.NET. 

Apply at http://jobs.tessella.com   

 

oxford nanopore logo 


 Early Access Collaborations Managers
Oxford Nanopore Technologies is developing a novel technology, GridIONTM for the direct, electronic analysis of DNA/RNA and other analytes.  As the system approaches the market, we are building a team of technically knowledgeable, highly motivated candidates with excellent customer service and facilitation skills to join our company as Collaboration Managers.  This is a unique opportunity to work with world-leading genomics customers throughout the early adoption phase of a new generation of DNA sequencing technology.. This is a facilitative, enabling role with responsibility for managing technology development collaborations with key customers at leading genomics institutions.  It will include long term management of the collaboration plan and milestones and associated meetings and documentation. Click here to find out more and apply   

Oxford Nanopore's GridION technology, VP, Sales and Marketing Oxford Nanopore Technologies is a fast-moving technology company that is developing a novel electronic molecular analysis technology. The technology is adaptable for the analysis of DNA/RNA, proteins, chemicals and other molecules.  It is therefore suitable for use in a variety of markets including scientific research and clinical applications.  As the technology approaches the market, Oxford Nanopore is seeking a visionary VP of sales and marketing to join the senior team.  The candidate will embrace the opportunities afforded by entering the market with a truly disruptive technology that has the potential to expand the number of users and the variety of applications in each target market.  This is a rare opportunity to influence the commercial strategy at an early phase of its commercial lifetime, in a well funded company.  Oxford Nanopore welcomes applications from candidates with a track record of high-level strategic commercial  leadership, who wish to apply a fresh approach to existing markets.  Experience in Life Sciences/DNA sequencing is central to this role, however we will consider your application if you have experience of disruptive technologies in other related industries.  We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in the use of digital technologies for sales and marketing of scientific/technical products.  Click to  Apply  


 

For reprints and/or copyright permission, please contact  Tim McLucas, (781) 972-1342, tmclucas@healthtech.com .