Show #118 Listen (25:25) Download

A personalized online shopping experience for women, that's the idea behind myShape.com. Founder Louise Wannier had a brainstorm while taking a fashion class and besides the inspiration she had the experience of several other high tech startups, so when she approached The Pasadena Angels, they listened.

Is myShape a billion dollar opportunity? Many people think so, including the VCs behind her $6M Series B round.

Show #117 Listen (47:02) Download

Fred started as an electrical engineer at CalTech; some of his early projects were based on the technology that evolved into GPS. Then he got interested in patent law. Not long after, he found a position in CalTech's Office of Technology Transfer.

Fred says we're moving away from a Manufacturing economy to a Knowledge-based economy. Since universities create knowledge, they generate the raw materials for this new economy. The result: universities will become key players in economic development.

Professors love doing research, but not all of them are interested in commercialization. So is there a conflict, or just a perception problem? That's what we get into...

Thanks to Tech Coast Angel member Bill Collins for arranging the introduction.

Show #116 Listen (30:36) Download

John's a member of the Tech Coast Angels. In just 3 years he's invested in 17 startups, led 5 deals and got 4 of them funded. He's a role model for many within the organization; he knows how to groom a deal and sell it to the membership. How did he learn to package deals? He spent many years in strategy consulting at Booz Allen then several years leading deals at defense contractor Raytheon. The strategy? To use other people's money to commercialize Raytheon's technology.

For the past 2 years John has organized Fast Pitch in Orange County. Last year 2 out of 3 Fast Pitch finalists got funded, so the process works.

In the ecosystem
TriTech Consulting presents "How to Ask for Money... and Get It!" on July 19 at the new Digital Media Center in Santa Ana, details.

Register for the Venture Farm Institute 2-day workshop July 20-21 in Los Angeles: registration details.

Mentions
I ramble on about my dance photography book, Dreams of Grace; everyone attending the TCVN event last week took home a free copy.

The podcast has been linked from the UMASS Entrepreneurship Initiative; my alma mater!