FastTrac Memphis

Graduates of the Kauffman Foundation-funded Memphis FastTrac program got to make their startup pitches this week, being rewarded in "virtual" investments. The CA reports.

Memphis AgBio, TECworks update

A Memphis BioWorks report says AgBio could generate 50,000 jobs as plant-based materials replace petroleum-based products. Memphis Daily News reports here. BioWorks engaged the Battelle Partnership Practice to study the potential of AgBio. A new AgBioWorks site has been launched to support new efforts in that sector. Memphis Daily News Reports. Related CA story here. Meanwhile...TECworks is offering the Kauffman Foundation's FastTrac Ventures Program training. Program details here. Earlier VNC story on TECworks here.

Summer Kudos! for TN students

The photo at left shows a cityscape meant to depict the "Dawn of Technology," as envisioned by Pellissippi State Community College student Lisa Norman-Hudson, for the Photographers of Tomorrow competition sponsored by Olympus. The News Sentinel reports. Also in the Eastate, Alcoa and Oak Ridge high-school students recently made their marks in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the KNS reports. Locally, Biz students at Belmont are looking ahead to the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards, in November at Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation.

Kauffman: VC firms too comfortable, flawed

Whoa. Kauffman Foundation unleashed another pot-stirrer this morning, reporting that the Venture Capital sector needs to shrink and, well, get over itself, if it's going to contribute more to the American Commonwealth.

Medical Innovation POC grant

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Kansas City, MO) today announced an $8.1 million grant to the University of Kansas (at nearby Lawrence, KS) to establish the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation, a unique life science proof-of-concept model that draws support from higher education, philanthropy and industry experts to move medical innovations and best practices in their development from the lab to the market. The Kansas University Endowment will match the grant through contributions from other donors. The grant announced today advances a drug-development partnership. Release here.