Memphis bioscience

The Memphis bioscience community gathers tomorrow for BioWorks luncheon to discuss the bioscience venture ecosystem, the MDN has it.

Memphis Biofuels entrepreneurs faces challenges

BioEnergy Development Group faces challenges as it seeks to recapitalize, but AgBioworks, an initiative of Memphis Bioworks is helping develop the sector. The MDN reports.

Musculoskeletal Ventures: This week

MB Ventures and Memphis Bioworks collaborate for the Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference, beginning tomorrow.

Private-company exchanges get scrutiny

VCs looking for greater liquidity for portfolio companies might want to take a closer look at the new private-company exchanges. Nashville comments from Jan Bouten, Rob Ivy, John Chadwick, Jim Phillips. The story's here.

Memphis BioWorks workforce grant

Memphis Bioworks Foundation announced it has been awarded a $2.9 million Energy Training Partnership Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Green Jobs Training Program. The release is here.

Memphis BioWorks recaps '09

Memphis BioWorks Foundation President Steve Bares reviews achievements of 2009, and they are considerable.

TN's AgBio leverage

Peter Nelson (left) of Memphis BioWorks Foundation's AgBioworks project touts the leverage inherent in AgBio as he world turns to new sources of energy and food production. The CA has it.

CA's recap of TNInvestco

The Commercial Appeal this morning recaps the rationale and requirements of TNInvestco, citing importance of Innova Memphis having won a capital allocation, and the hoped-for impact of that on Memphis-area startups.

Bioworks, Memphis get $30MM tax credit

Memphis Bioworks Foundation and the city of Memphis have gotten a $30MM federal tax credit under the New Markets program, representing strong leverage for community development. MDN reports it.

Bioworks CEO on TNInvestco impact

Memphis Bioworks Foundation CEO Steve Bares posted yesterday on the foundation's BioBiz blog his views on how Innova's winning a TNInvestco allocation for investment advances biomed excellence in Memphis.

Nashville's Pitt Hyde?

Over in Memphis, entrepreneur Pitt Hyde (at left) has for decades spurred sales of everything from biotech to batteries. The AutoZone founder and philanthropist helped found MB Venture Partners, Memphis Bioworks and more. For the past few years, there's been a good bit of questioning in Middle Tennessee regarding whence may come comparable leadership in the high-growth, high-tech arenas, apart from healthcare services, where a clutch of Frists have helped spawn so many ventures. Well, one candidate has got to be Harry R. Jacobson, M.D., Vanderbilt's now vice chancellor emeritus for health affairs, an advisor to ICA, a board member at Merck, co-founder of the new Tri-Star TNInvestco fund, and much more. Here's our story covering some of Jacobson's thinking, his entrepreneurial track record and his views on Informatics Corporation of America, ICA, where he's an advisor.

TNInvestco: VC joins Innova team

Jan Bouten, who, as reported by VNC, joined the Memphis Bioworks Foundation TECWorks management team earlier this year, is now a member of Innova Memphis' new TNInvestco investment team, within Innova Fund II. Innova is a subsidiary of Bioworks. Innova also told Memphis Daily News it has for some time been courting insurance companies for participation in TNInvestco. Innova is the only funded TNInvestco applicant that is also a member of the TNInvestco Consortium, which was created to seek insurecos' participation.

[Updated] TNInvestco: Innova will employ its model

[Updated] Innova Memphis President Ken Woody and parentco Memphis Bioworks Foundation President Steve Bares make clear in a release this afternoon -- issued, we understand, after a celebratory lunch at Innova HQ in Memphis -- they're ready to make investments and mentor entrepreneurs through Innova Fund II. The pair note in their release, "Since Innova was first funded under the MemphisED Initiative of Memphis Fast Forward, the company has screened more than 200 potential business investments, and has made seven promising investments in the Memphis area. These investments have also attracted an additional $6 million in follow-on investment. The companies range from Biotech and Medical Device companies to Technology and Tech Service companies. All are performing well and ahead of expectations..." 3:07 p.m. Update: Steve Bares added this afternoon, "Memphis Bioworks Foundation is honored to have been selected by the State. The designation for INNOVA is confirmation of the impact that the Memphis Bioworks Foundation has made on the region in leading the transformation into an international center-of-excellence for bioscience companies. We believe INNOVA was selected for its expertise, track record of success and focus on early stage mentorship and investing. I have full confidence that under the leadership of Ken Woody, INNOVA will deliver upon the promise of TNInvestco’s goal of economic development and job creation in Tennessee."

Bioworks might get workforce network

Memphis Bioworks Foundation might become home for the troubled Memphis Workforce Investment Network, which has drawn state criticism for years, while controlled by City of Memphis. The CA reports.

Memphis BioWorks links scientists

Memphis BioWorks Foundation continues to find new ways to span boundaries, evaporate silo walls and bridge stakeholder groups. The MDN reports on it.

Bio startups panel, Oct. 8

The Memphis BioWorks Business Association will have a panel discussion of startup experiences in the biosciences in Memphis, on Oct. 8, at the Fogelman Conference Center. Details here.

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.

Research Park ribbon-cutting in Memphis

The UT-Baptist Research Park in Memphis has now cut the ribbon on its first building, a biocontainment lab. The next building to open will be the UT pharmacy college, in 2010. The CA reports.

Memphis science academy gets new leader

Updated May 30: The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, which is sponsored by the Memphis BioWorks Foundation, has selected its new leader, after a national search: Harold Wingood (at left) was previously associate provost at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. Memphis Daily News reports. Here in Nashville, a proposal to create a charter school focused on science and technology failed three consecutive years. A Metro Nashville Public Schools committee ruled the proposal subpar, each year. Update: The CA reports that the success of MASE is helping spur charter-school reform legislation in the General Assembly.

Westate Update

Westate: Memphis BioWorks Foundation President Steve Bares (at left) in the CA chronicled the vibrant history and prospects of entrepreneurism in Memphis, and explained the linchpin role of the new TECworks program in developing future ventures... In Collierville, Medical Software Design and Marketing LLC developed and launched Vitesst, for test-result alerts and records access. Related MBJ story.