Attention Denver BioBeers Attendees!

You may (or may not) know that the May edition of BioBeers will be held in Boulder. At the moment BioBeers, Inc. is in the process of securing transportation from Denver to Boulder and back. Please take a few minutes to indicate on the side-bar survey (left column on BioBeers.com if you are reading this in email or RSS reader) if you would i) be interested in the BioBeersBus and ii) if you would be willing to cough-up a few bucks for the round trip.

Kindly respond with your interest/preferences by Friday 9 May. Thank you.

More details (date/time/place) of May Boulder BioBeers to follow…

Next Meeting: 29 April 6:00pm

BioBeers is locked and loaded for Tuesday 29 April at our new start time of 6:00pm. Now there has been some debate about where to hold this months BioBeers, so we elected to settle the question the democratic way by asking you all to vote early and vote often on both BioBeers.com and CLSDF.com. The finally tally came up:

Denver 35
Boulder 18
Ft. Collins 11
Colorado Springs 0

Those sentient to the hops and barley flowing along Pearl St. may be familiar with the Mountain Sun or perhaps the Colorado Kind Java Porter served up at the Sun’s SOBO cousin, the Southern Sun. Well despite Denver tallying the most votes, we are efforting to bring a little Boulder to Denver by meeting at the recently opened Vine Street Pub (which completes the Mountain Sun trifecta).

Now don’t lose faith all you Bio-Boulderites...for the BioBeers May edition will be packing its bags and headed north to be held somewhere in the shadow of the Flatirons. Your suggestions for fav locale are welcome!

When: Tuesday 29 April 6:00pm
Where: Vine St. Pub, 1700 Vine St. Denver 80206

As always please kindly RSVP with the click of a mouse at BioBeers.com. Thanks and see you soon for a cold one…


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Next Meeting: 31 March 7:30pm

And the BioBeers beat marches on in March at the Milwaukee Street Tavern. Do you speak Cherry Creek? That’s right the Colorado BioBeers tour continues, pulling in next to the Milwaukee Street Tavern station, 31 March 7:30pm. This month we are including FREE name tags! Bonus! And suitable for framing too after the event.

It is exciting to see this event grow, so much so that name tags are now considered value-add. Participation has come from Ph.D. and MBA students all the way up to company CEO’s and representation from just about every position in between. But, BioBeers can not do it simply on its own…that’s right, it is up to you, dear Colorado bio-networker, to help spread the word.

So here comes the end-around reverse; your BioBeers homework due in advance, is to invite ten, yes 10 of your friends and colleagues to come join us at our March meeting. Expect a quiz between your beer and nachos.

Finally, don’t forget to RSVP with a click of your mouse at BioBeers.com.

Thanks and see you soon for Monday Night BioBeers!

When: Monday 31 March 7:30pm

Where: Milwaukee Street Tavern, 201 Milwaukee St.


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Attend the AECD Investors Forum!

Come join us at the Adam’s County Economic Development Investors Forum Thursday 28 February 11:00am to 1:00pm for lunch and to listen to Jim Chrisman of Forest City Fitzsimons talk about the master development plan for the Colorado Science + Technology Park @ Fitzsimons.

It promises to be a fascinating 2 hours. If you have not seen the master development plans you will certainly be amazed, impressed and inspired by what is queued up and even already underway. The Colorado Science + Technology Park @ Fitzsimons is destined to become a precious jewel in Colorado’s crown.

Be certain to RSVP (it is required) to attend this free event RSVP@AdamsCountyED.com or call 303.450.5106. Where: The Ramada Plaza & Convention Center I-25 & 120th Ave (in Northglenn).

***NOTE*** Take a look at the new Boulder Biotech Company Tree (HERE)!
***NOTE*** Read the new eBook CLSDF 2007 - What's In A Year? (HERE)!

If you enjoyed this post get free email or RSS updates (here).

Next Meeting: 6 February 7:30pm

BioBeers is back in action and kicking off a fantastic 2008. Be sure to join us for fun and networking at the oh so chic Forest Room Five (located across I-25 from the downtown REI).

We would like to feature our existing and new members on the BioBeers site so that you may leverage this platform to eNetwork when you are at work, at play or even sleeping, this internet thing is pretty cool eh? So if you are interested in becoming an ‘official’ member please email me your profile using the same format as the co-founders have done. Please send to arubenstein@rnaventures.com.

If you plan to attend be certain to RSVP on the site too. Doing so simply requires the click of a button and you are done. But don’t stop there…as of this writing you’ll note that the IPA is neck-and-neck with the Brown Ale. There are a few more weeks left to vote on the keg of beer that our very own member, Freddie Peyerl, Ph.D. will be brewing up for our March meeting. Mmmm…beer…

BioBeers 2008 Kickoff

When: Wednesday 6 February 7:30pm

Where: Forest Room Five 2532 15th St.



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BioBeers 2008: CBSA, Newest Sponsor!

A hearty thank you goes out to the leadership at the Colorado Bioscience Association who has graciously lent their sponsorship support to BioBeers for 2008! The CBSA joins the law firm of Snell & Wilmer as double helix sponsors.

The Colorado BioScience Association facilitates the growth of the industry in Colorado through advocacy, representation and service. CBSA supports the economic development of Colorado through the creation of a premier bioscience cluster within the state.
As a member of national organizations including the Biotechnology Industry Organization, CBSA forms important partnerships on a national level in pursuing these goals.

The Colorado BioScience Association is working to:

• Grow the state's workforce in bioscience and medical device industries
• Speak with a single voice on behalf of the industry
• Promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment.
• Provide networking, educational and technical programs for the industry
• Fight for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state
• Persuade investors that Colorado bioscience and medical device companies are a good investment
• Create technology transfer and research solutions through new partnerships with Colorado's research institutions
  

Snell & Wilmer has grown to become one of the largest full-service law firms in the Western United States, with more than 400 attorneys in six law offices located throughout the region. Since being established in 1938 the firm's diverse client base of Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, emerging organizations, individuals and entrepreneurs has increased to more than 10,000. Over the years, Snell & Wilmer has earned a reputation for distinguished service by offering clients what they value -exceptional legal skills, quick response and practical solutions with the highest level of professional integrity.

Member: Freddie Peyerl

What Do I Do?

I currently work full-time for Boston Strategic Partners, a boutique pharmaceutical / biotech consulting company. In addition, I am one of the five inaugural Fellows of the Colorado Bioentrepreneurship Program (CBP). As part of the program, we are given the opportunity to spend 3 months with the CU Tech Transfer Office, 3 months with Fitzsimons BioBusiness Partners, and 6 months with a local company. For my FBBp and local company rotation, I have had the opportunity to work with Dan Stinchcomb at Inviragen. The CBP has given me the chance to get some hands on experience with some of the issues that start-up ventures encounter. This has been a perfect complement to my work with Boston Strategic Partners, as these clients are typically ‘big pharma’ and ‘big biotech’.

Experience

• Graduate Research – HIV vaccine development in the laboratory of Dr. Norman Letvin
• Post-doctoral – Protein crystallography and apoptosis in the laboratory of Drs. Kappler and Marrack at National Jewish Medical and Research Center
• Consulting experience – Lead Boston Strategic Partners writing practice with several years of clinical publication and consulting experience.
  

Experience in clinical publications include the economic burden of chronic kidney disease, description of a newly developed hepatitis B virus immunoassay, evaluation of a highly sensitive estradiol immunoassay, and assessment of a high-throughput clinical chemistry and immunoassay instrument. Consulting experience includes a gap analysis and long-term strategy recommendations for the molecular diagnostics arm of a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company and a market evaluation of generic injectable oncology therapeutics.

Education

• Ph.D. Virology, Harvard University, Boston, MA
• BS Biology, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM
  

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

There are 4 reasons, in no particular order:

1. BioBeers is a an excellent opportunity for me to meet and learn from local entrepreneurs
2. I primarily work from home and need any excuse to get out of the house and socialize
3. I like beer
4. Adam told the CBP Fellows that we didn’t have a choice
   

My vision of the Colorado life science landscape 2008-2018

I spent 5 years in Boston, a Mecca for biotechnology, and while I realistically don’t foresee Colorado reaching the same level as Boston, I do think it can become a great source of innovation and incubation of new ideas and new companies.

Say Cheese!

LinkedIn profile coming soon

Now That Was Fun!

Wow…BioWest, Christmas Party and BioBeers all rolled into one fun and late evening! Our group grew by leaps and bounds attracting some 40+ folks. It was great to see a wonderful mix of Ph.D. and MBA students, faculty, bio-preneurs, start-up junkies and folks from biotech and pharma rubbing elbows while throwing back a few eggnog’s, why even Santa got in the BioBeers mix! I tried to post some videos from the evening but counsel recommended immediate removal based upon the series of FCC inquiries suggesting obvious infractions of the Telecommunication and Decency Act of 1996.

So we are now pointing the BioBeers ship towards 2008 and looking to nail down our next date and dance with debauchery. At the moment 10 or 11 January, again in Denver, appear to be bubbling to the surface. More on that later…

I’m afraid a few homework items are in order:

• Be certain to sign up for the BioBeers email list

• If you attended the December dance and plan a return trip to BioBeers in January please send me (arubenstein@rnaventures.com) your profile for posting to this site. Consider it your ticket to paradise, no profile then good luck getting past the bouncers

• The last thing we need is another url destination where I wax on, let’s make this site a bit more interactive, so…if you attended BioBeers please click on comments below and tell us a bit about your favorite part of BioBeers, BioWest, your start-up or anything else that may come to mind. For the founders consider your comments to be your ticket to paradise, no comment then good luck getting past the bouncers

• Finally, the February meeting will have a keg of brew brewed especially for BioBeers from a very special member, whose identity shall be unveiled at a later date, so…be certain to look to the left and down and vote for your favorite flavor

Finally many thanks to our most gracious and most favorite sponsors in no particular order:

• Snell & Wilmer
• Colorado BioScience Association

Next Meeting: 6 December 7:30pm

2007 has been a fantastic inaugural year for BioBeers. Great friendships have been forged and the forum to discuss the latest and greatest in Colorado and the broader life science industry is primed for growth.

The co-founders of BioBeers have elected to correlate our year-end celebration with the the Colorado Bioscience Associations BioWest Conference and Expo. So if you are looking for a great forum after the first full day of the conference be certain to come spend some time with us at BioBeers.

We would like to feature our (new) members on the BioBeers site as we have done with the co-founders, so if you are interested in becoming an official member please email me your profile using the same format as the co-founders have done. Please send to arubenstein@rnaventures.com.

BioBeers Year End Bash

When: Thursday 6 December 7:30pm

Where: Harry’s Bar 818 17th Street

Finally…

Be certain to sign-up for email updates (to the left of this post) from BioBeers
Be certain to RSVP for the 6 December BioBeers (to the left of this post)

BioBeers: Connecting Bio-Entrepreneurs Since 2007

Let’s Get Interactive on BioBeers.com!

Hello and welcome to BioBeers! We would like to make this forum (site) more interactive and accessible to those who find ones way here. To achieve this aim we have enabled a sophisticated yet incredibly easy to use commenting system called Intense Debate.

So what is Intense Debate and how do I use it:

ID is a commenting system that enables a conversation to occur via threaded comments where the blog post author and commenter may have a simple linear back-and-forth (there are numerous other bells and whistles like the ability to track comments, create a reputation and/or profile and the ability to archive comments).

ID is easy to use…simply click on “comments” at the bottom of each post, leave your comment and either submit anonymously or if feeling a bit outrageous go ahead an set up an Intense Debate profile while leaving your comment. I promise, it won’t hurt a bit, it functions to build your online reputation and, you can port it to other blogs who are also using this comment system

Best of all is that Intense Debate is a local Colorado start-up company. Let Josh Morgan co-founder (and former medical device guy at Stryker) of ID know what you think email (here).

Why don't you take a test drive by and leave a comment at here?

Co-Founder: Kevin McGarvey

What Do I Do?

I am an emergency physician and entrepreneur with interest in growing the young biotech community in the Colorado Front Range. Currently, I am a co-founder of ValveXchange, Inc. and aiding the development of a novel two-piece tissue heart valve that may revolutionize the way heart valve disease is currently treated. In addition to this startup, I am also co-founder of WildernessMedventures with a team of 3 emergency physicians seeking to create medical education courses for health care professionals and adventurers interested in learning how to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in the remote setting. We are holding our first course in February 2008 in Patagonia, Chile.

Experience

• Emergency Physician - Lutheran and Good Samaritan Hospitals
• Co-Founder and VP Strategic Planning - ValveXchange
• Co-Founder and Instructor - Wilderness Medventures
• MEDSTAR Honduras - Founder
• The DM^2: A digital camera-guided airway device – Co-inventor
• Springmill Venture Partners, LLC – Biomedical Due Diligence Consultant
• Indiana University MD/MBA Physician Leaders Forum - Founder
  

Education

• University of Arizona - Emergency Medicine Residency
• MBA, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
• MD, Indiana University School of Medicine
• BA, Indiana University, BA, Religious Studies and Management
  

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

I want to develop long-term friendships and business relationships with people who share my passion for biomedical entrepreneurship. I think Colorado will grow tremendously in the next several decades as a dominant leader in biotech and health care startups. Biobeers is a casual, fun way for future bio-leaders of Colorado to get together over a beer to forge the ideas and relationships which will fuel the Front Range bioscience community. Bringing the young, up-and-comer bio-entrepreneurs from a myriad of backgrounds together could create some pretty powerful stuff. I’m excited to see where this event is a few years from now!
Life gets busy, BioBeers provides a regular opportunity to commune with friends that share similar addictions: passion for the biosciences, Colorado and entrepreneurship. I am confident that this group of young, although not as young as we used to be, bio-pioneers will push back the frontiers of bioscience in Colorado. I am honored to be involved.

My vision of the Colorado life science landscape 2008-2018

As a recent transplant to Colorado, I have come across numerous cool, creative minds starting off their amazing careers in bioscience. All have incredible backgrounds and big ideas on how they can potentially innovate the landscape of bioscience today. These are people I want to meet! I believe the connections I make now will impact the future of bioscience in Colorado for many years to come. My dream is that BioBeers could be a catalyst for integrating young minds in bioscience toward something powerful that changes the face of bioscience and health care.

Say Cheese!

Co-Founder: Adam Rubenstein

What do I do?

I spend my days (and many nights) at a near fanatical level of focus in aiding and accelerating the growth of the Colorado life science industry towards achieving a top-tier biocluster position whose epicenter is growing at the Colorado Science + Technology Park @ Fitzsimons and the Fitzsimons Life Science District where the Anschutz Medical Campus sits. Keep up with the local industry news by signing up for email updates from the Colorado Life Science Deal Flow blog (here).

Experience

• Fitzsimons BioBusiness Partners, Inc.
• MycoLogics
• High Country Venture, LLC
• Tango
  
• University License Equity Holdings, Inc.
• RNA Ventures, LLC
• University Colorado, Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology

Education

• MBA, Regis University
• BA, Syracuse University
  

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

Time allocated to BioBeers is an effective and efficient opportunity to contribute to the promotion, cultivation and growth processes of like-minded innovative technology-oriented individuals who share a common interest in the development of the Colorado life science industry. BioBeers functions to catalyze powerful networking opportunities...and did I mention that is just plain fun socializing with such an incredible group of individuals.

My Vision

There is a demonstrated history of successful commercialization of Colorado-based intellectual property. Success begets success in the life science industry in the form of marketed products enabling bio-entrepreneurs to evolve to serial-bio-entrepreneurs. The people, passion and intellectual capital in the region is undeniable; more commercial successes will attract additional capital which will catalyze and accelerate more (successful) products. By 2018 Colorado will be recognized as a premiere center-of-excellence delivering commercialized technologies that contribute to the improved health and well-being of all citizens of the World. Oh…and BioBeers will grow to have chapters in Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, Colorado Springs and the western slope with a membership of > 10,000 individuals.

Say Cheese!

Co-Founder: Robert Tofe

What do I do?

I am President of Snoasis Medical, founded in 2006 and focused on the development of regenerative products for use in oral maxillofacial surgery. It keeps me busy all the time. I love what I do. I am having more fun and learning more than I could have ever imagined.

Experience

• Part of two successful start-ups, CeraMed and CeraPedics
• Positions in management, manufacturing, regulatory, R&D and marketing
• Raised $4.5 million of angle capital
• Assisted to close $14.5 million Series A venture round
• Authored and filed provisional patent for a novel soft tissue substitute
• Product manager of a bone substitute that took 12% market-share in two years
• Negotiated and closed numerous consulting, product development, and business development agreements.
  

Education

• MBA, University of Colorado at Denver, Management
  
• BA, Colorado State University, Economics
• Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship
  

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

The people! You have to be a little crazy to start, or want to start your own venture. As a wise man told me, “this is not for the weak hearted.” It is hard work. Period! Therefore when you do take time off, it is nice to be around individuals who share your passion.

My Vision

Things look great in 2018. Venture money will be readily available to fund companies and ideas. The void of medium-sized life science companies in Colorado will be filled. The region will continue to attract and retain the necessary human capital to sustain continued growth. Nationally, Colorado will be viewed as one of the leading bioclusters. The people will continue to love working in Colorado. This vision is based on these facts: Colorado has a lot of early stage companies, a few big ones, but only a few medium-sized life science companies. In time, a select number of these early stage companies will mature. The flow of start-ups should remain steady. In part due to the emergence of organizations such as Fitzsimons BioBusiness Partners and the Bard Center that teach and support entrepreneurs. Fitzsimons will continue to generate the necessary flow of innovative ideas. The State government continues to support the industry’s goal of creating a strong biocluster. Bio Beers will be a fun, supportive, and motivating group of individuals who want to help drive the development of Colorado’s next generation of leaders.

Say Cheese!

Co-Founder: Danielle Cook France

What do I do?

I am a research scientist at Luca Technologies, a company in Golden developing technologies which stimulate microbial conversion of fossil fuels to methane in situ. Before moving to Colorado in June, I worked in the field of cellular motility; in particular the process of using stored energy to power ultra-fast and powerful chemo-responsive cellular movements. My long-term scientific interests are in the development of biologically-based materials used to provide medical and/or energy solutions.

Experience

• Research experience in cellular mechanics, imaging, cellular signaling, cardiovascular modeling, and ultrasound
• Development of novel imaging analysis techniques
• Supervision of undergraduate coursework and research

Education

• PhD, Biological Engineering, MIT
• Physiology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA
• BS, Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

Development of Colorado’s bioscience future will depend on those in our generation who are willing to input time, energy, thought, and risk to make it happen. How better to wrap your energy into the bioscience field than to share a few beers with the people who are willing to do the same?

My vision of the CO lifescience landscape 2008-2010

Colorado already has a long history of attracting top researchers and I think that in the near future it will attract more entrepreneurially-minded people who are willing to stay and capitalize on the wealth of scientific discovery already underway here. I am particularly hopeful that applications of biology to technologies in non-traditional (i.e, non-medical) fields, particularly energy and self-assembly of materials, will take strong footing in Colorado’s technical and scientific community.

Say Cheese!

Co-Founder: Andrew Gano

What do I do?

Recently I started at Covidien in the Global Upstream Marketing Management Group. I’m currently focused on developing new medical device products for the Respiratory and Monitoring Solutions group. Previously I spent three or so years with CU’s Technology Transfer Office licensing early-stage medical, pharma and biotechnologies. I worked with a number of start-ups that were derived from University IP and was able to get a dozen or so technologies out the door and onto commercial development.

Experience

• Business development and licensing of IP assets
• Financial modeling and strategic planning for early stage companies and product concepts
• New product development for medical devices
• Market, IP, and technology diligence
• Business planning and fundraising

Education

• MBA, Finance and Marketing, Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado
• BA, Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania

Why do I spend my valuable time at BioBeers?

I believe in the mission. In the last ten years, Colorado has made a substantial commitment to bio and med tech in the form of direct investment for capital improvements and development of early-stage technology. Moreover, this state is filled with talent – people who are creative, ambitious, and visionary enough make exciting things happen. Biobeers is the very nexus of that excitement and enthusiasm. Who would want to miss out on that?

My vision of the Colorado life science landscape 2008-2018

Marv Caruthers, Tom Cech and Larry Gold planted the seed of entrepreneurship in this industry many some years ago. Their success has spawned a new generation of bio and med tech pioneers. Combined with the build-out of the Anschutz Medical Center and the growing depth of biomedical research being done in Colorado, there is nothing but growth on the horizon.

Say Cheese!