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Our STEM winner: ‘Changing The World One Problem At A Time’
Innovation Exchange: Science, technology, engineering and math contest winner is SAS art director Brian Lloyd. ‘STEM can literally mean the stem of a leaf, which leads to the idea of growth. That's what the program is about … growing, learning and the knowledge that can be returned to the world,’ he says.
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CEOs initiating change – that’s much harder than identifying the problem
The Angel Connection: Solving the business problem may involve the entire company and create a lot of resistance to the change.
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International law challenge: Beware the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
International Business Corner: Many business environments and cultures depend economically on the exchanging of favors. While bribery and corruption are not legal in any country, the line of legality is often different from that in the US.
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Atlanta financial software firm lands $10.2M in funding
Adobe Ventures joins list of investors backing Oversight Systems.
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CED lays off five staff members as part of ‘right-sizing’ moves
The entrepreneurial organization had become ‘too large,’ says incoming board chair Stephen Wiehe. Board wants CED to be better stewards of members’ donations, funds, he adds. Current chair Mary Musacchia says moves follow a review of CED’s focus and purpose.
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Patriotism goes mobile – Multimedia content available for download
Cary-based 2ThumbZ teams with U.S. military, AT&T to launch more than 300 products. Selections include ringtones, music, unit logos, videos, 3D graphics and slideshows.
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Are we in a recession? Yes, says N.C. Bankers Association economist
However, North Carolina is faring better than most states due to manufacturing for export and a housing market that isn’t the drag on the economy it is elsewhere.
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Alimera, a Georgia-based drug development firm, eyes IPO
Intersouth-backed company wants to raise $75M, be traded on Nasdaq.
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Zink and Polaroid’s inkless printers hit stores this Sunday
VentureBeat: Zink operates manufacturing facility in Triad.
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Unauthorized disclosure of your confidential information on the Internet: Plugging the leak without breaking the levee
TechLaw: Whether for profit, sport, or revenge, more and more employees, former employees, and others are posting confidential business information on the World Wide Web. What are the alternatives when worldwide exposure of your business's information seems imminent?
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N.C. Biotech Center launches fellowship program for university researchers
Program’s goal, which will cost $500,000 a year, is to help postdoctoral scientists move into private-sector careers.
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Startups facing ‘capital market crisis,’ venture capital group warns
No VC-backed firms went public in second quarter. Merger and acquisition activity dropped as well. National Venture Capital Association says reasons for drought extend beyond weak markets. But local VC says crisis is ‘too strong a word.’
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Durham-based drug startup lands $25M in new financing
Papas Ventures, which launched CoLucid in 2005, participates in new round. CoLucid has anti-migraine compound in development.
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Back in the consumer game: Lenovo unveils new desktops
IdeaCentre lineup features K210 for U.S., western markets. Monitor brightness, facial recognition tools are among PC's features.
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Is Apple working on an iPhone with a physical keyboard? I hope not.
Keyboards are dying a slow death. As computers become more like Microsoft’s Surface or the rumored multi-touch tablets Apple is working on, one day the thought of having this big, clunky slab with plastic keys will seem silly.
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Will education always pay off? If so, for whom?
While the demand for educated workers isn't expected to slow down, supply may catch up. However, what is different is that this increased supply may not come from U.S. workers.
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EA star leaves to start iPhone games company Ngmoco
VentureBeat: ‘We are finally at the place where we can reinvent the experiences and the economics of the mobile games business,’ says former EA exec Neil Young. ‘The industry has been stagnant for a few years. I feel the iPhone is a real opportunity to change that industry.’
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Bank of America invests in mobile banking platform maker mFoundry
VentureBeat: Bank already has 1 million mobile users.
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Is all that ‘Googling’ shorting out our brains? Could be.
If you don’t think you are addicted to Google, try to avoid using it for a day. Ok, 12 hours. Well, 3 hours. How about 60 minutes?
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How did Bill Gates get popular? It started with Xbox
Everybody has an opinion about whether Gates is a good guy or a bad guy. But there is no doubting that his image is a lot different these days.
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Report: Quintiles pulls out of bidding for U.K. firm
After calling ClinPhone a ‘strategic fit,’ Quintiles backs away.
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WFU’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine receives grant for production facility
Bank of America foundation awards $250,000 toward cost where new organs, tissues will be generated.
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What really is ‘Thinking outside of the box’?
Angel Connection: By understanding and utilizing this process, CEOs can better define and then solve problems.
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Insomniac Games hopes to clone its mega-selling success in Raleigh
Presence of other gaming companies, region’s workforce and support for interactive entertainment industry are key factors to expand to Triangle, says Insomniac founder.
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International law can be a sticky wicket for U.S. businesses
International Business Corner: At what point do the business culture, business standards, business concepts and domestic law of the foreign country prevail in a transaction in a foreign country that includes a U.S. person?
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Social media firm Vitrue to acquire N.Y. company
UGENmedia founders to join venture-backed Vitrue. Companies work with clients for branding videos, interactive applications.
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Raycom Sports to add 'second screen' for ACC basketball, football
In deal with California firm, Raycom will feature live, customizable, online content during games.
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Managers at McKinney ad agency buy firm from French parent
Company, which employs some 190 people, had been part of Havas conglomerate since 2001.
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Duke Energy to acquire wind power firm for $320 million
Deal for Catamount Energy would add potential of renewable energy for 1.6 million homes. Duke is developing wind projects that could power more than 5 million homes.
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UNC-NCSU’s Joseph DeSimone sets example for other university researchers in tech transfer
Words to remember: 'You can do all the innovating you want in the laboratory, but if you can’t get it out of the university walls you do no one any good.'
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Want in the game? New Web site puts your there
VentureBeat: InGameNow allows sports fans to micro-message each other about events, topics.
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'Solid start': Red Hat’s earnings match Street expectations
Drive by surge in subscription revenue, Linux software developer reports 27% increase in revenues.
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Cary manufacturing firm sold for $95 million
Aeroglide to become part of international firm, Buhler Holding AG.
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Want to cut your carbon footprint? Want to give shaft to OPEC? Telecommute!
Just imagine how much smaller everyone’s carbon “footprint” would be if we could all telecommute to our jobs rather than burn gas and waste time in parking lots mislabeled as expressways or interstates.
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rPath, seeking to put more companies in ‘clouds,’ closes on $10M
Raleigh-based startup says funding will be used to expand its efforts in virtualization, cloud computing markets.
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SAS adds solar power to local energy
The world’s largest privately held software firm will build a solar power grid covering five acres at its headquarters in Cary.
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Regulation D: Selling stock without registration
TechLaw:It's time to raise capital to get your company off the ground. The sale of stock seems like the best approach, but what about the expensive registration requirements? Is there a way around them?
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Triangle, Atlanta keep adding high-tech workers, new report says
In ‘Cybercities’ overview, trade association AeA reports most metropolitan areas included in study expanded job base in 2006.
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Personal Web that never forgets? That’s Evernote
VentureBeat: Web 2.o application startup touts itself as users’ ‘external brain.’ It stores pictures, data, other information.
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Stiefel Laboratories to acquire New Jersey drug development firm
Florida-based firm, which operates its R&D facility in the Triangle, moves to expand dermatology product lineup.
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ECU surgeon performs 400th robotic-assisted heart valve repair
W. Randolph Chitwood, a surgeon at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and a teacher at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, performed his 400th robotic-assisted heart valve repair on June 20.
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Nortel’s troubled past in headlines once again
Analysis: The charges are yet another reminder to many investors that Nortel was rocked by an accounting scandal and that it has taken years and a lot of work by senior management to push the company forward.
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The real iPhone 3G rip-off: Text messages
A text message is data, and a very small amount of it. So why am I paying so much extra — let alone anything extra for it?
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Social networking gets ‘sticky’ with Duke research
UniversityTech: Experimental phone network uses virtual ‘sticky notes’ in combination of social networking, GPS and mobile phones.
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‘High-consequence’: Two words that are key to bio-agro defense facility debate
The subject matter is downright scary: foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, the Hendra and Nipah viruses (encephalitis) …
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Global conference captures passion of entrepreneurs
Annual event demonstrates that as long as there are innovative ideas, there will be entrepreneurial opportunities, writes Charlotte executive Eric Dudley. New technology spurs new business opportunities and new ways to generate revenue.
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Video shockwaves ahead from startup?
VentureBeat: Seesmic raises another $6M for video comments.
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Three former Nortel executives face fraud charges
Former CEO Frank Dunn, two financial officers were dismissed by networking firm in 2004.
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State jobless rate jumps to 5.8% – highest in four years
More people are seeking jobs to help cope with gas, food prices while companies are hiring fewer people. Number of people holding jobs is down 9,700 from a year ago.
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Indian firm to open $215M plant near Kinston, create 204 jobs
Reliance Industries USA received a state job creation grant worth more than $2 million. The facility will make resins for use in plastics and polyester yarns.
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Carl Icahn joins the world of bloggers – smashmouth style
Rumors have circulated for months that Icahn planned to launch a blog but had been stopped by his attorneys. He went live with a blog on June 12 and has posted several meaty items since.
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Videogame sales continue to increase at torrid pace
Through May, sales are up 32 percent over the corresponding period of 2007. Another record sales year looms, analyst says.
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What is international law?
International Business Corner: Execs need to understand rules governing business overseas.
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North Carolina improves slightly in technology and science survey
New Milken Institute study places N.C. 18th, Georgia 25th, South Carolina 42nd in preparing economies for growth based on technology and science assets.
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Triangle region ranks 6th nationally in pharmaceutical jobs, survey says
Biotechnology Industry Organization report says 11,115 positions help create more than 40,000 other jobs. Statewide, growth is fastest in research, testing and medical lab positions.
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Dassault Systemes buys Cary-based software firm for $40M
Engineous Software, a venture-backed developer of high-end simulation applications, will become part of Dassault software business unit. Engineous CEO Janet Wylie will leave firm, but the deal is not expected to affect most jobs in Cary.
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Merck to expand its Durham drug plant again
The $300 million investment will bring the number of employee at the Durham facility to approximately 400.
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Thinking about outsourcing some IT functions? SaaS is a big option.
Execs must overcome fear of losing control plus development a relationship with SaaS vendors, former WebEx president says.
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CEO decision making – A key quality investors seek
The Angel Connection: To get to a good decision, it is necessary to be focused on the right problem which consequently becomes the foundation to good decision making. This process starts with a critical analysis through probing questions.
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Canadian drug firm moving to Triangle
Patheon plans to move its headquarters from Toronto to Durham and open an analytical development laboratory in Research Triangle Park.
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How hot is Software as a Service? Well, a big crowd packs LTW event.
“I had no idea this many people in the Triangle were interested in SaaS,” says one of the venture capitalists in the audience.
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Will $4 gas lead you to embrace technology change in what you drive?
When household incomes were rising, many drivers simply gritted their teeth and paid more for gas. But now, with the economy either in a recession or on the brink of one, households are therefore scrapping to find ways to cut back, and an obvious way is to reduce driving.
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Software that combats cancer? Could be.
UniversityTech: Georgia Tech researchers create computer model for identifying anti-tumor activity of some molecules.
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Looking for venture capital? Consider asking the federal government to invest in your R&D
TechLaw: For the right company with the right product, the federal government may provide much-needed venture capital. But watch out for the complicated application process and the strings that come attached to federal dollars.
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Die Hard 4 director tackles ‘Gears of War’ movie
Epic executive Cliff Bleszinski will serve as executive producer for New Line Cinema project.
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Adult stem cells can improve bone fractures, UNC study finds
UniversityTech: Findings could lead to new treatments for broken bones that don’t heal.
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E-commerce fight over taxes broadens
Overstock joins Amazon in suing New York State; There is a better way to settle this argument
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California firm is ready to spread the news for mobile users
VentureBeat: Location-based services from Verve Wireless focus on local news
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Solar advance: IBM adds thin-film process to burgeoning cleantech business
Big Blue teams up with Japanese semiconductor company to help bring down solar cell production costs, improve efficiency.
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A lot fewer people are ‘standing’ at N&O, McClatchy today as newspapers struggle to change
Update: Layoffs should have come as no surprise. However, the AP in its coverage of the story noted that the McClatchy move – about 1,400 jobs across the nation’s third largest newspaper chain – was an “unusually broad and deep effort to contain costs”
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National entrepreneurial honor could be next for iContact’s co-founders
Aaron Houghton, Ryan Allis say winning Carolinas E&Y honor came as a surprise. It’s an award they share with teammates at five-year-old company.
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Quintiles sees U.K. firm as 'strategic fit'
After a U.S. firm announces $182M deal to buy Clinphone, Quintiles says it might make a bid. Quintiles is world's largest CRO.
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Water woes: ‘Man-made’ H20 has different chemistry
UniversityTech: Study by Duke researcher says desalination will change the environment.
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Water woes: Scarcity points to big opportunities in desalination
VentureBeat: Desalination costs are decreasing, and world capacity for process of making sea water drinkable is soaring.
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Judgment day: Top entries to STEM contest to be judged by you
Innovation Exchange: Science, technology, engineering and math awareness efforts generates strong entries. You be the judge to determine our winner.
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Arbovax closes on $1.43M in first-round financing
Piedmont Angel Networks leads round in startup that is developing technology to help combat insect-borne viruses such as dengue fever.
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SaaS ‘Road Show’ presents top speakers to discuss red-hot topic; crowds to top 400
Working in partnership with the Carolina SaaS User Group, LTW will host panel discussions on Tuesday in Durham and Wednesday in Charlotte. The speakers are top notch.
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Global integration – Being successful requires more than being ‘ready in country’
International Business Corner: Thinking expansion? Integration of global business should be one of the areas addressed in your global expansion analysis.
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iContact’s co-founders, Red Hat’s Szulik take home E&Y entrepreneur awards
Aaron Houghton and Ryan Allis are recognized for efforts at e-mail marketing firm. Szulik, chairman at Red Hat, helped make software firm world’s largest Linux provider.
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Nanotechnology pioneer, IBM vet to lead new nano program in Greensboro
Joint effort of UNC Greensboro, North Carolina A&T picks James Ryan as first dean.
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IBM targets data centers with ‘green’ product line
Pre-assembled ‘modular’ centers are designed to slice energy consumption.
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Let’s go racing – virtually and realistically
"NASCAR 09" puts players in driver’s seat, says Jeff Gordon. "When I’m playing the game and I’m at Talladega, I’m like, I feel like I’m at Talladega," he declares.
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Signs of new media times: Google CEO wants to 'help' newspapers, Web publishers
In rapidly changing media world, Eric Schmidt says his firm has a 'moral imperative' to monetize the Web.
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Metabolon secures another U.S. patent for genetic technology
RTP-based firm is developing biomarker products that could lead to new drugs.
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Red Hat claims victory in two of three open source lawsuits
Settlement includes "protection" for Red Hat customers. However, another lawsuit remains unsettled, as does Microsoft threat.
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UNC technology licensed by Liquidia is enrolled in hunt for life on Mars
UniversityTech: NASA scientists build a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ device utilizing microfluidic technology that venture-backed Liquidia is commercializing.
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Startup biopharma CeNeRx adds another GSK exec to management team
Former head of psychiatry clinical development at GSK to lead clinical development at CeNeRx.
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U.S. is losing global lead in research and development, study says
Researchers at Duke and Harvard warn that the competitive landscape is changing faster than many people realize. ‘[T]he U.S. can still win and benefit, but it has to be aware and adapt,’ says researcher Vivek Wadhwa.
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Politics stall Golden LEAF hiring process for new president
Current leader Valeria Lee agrees to stay on the job for another three months.
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Duke’s solar plan could put panels on a house near you
Going 'green' will cost money. Are you ready to help pay the price for more environmentally friendly energy?
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Report: GSK is trimming some R&D positions in RTP
GlaxoSmithKline is laying off some 350 people involved in research and development, and an unspecified number of those affected work at GSK's operations in the Triangle.
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Properly securing your loan or credit advance: A secured transactions primer
TechLaw: Many companies routinely make loans or otherwise extend credit to other businesses or individuals. Often the company making the loan will want some collateral from the borrower to secure repayment of the loan. How does the company obtain a valid security interest in the collateral, and how is that security interest protected and enforced?
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Yap this: Charlotte talk-to-text startup lands $6.5M in financing
Company, which launched in 2006, secures first-round funding from three venture firms and existing investors.
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iContact founders could bring home another honor – E&Y Entrepreneur of Year
Carolinas list includes executives from wide variety of firms, including Red Hat’s Szulik, TransTech Pharma’s founder.
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NC IDEA picks six startups for $183,200 in grants
Software, micro liquid display, medical device firms receive latest economic development awards.
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NewTeeVee launches online video review site
VentureBeat: Editor calls site ‘a bet that online video is a legitimate entertainment medium.’
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Drug molecule breakthrough? Duke chemist has new way to tell left from right
UniversityTech: Low-cost molecule production process could lead to better drugs.
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Manufacturing industry is essential to state’s economy, report says
North Carolina Chamber ranks state seventh largest for manufacturing in share of private gross domestic product. Manufacturing and related services account for nearly 1.4 million of state’s 4-plus million jobs.
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U.S. schools: Not that bad
America's educational system is easier than those in China and India—but it's still teaching valuable life lessons.
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Mobile software developer picks Triangle for new office, plans 50 hires
Novarra, a venture-backed firm based in Illinois, plans to open technical operation in RTP area by end of the month. Among its recruiting targets: Employees laid off by Motricity.
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ClickFox lands another $12.5M in financing
Atlanta-based firm focuses on analysis of customer experiences. Ascent Venture partners leads round.
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Piedmont Natural Gas plans $300-350M storage facility near Lumberton
Three sites in Robeson County are being considered for facility that would house liquefied natural gas.
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PharmaLink acquires contract research organization in U.K.
Addition of Matrix Contract Research will enable Triangle-based CRO to offer turnkey life science trials and services, company says.
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Semiconductor startup Beeco closes on $5M in financing
Intersouth, RTI co-lead round. Beeco is a spin-out of RTI. The new firm received CED's spin-out award.
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Attention, naysayers: VCs say U.S. still sets innovation pace
Based on results of people who live or go out of business based on technology investments, U.S. remains the global leader across seven key areas.
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Widget-maker RockYou raises $35M, claims larger reach than competitor Slide
VentureBeat: Rockyou is competing neck and neck with Slide. RockYou’s reach stands at 87.5 million users a month, compared to Slide’s 63.7 million.
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Gamer at heart: Kyle Busch is a virtual competitor, too
Whether at steering wheel or with a video game controller, NASCAR’s hottest driver and points leader plays to win.
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A new chip off the old block – is MRAM ready for prime time?
VentureBeat: Freescale spins out its MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) chip business. New venture raises $20M in venture capital.
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Could death of early termination fees be near? Yes, but at what cost?
FCC, lawmakers target long-term service plans for variety of products, offerings.
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Duke researchers confirm set of immune cells that can regulate inflammation
UniversityTech: Findings could have big implications for scientists and physicians who develop vaccines and study immune-linked diseases, including cancer.
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CED honors longtime president, hands out ‘Excellence’ awards
Monica Doss receives lifetime achievement award. Top entrepreneurs include ChannelAdvisor founder, venture capitalist, two attorneys.
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Ideas that make you laugh – Rambling on about innovation and life
We should all reflect on occasion. After all, how often have random thoughts led to innovation, entrepreneurship and success?
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Hosted software solutions can offer big payback in hard economic times
By using hosted software solutions, a business eliminates the need to acquire and maintain the resources necessary for supporting a large-scale in-house software deployment, including hardware, software upgrades and maintenance.
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Transitioning to ‘Transmedia’ – It’s not a journey for faint hearted
Reality is, TV continues to migrate to the Internet and transmedia interaction is likely to grow only more important. Watch out!
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Want to succeed overseas? Then know your market size and sophistication
International Business Corner: Understanding your market is essential in your strategic analysis. Developing countries each have profiles that must be understood. The size of the domestic markets and the nature of the consumers must be considered in your strategic analysis.
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Rockport Capital closes third cleantech fund at $450M
VentureBeat: Boston-based firm has already invested $386M in more than 40 startups.
