FRANK L DOUGLAS, MD, PhD ’66  -  President, CEO and Chief strategist for the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, OH, a new biomaterials institute built on a unique collaboration of five leading medical and educational institutions.

The Austen BioInnovation Institute has developed an approach, called value-driven engineering, that could catalyze a new wave of U.S. innovation in medical technology. Value-driven engineering involves simultaneous consideration of the clinical utility, complexity, and healthcare system savings in the design through manufacture life cycle of any device.
Join us  in the as Dr. Douglas presents this approach to assessing the value of an innovation and to educating the next generations
of developers and regulators.

Learn about Lehigh’s new professional master’s degree in technical entrepreneurship at an informational open house at Lehigh University’s Wilbur Powerhouse mid-level project area on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 4:30 p.m. The event features:

• Presentation by one of Lehigh’s outstanding entrepreneurial success stories
• Overview of the master’s program by Professor John Ochs, director of Lehigh’s Integrated Product Development (IPD) program
• Demonstration of Lehigh’s 3-D scanner and printer
• Informational posters and handouts
• Refreshments

The one-year, full-time residential program focuses on innovation and new venture creation. Available across disciplines, it is open to graduate candidates looking to delve into the real-world process of entrepreneurship. Applications are being accepted for the summer term.

For more information, see www.lehigh.edu/~innovate, email inentin@lehigh.edu, or call 610-758-4789.

What happens when your company has raised money from investors and begun to grow but then later suffers a significant decline due to economic conditions, industry issues, aggressive competition or, frankly, just poor decisions? Is your growing venture in need of a turnaround management team instead of one focused on growth? We will focus on the ins and outs of turnarounds and the pitfalls of a down round financing including the additional fiduciary duties that a Board of Directors faces in such a scenario.  Things aren’t all doom and gloom, however, as the crux of this course focuses on how to work through these problems and come out on the other side. (1 Credit)

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

Is “going public” the right financial play for every emerging growth company? What are the benefits and risks? What is the role of the investment banker in grooming a company for an IPO ? What requirements must be satisfied to be in compliance with SEC rules and federal securities laws? How long and costly is the road to a public offering?  Topics of special interest include the current state of the IPO market, IPO advance preparation, and pricing of IPO shares. Working in teams, students access SEC filings online, and analyze and evaluate recent IPOs. (1 Credit)

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

A select number of early stage companies qualify for venture capital financing. This source of funding is best suited to high-potential early stage companies that require substantial investment to fuel their growth engines. Students are exposed to the criteria upon which a VC bases its decision to invest, the nature of the deal that is struck, and the role of the VC in working closely with the management team following the release of funds. This course culminates with student teams negotiating conditions of a hypothetical term sheet. (1 Credit)

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

No business plan would be complete without financial projections and assumptions that explain the numbers. “Forward-looking statements” in the business plan reflect the company’s expectations about the results of future operations. Emphasis is placed on analyzing forecast data and determining whether there is alignment to the core strategies articulated in the business plan. Valuation models are examined for early and late stage companies.  (1 Credit)

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

This interactive seminar focuses on understanding the true meaning of entrepreneurship.  The new venture opportunity is profiled from the perspective of the individual entrepreneur who is starting a business and embarking on a new career path involving high risk and reward.  Both start-ups and established companies are are placed under the microscope through guest speakers, panel discussion, selected readings and case analysis. (1 credit)

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

With the market for the new product or service validated in Business Plan I during the fall semester, the goal of Business Plan II is to build the business plan. The focus is on the design and launch of the new enterprise. Students develop a written document whose content is concise, yet complete. It is communicated in a format and style that moves investors to action. Prerequisite for this course is Business Plan I. (2 Credits)
–Date/Time TBA–

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.

Annual Baker Institute celebration and awards ceremony for Eureka! Competition winners.

Email inentin@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-5626 for more info.