The United States needs a research investment fund to compete with China

America may no longer be able to boast, “We’re No. 1!” In their 2011 bestseller “That Used To Be Us,” Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum compellingly suggested the mantra no longer applies. And about a year ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made it official: China has overtaken us as the world’s largest economy. China […]

Perceptive Navigation Receives $225,000 From Maryland State Venture Fund

Perceptive Navigation, a medical device company in Baltimore, has been awarded a $225,000 investment by the Maryland Venture Fund (MVF), the state’s primary venture capital investment program. Perceptive’s first product, an ultrasound probe dubbed Vu-Path, uses the company’s advanced imaging techniques to allow surgeons to precisely place and guide the instrument during procedures. The state’s […]

Graftworx gets $500K from Maryland Venture Fund

Bel Air-based medical device company Graftworx received $500,000 from the Maryland Venture Fund, the state announced. With the new funding, the company announced the hiring of Lilip Lau, who invented a coronary stent while at Guidant. Graftworx is developing a stent to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD). The money will also be used to complete […]

Is state VC funding becoming the name of the game in emerging economies?

The Indian government this week launched a much awaited venture capital (VC) fund. Dubbed the India Aspiration Fund, the 20 billion rupee fund (US$306-million) will operate as a fund-of-funds administered by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi). Life Insurance, India’s biggest insurance company, will be a co-investor in the fund, which will then […]

$45M State-funded “New York Ventures” completes first two investments

Empire State Development announced the launch of New York Ventures, a program dedicated to encouraging innovation and fueling economic growth in communities across the state. New York Ventures will oversee the State’s innovation investment funds, which provide financial capital to early-stage, technology-based businesses, and include the New York State Innovation Venture Capital Fund, a $100 […]

Washington’s Life Sciences Discovery Fund not dead yet, launches grant program

Earlier this year, lawmakers slashed from the budget a state fund for life sciences. Well now that fund may have been put on life support. The Life Sciences Discovery Fund had $2 million left in its treasury account after the Washington state Legislature approved a budget in June that revoked the rest of the LSDF’s […]

Invest Georgia startup fund is showing signs of life

A long-stalled Georgia program that uses government dollars to attract venture funding for homegrown startup firms is showing signs of life. The Invest Georgia initiative, a favorite of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, this week selected an investment consultant to manage the $10 million in state funds flowing through its coffers. […]