A Great Time in the Upstate

What a great few days in the Upstate!

DeLegge Medical spent Wednesday and Thursday at the 6th Annual SC MedTech Entrepreneurship & Industry Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, S.C. We had an opportunity to meet with a number of great like-minded medical technology folks from around the state and presented our new Lowcountry Medical Technology Accelerator project to the attendees at the conference. It was a wonderful chance to catch up with fellow colleagues that we have not worked with recently and build some new connections with companies that are just starting up in the Palmetto State.

Special thanks to Matt Gevaert, Jennifer Noel and the rest of the planning committee for organizing such a successful event! We look forward to seeing everyone throughout the year and at next year's event as well.

SC MedTech Entrepreneurship & Industry Conference

DeLegge Medical will be at the 6th Annual SC MedTech Entrepreneurship & Industry Conference on Thursday, November 18 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, S.C.  Dr. Mark DeLegge will make a presentation at the conference on our new Lowcountry Medical Technology Accelerator.

The 2010 SC MedTech Entrepreneurship & Industry Conference is South Carolina's annual event focusing on the creation and growth of medical device and technology business opportunities. Now in its 6th year, this meeting has become the annual one-stop shop to meet and connect with biomedical, clinical and regulatory professionals including technical entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and academics.

2010 marks the first year the conference will be supported and managed by the South Carolina MedTech Industry Council. This newly formed, industry-led Council's mission is to foster a competitive business environment in South Carolina for medical device companies beginning at conceptualization. This conference will help to support the growth and success of the medtech industry in South Carolina by increasing the industry's effectiveness and by encouraging cooperation and the exchange of information.

If you are interested in the Lowcountry Medical Technology Accelerator and cannot make it to the SC MedTech Entrepreneurship & Industry Conference, please contact us at 877-971-6202 for more information.

SE BIO Investor Forum - Atlanta, GA

SeBIO was held this week in Atlanta’s Buckhead area. This meeting is intended to put developing medical technology in biotech, diagnostics and medical devices on stage in front of a significant number of venture capitalist groups. Often the technologies are in a very early stage or even loosely held concepts, creative but risky. The enthusiasm of inventors has not wavered even in times of very cautious financial treading. Inventors and entrepreneurs still bring in their prototypes and optimistically display their wares. But the venture gap is upon us.

The inventor in the Southeast is unaware in most cases that the Greek economy just scared a venture “turtle” back into its shell. More pressure and focus is put on the regulatory pathway and reimbursement than on a clever design. Awkwardly, the inventor becomes the CEO writing five-pound business plans and exploring Medicare and insurance issues. The game has indeed changed. For many medical technologies, it is back to the old days of the friends and family investors, grant writing and angel funding. The venture gap is upon us. For those with the courage to step into a developing medical technology, the rewards could certainly be great. It is after all, supply and demand. With global and US political and capital market, stability will come and the venture investors return back into the early stages of technology. Meanwhile, chin up inventors! Keep the passion for saving lives and improving health care alive until the funding returns.