Tim Bernstein

AI and Med Tech in Focus   AI System Developed to Identify Pathology in Tissues Engineers at Washington State University have developed an AI tool that uses images of human and animal tissue to detect abnormalities faster and more accurately than people. The AI algorithm was trained using images from past studies that involved kidney, testes, ovarian, prostate, breast and lymph node abnormalities. The new model detected disease in minutes—current processes take humans several hours and require specialized teams to check each other’s work. It was also found to be more accurate, sometimes detecting instances that humans had missed. The engineers designed the system to handle the processing load of the high-resolution gigapixel images by breaking them down into smaller tiles but still retaining the overall context of the tissue sample—akin to the zoom feature on a microscope or phone camera. Aside from getting diagnostic results more accurately and quickly, the new system also shows promise in epigenetics (the study of molecular processes that change gene behavior without changing underlying DNA). Epigenetic researchers can perform analyses and get results that used to take a year or more in just a couple of weeks. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating a discussion on navigating FOAK in climate tech at the Greentown Labs Summit in Boston (which had >600 people!!). Here’s a quick rundown of what was shared by Katherine St. James of Spring Lane Capital, Paris Smalls, PhD of Eden GeoPower, and Hannah Friedman of Planeteer Capital: 🌱 What is the definition of FOAK? We discussed how the term can be controversial - it's almost too general because it doesn't identify what kind of "First" FOAK refers to - first team project? First geography? First of a technology in a sector? First time for the integration of a system? It's also too specific because it has the word "first" in it, which can be anathema to later stage / project finance investors. 💰 Partnerships for Funding FOAK Projects We discussed how important it is to build a blended capital stack & use off-balance sheet capital for a project so you're not using the most expensive equity dollars to fund an infrastructure project with low-ish IRR. We also talked through being creative about using corporate partners to provide in-kind services or ink some agreement (at least an LOI) to attract this funding. 🏛 Role of Government We talked about how government capital is seen by investors & how it can be catalytic for FOAK. Government capital can provide validation that a startup has passed a rigorous diligence process by a third party - and incentives like grants or credits can help improve returns for the first project- but it's important to be doing this in conjunction with getting customer validation and to be able to present line of sight to competitive economics without concessionary capital. 👥 Advice for FOAK startups The panelists offered some very specific pieces of advice for startups going through FOAK: how to get creative with things like revenue sharing agreements or convertible notes, getting smart with project development early on (like with DeveloperU), being careful about using FOAK too liberally with certain investor groups, getting the right commercialization / FOAK talent in and around you early Huge thanks to the panelists and the team at Greentown Labs (Jill Kirkpatrick, Julia Travaglini, Aisling Carlson, etc you rocked it!!) for hosting this discussion on bridging the FOAK gap. Also immensely enjoyed the rest of the agenda. Check out the full recap & videos here: https://lnkd.in/d9ApYe9Y #ClimateTech #FOAK #ClimateFinance #ProjectDevelopment #GreenTech #CleanEnergy

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If you work in tech transfer this is a good read-in on how our diligence tech can assess and evaluate assets with minimal inputs. The best way to learn more is to see it live! Reach out to me directly to learn more!

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Massachusetts has firmly established itself as a leader in innovation, with three standout sectors fueling its tech-driven economy: biotech, robotics, and cybersecurity. Here’s a look at why the state excels in these fields: 🔬 Biotech: Massachusetts is at the forefront of biotech, thanks to world-class research institutions and a thriving startup ecosystem. With companies like Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.—Massachusetts continues to shape the future of healthcare, from groundbreaking vaccines to genetic therapies. Robotics: Home to pioneers like Boston Dynamics, Massachusetts has become a hub for robotics innovation. From autonomous robots to robotic prosthetics, the state’s ecosystem supports advancements that push the boundaries of human-machine interaction, transforming sectors from healthcare to logistics. Cybersecurity: Massachusetts is also a leader in cybersecurity, providing critical solutions to protect data and infrastructure in an increasingly digital world. With companies like Rapid7 driving research and product development, Massachusetts is at the heart of cutting-edge cybersecurity innovation. Together, these sectors position Massachusetts as a global tech powerhouse. #MassachusettsInnovation #Biotech #Robotics #Cybersecurity #TechEconomy #InnovationEcosystem #FutureTech #BostonTech

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Excited for DCVC portfolio co Alta Resource Technologies to emerge from stealth! The design space of biology is many orders of magnitude larger than inorganic chemistry, and Alta uses it to massively reduce the cost of extracting rare earth metals. https://lnkd.in/g_q5UwRF

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Building an early-stage company? Protecting your innovation from day one is critical, and your intellectual property strategy can be the difference between success and failure. In my latest post, I walk you through the key IP tools every startup needs—patents, trade secrets, and more—and how to use them strategically to secure investment, build partnerships, and outmaneuver competitors. Want to know how to balance protection and cost-efficiency while growing your business? Click through to learn how to craft a winning IP strategy. https://lnkd.in/eNbNqXnT

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We need pharmaceuticals controlled by state regulations and out of the lobbies' grip in Washington DC. Shifting control of pharmaceuticals from federal oversight to state regulation and reducing lobbyist influence in Washington could indeed address many issues, such as drug pricing and access. The influence of pharmaceutical lobbyists in shaping policy has long been criticized, as these companies have often prioritized profits over public health, resulting in skyrocketing drug prices and limited access to necessary medications for many Americans. A more effective economic development authority that employs locals with community first and lobbyists not invited and draining money for middle man money changers. Moving to a state-controlled regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals could mean that states set their standards for drug pricing, approval, and distribution. This decentralization might encourage competition, drive down costs, and foster innovation as states try different models. Additionally, it could increase transparency by allowing for more localized and responsive systems, potentially holding pharmaceutical companies more accountable.

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Despite all the challenges and difficulties obtaining and enforcing a patent, it is still worth it for an early stage founder to get one. Here are 5 reasons why:

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Boston & Philadelphia, January 8, 2025 – Two of the most prominent names in legged robotics, Boston Dynamics and Ghost Robotics, have resolved their patent litigation in U.S. District Court. While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, both companies have expressed a shared commitment to advancing robotics innovation and policy. The resolution marks the end of a high-profile legal dispute and signals a potential new chapter of collaboration. Jason Fiorillo Chief Legal Officer at Boston Dynamics, stated, “We are pleased to resolve this dispute on mutually advantageous terms. We look forward to collaborating on common ground issues to advance robotics in the United States and globally.” Gavin Kenneally Co-founder and CEO of Ghost Robotics, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the focus on innovation: “This agreement underscores our shared commitment to advancing the progress of legged robots while fostering new opportunities for collaboration on key policy and technological initiatives.” Read all about it here - https://lnkd.in/gsCazVkK #robots #robotics #BostonDynamics #GhostRobotics #patents #legaldispute #litigation #collaboration #innovation #progress #unmannedsystems #autonomoussystems

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Interesting piece from Marc Andreessen on how startups are not getting the regulatory support they need to sustain America's technological leadership. "Regulatory agencies have been green lit to use brute force investigations, prosecutions, intimidation, and threats to hobble new industries, such as Blockchain. Regulatory agencies are being green lit in real time to do the same to Artificial Intelligence." While many investors themselves (both in the US and Europe) are worried how AI will change our lives, our jobs and social interactions, the top VC opinion leader thinks regulation is already too restrictive. #techstartups #techleadership #strategicgrowth

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I'm so excited to continue supporting Prolific Machines, Inc., and the incredible Deniz Kent, PhD ,Max Huisman, and Declan Jones. Today's cellular biology processes are incredibly expensive, inefficient, imprecise, and sometimes purely ineffective. These processes are used from everything from making antibodies to treat diseases, to fermentation used to make high-value nutritional proteins in baby formula, to whole cuts of cultured meat. Prolific has developed a biology platform that leverages light to guide cell behavior and optimize performance over time using AI. By combining light, bioengineering, hardware, and AI in fundamentally new ways, Prolific can help pharmaceutical, nutritional, and therapeutics companies get to market faster, less expensively, and more efficiently — ultimately in hopes of helping improve outcomes — a mission any of us can get behind. Mark Cuban Peter T. Frederick Blackford Cooper Rinzler David Adelman Darco Capital Breakthrough Energy Michael Schulson Kevin Love Tobias Harris Breyer Capital Charles Besser Brennan Besser Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants https://lnkd.in/ea2TqdQk

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Our CEO, Evan Zimmerman, is showing Edge at Martin Schweiger's Robot Patent Drafting seminar! Come learn more about litigation-grade US patents. Here's Edge working on a short patent. Want to see a little more juice? Come see what else we demonstrate. #patents #innovation #ai #patentlaw #patentlawyer #ip #iplaw #intellectualproperty

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A little self-serving as an IP attorney but can’t disagree with Howard Levin’s take on the role of IP in seeking VC funding. In the past few weeks, I have heard first hand about a VC pulling out of a deal because a medtech company got sued for patent infringement, another medtech startup received a letter of infringement and freaked out about what that means, another medtech company was granted a motion to dismiss a patent lawsuit, not to mention current and prospective clients wanting to file IP. My take on IP in medtech is that it is critically important and can get really expensive. The best way for startups to build an effective and robust patent portfolio is to first delay public disclosures for as long as possible to extend the clock to file (hence delaying spend), pursuing omnibus patent applications (to reduce the cost per invention), being strategic about what features to protect, being aware of each jurisdiction’s requirements around patenting, and being strategic around conducting landscape assessments to identify patent threats from competitors.

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#TBThursday … In 2010 Tony Fadell co-founded Nest Labs to reinvent thermostats. Based on the founder’s pedigree and press coverage I figured Nest would be an active patent filer. By November 2011 it was approaching 18 months since the date of founding, so any patent applications filed around that time would soon be published. A search of USPTO databases found nothing. OK ... that was just fine because it gave me room to have some fun. What technology would be disclosed in the first patent application?    I wrote “In terms of hardware there is likely a micro-controller with embedded memory for code, maybe some stand-alone memory ... sensors and communications integrated circuits. At first glance this seems to be a pretty standard kit for data collection and control...   What about software or methods of operation? Like the old analogue thermostats, the Nest thermostat takes a minimum of inputs. The Nest website suggests there are two. A heat to temperature and a cool to temperature. Once these are entered the thermostat learns, which is where it becomes interesting. One might envision “A System and Method for Controlling Temperature” incorporating the two temperature settings and data collected during operation thereof.”   In April 2012 the USPTO database started to light up. US 2012/0065783 or “Thermodynamic Modelling of Enclosures” was the first published application. It turned out I was not too far off in my earlier thinking. Within a short time, there were 20+ published applications. They were busy inventing and protecting!   https://lnkd.in/ekbPMBCh #patents #nestlabs #ipmart #ipstrategy

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Investor Deck -> Trial Protocol -> Trial Results   Clinical trials are tough Compromises must be made in design and results often fall short of the vision. That’s where Clerkenwell Health comes in. Our Catalyst program helps bridge the gap with tailored support, expert strategy, and access to a network of researchers and investors—all designed to keep your clinical development on track. https://lnkd.in/eJdhMa-F   #makeclinicaltrialsgreatagain

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