pageFOCUS 11 Technique • Friday, September 16, 2005 • 11

WILL YOU GET ? THEATRE PRODUCES BIG BANG Tech helped a footless pantyhose founder Wannabe producers schmooze and FOCUS turn personal savings into multi-million- bamboozle their way into staging the most Page 14 Page 17 Technique • Friday, September 16, 2005 dollar business. expensive Broadway musical ever. VentureLab bridges gap between research and commercialization Technology business incubator celebrates fourth successful year of helping Tech faculty and students By Zen Mehra things . One is a management team ‘product’ from a ‘company’, which If you’re a brilliant researcher, that’s faculty don’t understand the business Contributing Writer consisting of experienced entrepre- is what investors like to see.” not a very good use of your time.” side of things.” neurs, and the other the initial fund- Technological skills do not nec- VentureLab helps hire manage- “VentureLab helps bridge that The pathway from laboratory in- ing needed to start the company,” ment or trained professionals to gap. You can now talk to investors in novation to the commercial market Fleming said. run day-to-day operations at these a language they understand.” at Tech has been paved smoother Over the years, VentureLab “We at VentureLab companies. On the route to his second start- by an ambitious venture called has developed a wide network of Dr. Madhavan Swaminathan, up, Swaminathan continues to be as- VentureLab, which celebrates its investors and entrepreneurs who get look to marry the a Professor in the Department of sociated closely with VentureLab. fourth birthday this week. involved in the start-up companies innovation and Electrical and Computer Engineer- Orthonics, Inc., an It offers a variety of services to they help. ing (ECE), worked with VentureLab start-up company developing new faculty and students that help them “The experienced entrepreneurs knowledge inside while floating his company, Jacket biomaterials for spinal disc repair commercialize their research. come from our network. Almost a professor’s head Micro Devices (JMD). and regeneration is yet another “We at VentureLab look to marry everybody here has done something JMD specializes in radio-fre- VentureLab graduate. the innovation and knowledge that like this before, so they know a lot of with an experienced quency passive components. lives inside a professor’s head with entrepreneurs. Those in turn know entrepreneur and “The nice thing about Tech is others, and the Six Degrees of Kevin some money.” that you have access to something “[VentureLab] made Bacon takes over,” Fleming said. like VentureLab. As faculty mem- “You can now talk Upcoming ventures are funded bers, we are very good at developing it possible for us either through the Georgia Research Stephen Fleming technologies, and have some idea to set up without to investors in Alliance (GRA) which grants money Chief Commercialization about the business side,” Swami- a language they to small companies in their formative Officer, VentureLab nathan said. having to raise stages or through market institutions “But ultimately we need help money first just to understand.” that provide seed funding. to figure out how to present this “We are the channel through essarily translate into managerial technology to potential investors, pay the CEO.” Madhavan which a company can apply for that expertise. and how to develop a business plan Swaminathan money,” Fleming said. “While there are exceptions, in- around it. That’s where VentureLab Barbara Boyan ECE Professor “We know a lot of investors like novators often find that being a Chief comes in.” Professor, BME venture capital investors, angel in- Scientist or Chief Technology Officer “Ultimately, one of the Ven- vestors, high net-worth individuals is a better role as compared to being tureLab Fellows became our CEO. an experienced entrepreneur and and other private firms.” the CEO,” Fleming said. It has been very useful to us.” Its technology is based on re- some money,” said Stephen Fleming, “Rather than going in cold, we “The CEO often has to deal with “If you are in a university en- search from the laboratory of Dr. Chief Commercialization Officer of prepare these companies and intro- issues like negotiating the lease of a vironment, most investors are not Barbara Boyan, the Price Gilbert, Jr. VentureLab. duce them to such people.” building, ensure taxes are filed on interested in talking to you since Chair in Tissue Engineering at the “Nine times out of ten, the Profes- “We help them put together a time and that the company complies they either don’t know much about sor is missing one or two important business plan that differentiates a with equal opportunity guidelines. your technology, or feel that most See Venture, page 14 Recruiters arrive in droves to be impressed by students “[Tech] has great students and I ity of the students that I’m seeing, come here very year to take students. especially the underclassmen that I hire mostly electrical engineers but are looking for internships,” said Kimeth Williams, the director of Recruitment and Career Develop- ment at L’oreal. “[The students] “I thought I would wait and were too well come and recruit interns in the spring but I’ve seeing so many great dressed. Come on, students that I plan on trying to get we’re here in hats a schedule for October to recruit for internships,” Williams said. and shorts. They There were lighter moments to the [need to] relax a serious, job-focused atmosphere. “We get a lot of people who are little more!” interested in financial analyst posi- tions and [when] they find out we’re Kiran Achyutuni more of a sales, relational company, Manager, Amazon conversation quickly turns and they run away,” said Dallas Nevins, a campus recruiter from Northwestern I also hire for the other engineering organizations. We’ve had good expe- riences here,” said Dr. John H. Day, “Some of these Chief of the Electrical Engineering Division at NASA. students are so Some recruiters seem to be well qualified filling more positions than they By James Holder / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS anticipated. [that] they amaze Thidarat Tosukhowong, a Ph.D. student (right) is interviewed by a BOC representative (left) at the Fall Ca- “It’s been very interesting as me. Some of the reer Fair held at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, which was attended by a wide variety of companies. we’ve had some very good students,” By Swathy Prithivi with some of in line with that aid Joanne Berman, the Human experiences they’ve Focus Editor the resumes, and sentiment. Resources Manager for JDSU, a had have just been [am hoping] that “It was fun talking “ S o m e o f company providing systems and Career fair recently rolled into the folks that are these students services in the fiber optic and tele- outstanding.” town and captured more than just in the company to the students here are so well quali- communications field. student interest. who are actually and trying to inspire fied [that] they “The funny thing is that we may Claire Boland The recruiters, who attended this hiring will be amaze me. Some found a few people for our European HR Lead, Monsanto year’s fair, held on September 13 and able to interview the next generation of the experiences sites and we have some very good 14, 2005 at the Alexander Memorial them,” said Ja- of explorers.” they’ve had have multicultural [applicants]. We’ve Coliseum, were all eyes and ears on ved Siddiqi, a been just out- got an office in France that I may Mutual Financial Network. Tech students and their innumerous senior software standing,” said actually send some resumes to,” “A lot of people kept losing their achievements and accolades. engineer at Lex- Dr. John Day Claire Boland, Berman said. name tags and it wouldn’t stick well “About the people that I’m inter- mark. Electrical Engineering Hu m a n R e - “This is my first time recruiting to fabric but it would stick to other viewing here, I’m finding some real Most recruit- Division, NASA sources Lead at at a career fair at Georgia Tech. good talent. I’m pretty impressed ers seemed to be Monsanto. I am so impressed with the qual- See Careers, page 12 12 • Friday, September 16, 2005 • Technique FOCUS

and didn’t stop for a couple of min- ing for students, which is really kind The work put in by staff to here at Tech to keep coming back from page 11 utes about what he’s done and what of neat. I haven’t seen so many blue make this event a success was well year after year. Careers he wants to do. It would [be ok] if it suits in a long time.” received. “I have two [Tech] students work- things,” said Mark Saxon a Research was an interview, but he came on aw- “There’s been a lot more activity “There’s a lot better food [this ing for me and my experience with Associate at Battelle. fully strong. So maybe some people than spring and foot traffic here. year],” Nevins said. them has been so wonderful that “So for one guy, it fell off and hit are over zealous,” he said. We’ve gotten a lot more qualified “I really love working with Career I’ve been an advocate of hiring more one of our [promotional] buttons and The recruiters were also surprised leads,” said Mary Stuart Iverson, a Services here and the committee did [Tech] students because they bring in he was trying to peel it off while he by the vast student turnout. campus Recruiter at Northwestern a fantastic job,” Williams said. a lot of fresh ideas and talent to the was trying to talk to me.” “I was amazed at the number of Mutual Financial Network. They were very accommodating, actual business,” said Siddiqi. “You could tell he needed to students that were here especially “[The students] were too well they looked out for all of our needs “We’ve had [a] good experi- focus on one thing or another,” in two days. The companies are dressed. Come on, we’re here in hats and so I’m very happy.” ence here. It was fun talking to the Saxon said. here one day and half the other,” and shorts. They [need to] relax a “The staff has been phenomenal,” students here and trying to inspire “The worst was when a guy came Boland said. little more!” said Kiran Achyutuni, Berman said. the next generation of explorers,” up to me and he just started talking “There are so many people look- a Manager at Amazon. Overall recruiters found much Day said. FOCUS Technique • Friday, September 16, 2005 • 13 Tech aids founder in shaping of new generation of pantyhose By Melissa Cataldo One of the unique things about up with Spanx. been sent by Candid Camera.” In the question and answer session Senior Staff Writer Spanx is that a woman can, unlike She was wearing white pants and The law firms all quoted $3000- following her speech, Blakeley gave with normal pantyhose, wear them needed an undergarment to wear $5000 to write the patent, but some insightful tips. was on BBC pro- with any shoes, even sandals. underneath that wouldn’t show, that was nearly all of Blakeley’s “If you have an idea, don’t tell moting her company and hosiery It’s no secret lots of women will and a G-String just wasn’t going savings. anyone [until you develop it]…the product, Spanx. to make it. Instead she ended up writing most minute you put your idea out there, She was telling the news anchor, So she cut off the feet of some of the patent herself using a book your ego is involved…People might “It smoothes your fanny, lifts your pantyhose and decided to turn the she bought at Barnes and Noble, say something and stop you before fanny, tightens your fanny.” “[Spanx] gets rid of idea into a new product. and she did in-depth research of you start.” Well marketing can be funny all panty lines and When she needed undergarments other pantyhose patents using the She pointed out that sometimes, because in England, to go underneath white pants, she Tech library. attributed his success to guts. fanny means vagina, and the news- makes a woman look cut off the feet of some pantyhose She came to the Georgia Tech “I’m not the smartest person I caster looked uncomfortable and about five pounds and decided to turn the idea into a Library after work ten nights in a know…I have no business back- said, “I think you mean bum.” new product. row to do research. This and other anecdotes kept lighter.” She went on the internet to look “Tech was instrumental in me Blakely’s lecture at the College of up hosiery mills and cold- getting started...that’s why “If you have an idea, Management last Wednesday sur- Sara Blakely called them. I’m always willing to speak prisingly entertaining. Founder and Owner, When the hosiery mill here,” she said. don’t tell anyone Blakely is the founder and owner Spanx owners laughed and dis- “I developed the packag- [until you develop of Spanx, a women’s undergarment missed her, she got in her ing with my friend on her company. car and drove around computer,” Blakely said. it]...the minute you Spanx’s signature product is foot- pay lots of money to instantly have to speak She said she had a very put your idea out less pantyhose worn as underwear. the appearance of slimmer, smoother with them in person. clear idea of the design and thighs and, as the Spanx name “All these men were wanted it to stand out. there, your ego is implies, butts. making our undergar- “I had no focus involved...” So despite the fact that some ments, and that’s probably groups…check in with “Tech was male executives laughed at Blakeley’s why they’ve been so uncom- yourself and don’t Sara Blakely instrumental in me invention, it flew off the shelves of fortable.” doubt yourself…It’s major high-end department stores Blakely finally met Ted a sea of beige and Founder and Owner, getting started... such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Hayes, a mill owner with gray, so I wanted Spanx that’s why I’m Fifth Avenue. daughters who loved the idea red…very artsy and Due to creative marketing and and so he agreed to help her different.” ground…but I had guts.” always willing to humorous names and slogans, take the project on. There was no A student asked about concerns speak here.” Spanx has been featured on The It took a year to make money for advertising, over intellectual property, since a Show, CNN, Forbes, the prototype with the right so the packaging had to major drugstore brand could du- Vogue, and The New York Times, mix of stretch and support, make the product stand plicate her idea. Sara Blakely among others. no dig-in comfort waist, out on the shelf. Her reply was not to worry too Founder and Owner, Blakeley was a contestant on a cotton crotch, and an Confident in her fin- much about idea stealing and focus Spanx ’s show The Rebel adjustable ankle band. ished product, Blakeley on innovation. Billionaire: The Quest for the To patent her idea, Blake- called Neiman Marcus, “My biggest asset is the name Blakely was able to turn $5,000 Best, winning first runner up and ly called three law firms in who put her in touch with Spanx, instead of fighting com- in savings into a $20 million busi- $750,000 to start an international Atlanta. “They thought I their buyer in Texas. petitors, try to come up with the ness. women’s charity. was joking.” She flew out and within next big thing…People don’t want “It gets rid of all panty lines and Blakely was working as a fax She said one lawyer even five minutes the buyer to steal your idea until it’s in the makes a woman look about five and copier salesperson by day and a told her, “I thought your idea ordered the product for market doing well…try to be first pounds lighter,” Blakeley said. comedian by night when she came was so bad I thought you had seven stores. to market.” 14 • Friday, September 16, 2005 • Technique FOCUS

Engineering and an innovator in worth a lot more than it originally would not have emerged without who would be using our devices,” from page 11 the making. was,” Fleming said. VentureLab, I would like to think Swaminathan said. Venture Start-ups give you something Benefits are split between the they are moving in the right direction “There’s nothing as satisfying Coluter Department of Biomedical “beyond money,” he said and added professors, the Institute and others faster and stronger because of us.” as building a company from the Engineering. that he would approach such an involved, but ultimately Tech as an “Our vision for the future is that groundand I’d like to see other “VentureLab has been a partner ecosystem makes money,” he said. graduates become entrepreneurs. in the development of Orthonics Recent economic trends have That being said, there is a lot to be from the outset,” said Boyan. hit many companies hard but Ven- learnt by working in a big company,” “The CEO of Orthonics, Dr. “VentureLab is a tureLab continues to flourish. “There’s nothing as Fleming said. Steve Kennedy, was a VentureLab great way of gaining “The bust in the dot-com and satisfying as building “While there’s no one right Fellow. This made it possible for us to telecom sectors served as a good answer for everybody, one should set up without having to raise money a foothold in the wake-up call to many investors that a company from consider spending some time in a first just to pay the CEO. It also freed venture capital not all companies are successful and the ground up, and start-up for the experience.” me up to do the science.” not all investments make money.” There are lots of different ways to “I’ve done it without a formal market and a good “While we output into that eco- I’d like to see other make money but very few ways to VentureLab and ATDC (Advanced exposure to how system, our input is the innovation graduates become be happy, and one of the ways to be Technology Development Center) at Tech. If you look at the number happy is to have a job you love.” and now I’ve done it with. It’s a things are done.” of grants, their dollar value or the entrepreneurs.” “Being involved in a start-up is whole lot better with.” corporate partners we have had, that something that is very exciting. You According to Boyan, attracting Amit Bavisi has been steadily rising upward,” Stephen Fleming influence a lot of decisions on a day to funding without such support is Ph.D. student, ECE he said. Chief Commercialization day basis,” Swaminathan said. almost impossible and companies “We have done pretty well in Officer, VentureLab “Commercialization is the ulti- are best run and managed by profes- the last four years. We have about mate test for any technology I would sionals and not necessarily innova- organization should he ever decide ten graduates that have raised about encourage all students to come up tors. “VentureLab is a great way of to float a company. $38 million between them. These every cell phone would have a JMD with new ideas that would lead to gaining a foothold in the venture “Tech owns a bit of equity in each companies are coming along. They device in it. Things are looking good commercialization.” capital market and a good exposure of these companies. As they continue are selling their products and hiring —the economy is improving, and “There’s nothing like transfer- to how things are done,” said Amit to grow, some may decide to go public new people.” JMD is trying to work with some ring everything you learn into a Bavisi, a Ph.D. student in Electrial or get acquired. That equity is then “While I wouldn’t say that they very large companies in our area, product.”

sliver www.nique.net/sliver Oh! You have monkeys and bananas in your under- pants! I’ve corrupted lots of girls. Lots of people have tried hun- what makes you think you are special? You have a pope club? How the hell do you have a pope club? Especially for a dead pope! Who discusses policy on facebook? So, my story about the pope. Does it include the vagine or penis game? Uh, oh. I’m going to hell. Better start that facebook group. It’s the urban version. Who the fuck is Terrance? That’s my new catchphrase. I remember my first time getting mad at Kyle. Everyone remembers their first time with Kyle. We were wathing the Pope thing. The moments we’re talking just creep me out! They were playing the penis game last night while we were waiting. You can’t say vagine without smiling. vagina not vagine you idiot! and for that matter. vagina. without smiling Directions: bite,tear, and chew Don’t choke Creepy Andrew sucks. He sucks balls. I’m pretty sure tha t there is a website out there about me telling me I’m gay. I like shaved men. Who the fuck is Terrance? GTPD-I WILL enter until you get finished putting up the do not enter sign. Screw you. At least the UNC fans are nice Run The Ball!!! i want to have Calvin’s babies. you can’t show up 10 minutes into the game and tell people to get out of “your” seats. Foosk Man Lad is my hero! FOCUS Technique • Friday, September 16, 2005 • 15

CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE ON CAMPUS Tech THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN? Up CloseClose THIS WEEK’S PHOTO: Email [email protected]@technique.gatech.edu if you think you know the answer—and check to see if you won in next week’s issue! Answer to previous Tech Up Close: Pole in front of Fulmer Residence Hall Last week’s winner: Jesse Caldwell

By Ben Keyserling / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

sliver www.nique.net/sliver even security agrees you wanna sit in “your” block, show up the same time every- one else does and quit being drunk jackasses about it we’re all here for the same team coke and prunes taste like dr. pepper! Hurricane refugees need us! Plz donate! I wish I am MGT major. My life would be so easy! Why the hell isn’t there a side- walk on Tech Parkway!! F*** the GTPD for shutting down all the parties on cam- pus this weekend!!!! Maximum Gigundatude! GENERICMAN STRIKES AGAIN! MWAH HA HA HA HA! I’m in love...with PSpice. Why couldn’t they recommend this in ECE 2040? Th ose sunglasses were totally not a gun. Th ey were...sun- glasses. Get glasses ASAP. Advertising your organization on skiles walkway doesn’t make me want to join but rather see just how much of it I can wash away with my urine. As long as you wear the rat caps, people like myself will steal them from you. I can’t believe they let me on the fi eld at half time. Where does one sliver end and the next begin? Hey Sliver Girl, do guys hit on you in their slivers? Interactive newspaper... al- most! Now I have something to do at work! Chess is boring in comparison to Go. Mind envisions polar, Th oughts raging from left to right, Without solutions Have you every really thought about what meat is? Next time you take a big bloody bite look at your own body. It’s just another piece of meat. Hungry? What if the Sliver Girl IS the only person I want to read my submission?

See page 20 for more Slivers 16 • Friday, September 16, 2005 • Technique FOCUS ESM Building dedicates room to deceased squirrels By Trevor Stittleburg fan. Contributing Writer Unfortunately, it was not until after another squirrel suffered the A sign on one of the doors on same fate in the same fan that a grat- the first floor of the Engineering ing was placed over the opening at Science and Mechanics (ESM) the top of the building. building proclaims it to be “The The first floor of the ESM build- Squirrel Room.” ing is also home to the offices of the Is this a homage to the squirrel Success Programs which includes room of Willy Wonka and his infa- FASET, GT 1000, and one-to-one mous chocolate factory? tutoring. “Whenever we interview some- “I don’t think they open the big one here, we have to tell the story windows on the end of the building of the squirrel,” said Meredith Ray, anymore. Whether that’s more for

“We think [the squirrel] came “Whenever we through an open interview someone vent on the roof, here, we have to and then got stuck tell the story of the in the fan in the squirrel.” bathroom inside the Meredith Ray room.” By Trevor Stittleburg / FASET director Paddy Kenington, Assistant Director of Success Programs poses in front of “The Squirrel Room.” The room commemorates the unfortunate demise of several squirrels due to a lethal ventilator fan incident. Paddy Kenington security or squirrels I don’t know,” Assistant Director, Success hallways. They kept the big windows coming from the remains of an un- the vents above the room and then Kennington said. Program at the end of the hallway open back lucky squirrel in the ventilator fan. fallen into the shaft with the fan. Kennington decided to com- then, and I think that’s where he “We couldn’t figure out what the “We turned the light on, which memorate the room where the squir- came in,” Kennington said. smell was. We think [the squirrel] of course turns the fan on automati- rels met their unfortunate demise by FASET director whose office is “I propped the door open and came through an open vent on the cally, and, well,…end of squirrel,” placing a sign designating the room as housed in the ESM building. hoped he would take the hint.” roof, and then got stuck in the fan Kennington said. “The Squirrel Room” on the door. The incident occurred in the This was not the end of the squirrel in the bathroom inside the room,” “We didn’t realize those little The squirrels, despite having spring of 2001, when Paddy Ken- episodes as the staff soon noticed a Kwnnington said. bits [in the fan] were fur. When the a room named in their honor, do nington, assistant director of Success terrible stench emanating from one “Of course, when you turn the vent was taken out, we found the not seem to find the grating very Programs, noticed one of the critters of the storage rooms. ventilator fan on and there’s a squirrel squirrel’s remains.” palatable, as the Success Programs scampering down the hall. At first, the staff didn’t realize that in there….” Georgia Tech Facilities was staff has not experienced any more “I saw a squirrel run through the the source of the smell was actually The squirrel had wandered into called in to clean up the vent and squirrel problems.