The biotechnology entrepreneur often starts with a technical background, most commonly including scientific laboratory research. It is quite common for scientists who have spent a number of years in an academic environment to start a new company based on a technology platform or a novel discovery they made during their tenure at a university or research institute. Alternatively, a scientist or a group of scientists from a rather large company may decide to leave and start their own venture based on some of the research and development work they had either performed or thought about doing for their previous employer. This type of business may or may not be a spin-off from the parent company. In some cases, a businessperson or two may join the scientists in the start-up of the new company. A less frequent but still relatively common phenomenon is the start-up of a...