Monte Carlo simulation is a well established method for simulation in engineering models - including ray tracing and tolerancing of optical systems. Monte Carlo simulation, Real Option, and other advanced mathematical methods are being applied more and more to financial modeling and valuation of high risk, intangible assets such as intellectual property, R&D, and venture capital financed businesses.

When start-up or growth capital is not available or at a very high cost, bootstrapping is a feasible strategy – even for high technology ventures requiring significant assets, a highly specialized and expensive workforce, and years to bring its first products to market. It is often, however, a last resort – considered only after burning through many months shopping business plans to venture capital firms, lenders, or those at established corporations managing the R&D budget. Instead, consider bootstrapping and harvesting your most valuable asset – your technology – for cash, strategic customer relationships, market intelligence, application know-how and more.

Zoiray Technologies is successfully bootstrapping a high potential venture that promises prognostics to enable effective therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease. Without a dime of venture capital or debt, Zoiray is shipping instruments and inking early access deals with researchers to develop content for its label-free multiplexed immunoassay platform.

In a program launched by Ernst and Young to break open new networks for women entrepreneurs, Linda Smith, founder of CERES, is invited to participate in this week long forum whose grand finale is the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.