Is nanotechnology all hot air with no concrete application?
One company produces real products and actually makes money from the technology. f you have not already heard how hot it is, nanotechnology stands poised to become a potential colossal gold mine – but how much actually translates into real applications or products? No longer are venture capitalists (VCs) falling over themselves to invest in this technology – the likelihood of a lucrative payback appears to stretch into an uncertain future. James Von Ehr II put his money where his mouth is – more than US$30 million and counting – to demonstrate his conviction in the field’s viability. Frustrated at the dearth of any credible nanotechnology companies back in 1997, he created a startup to translate technology into a concrete product. Seven years later, Zyvex Corp, still doggedly digging in its heels in the tough terrain, is beginning to reap the rewards of the initial investment. He muses on the rise and fall of interest of VCs in nanotechnology. The tide peaked in early 2002 but plunged
