A friend of mine recently asked where I’ve been hiding out and what I’ve been up to lately so this post is in response to his question.  The answer to his question, in a word, is: diapers.  You see, my life is full of diapers these days with several start-ups in my portfolio and a couple of “start-ups” at home.  So, for all the diapers I have changed, all the diapers I have yet to change, and all the diapers I will never change, and all you personal and professional diaper-changers out there, this ode is for you.

Changing diapers just isn’t fun to do.

Some are “just” wet… but some are filled with poo.

I’ve learned to check often, in the absence of ques,

for if you forget to check them, then you’ll ultimately lose.

There are frequently signs; so, look, listen, and smell.

With enough practice, one can always tell.

Some may seem daunting while others appear unsoiled.

But remember the golden rule:

Never judge a diaper by its cover, lest you be foiled.

While having three hands would relieve,

delegation and maturation are the only reprieve.

Some diapers are easy and can be changed in my sleep.

Some diapers are horrific and cause me to weep.

I’ve joked about wearing goggles and sunglasses in a pinch.

I’ve changed so many the past three years they’re becoming a cinch.

An English major I’m not so I won’t drone on much longer

And I’ll leave you with one final thought:

Changing diapers won’t kill us, it will only make us stronger.

So, with all the aforementioned in mind, happy changing to all you personal and professional diaper-changers out there.

I’m clearly biased here, but thought I’d share a recent press release from one of my portfolio companies:

 RF Nano Corp., a Newport Beach, Calif.-based developer of carbon nanotube analog electronics, has raised $8 million in Series B funding. Oxantium Ventures led the round, and was joined by return backer Okapi Ventures.

PRESS RELEASE

RF Nano Corporation, the leader in carbon nanotube analog electronics announces that it has raised $8 Million in Series B venture capital to accelerate the development of its breakthrough technology. Washington D.C. based Oxantium Ventures lead the round and Oxantium founder Dr. Richard Wirt will join the RF Nano Board of Directors. Okapi Ventures, RF Nano’s series A lead investor, also participated in this round.

“Building on the outstanding work of Professor Peter Burke at UCI, RF Nano has developed low cost manufacturing processes and extended its leadership position in the application of carbon nanotubes to high performance analog electronics,” said Steffen McKernan, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of RF Nano. “”We are very pleased that Dr. Richard Wirt and Oxantium are joining RF Nano. Even before closing this financing, the Oxantium team has added significant value to our business. Their deepening engagement will accelerate delivery of our products and help us drive the creation of a future of analog and mixed-signal systems uniquely enabled by RF Nano’s technology.”

“Oxantium is pleased to be the lead investor for this round of investment in RF Nano,” said Oxantium’s Richard Wirt. “RF Nano’s technology will enable a new generation of robust, high bandwidth wireless devices. As RF Nano harnesses the fundamental promise of carbon nanotubes, the semiconductor world will be forever changed.”

“We continue to be enthusiastic investors in RF Nano. They have built a strong team with deep industry experience focused on delivering against the tremendous potential for utilizing carbon nanotubes in RF applications,” said Marc Averitt of Okapi Venture Capital. “Initial feedback from major players in the RF marketplace confirms our belief in the game changing nature of

RF Nano’s product pipeline.”

About RF Nano RF Nano Corporation is the leader in developing a CMOS compatible suite of discrete, wafer and integrated circuit products based on the outstanding analog electronic properties of carbon nanotubes. With power densities 100 times silicon and 20 times greater than gallium arsenide, intrinsic cutoff frequencies in the Terahertz, inexpensive growth, and the ability to integrate with standard CMOS processes, RF Nano’s extremely robust carbon nanotubes devices will revolutionize the $60 billion analog and mixed signal semiconductor markets. Founded in 2005 and based in Orange County, CA, the company is privately held and backed by Oxantium and Okapi. For more information, please visit www.RFNano.com.

About Oxantium Ventures Oxantium Ventures is a premiere technology investment group supporting companies at seed, early, and growth stage by providing capital, insight, and years of experience in research, industry, and government. Headquartered in Washington, DC with a global investment strategy Oxantium’s team invests to shape tomorrow by empowering passionate and talented entrepreneurs from imagination to innovation to commercialization. Its technology focus areas include emerging computing, wireless everywhere, collaboration, and enabling technologies. To learn more about Oxantium, visit www.oxantiumventures.com.

About Okapi Ventures.  Okapi Ventures is a seed and early stage venture capital fund headquartered in Laguna Beach, California. Okapi, with approximately $30 Million under management in its initial fund, is focused on information technology, digital media and life science opportunities in Southern California with a particular emphasis on Orange County. For more information about Okapi, visit www.okapivc.com.