Can’t Tame a Mongoose

“People like Stan Rose were instrumental in making the genomic revolution happen, but technology alone would not have been sufficient without the drive, passion, and determination that Stan so clearly illustrates in Can’t Tame a Mongoose. A must read for anybody that thinks a great idea is all you need to be successful.”

Riccardo Pigliucci, technology executive/board member

“The vast majority of technology-based start-ups don’t survive five years. Stan Rose uses personal stories to illustrate how unexpected events—and the inability of leaders to be prepared to address them—contribute to this high failure rate. Stan also shares values and skills that enhance the likelihood of successfully navigating such events. Aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage executives, and investors would benefit from reading this book.”

Sue Siegel, chairman of the board of The Engine, built by MIT, where she is a sr. lecturer at the Sloan School of Management; Board of Directors: Align Technologies, Illumina, Nevro, KFF

“Anyone considering investing in a young company developing a ‘leapfrog’ technology for an existing market should read Can’t Tame a Mongoose. Stan’s real-life story of overcoming technical, financial, and competitive hurdles shows how the right responses in dire situations can make or break the business. As an investor in Stan’s start-ups, I have watched him raise money in very difficult venture financing markets, prevail in the face of cutthroat marketing by established large competitors, and build very successful companies.”

L. Robert Johnson, Founders Capital Partners

“A well-written, insightful, and from-the-heart account by an extraordinary scientist and entrepreneur. By sharing his life experience with candor and clarity, Stan Rose will inspire and energize a new generation of thinkers to leverage their intellectual and pragmatic talents to our collective greater good.”

Lena Chow, founder and president of Bob’s Last Marathon Foundation and City of Paris, Inc.

“A thoughtfully written account, by a successful serial entrepreneur in the genomics space, of a palpable real-life experience with a focus on dealing with uncertainties and unexpected turns. A treasure trove of lessons learned, and practical insights.” 

Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, surgeon, scientist, and cofounder of Transplant Genomics Inc. 

“I worked with Stan closely on his Transplant Genomics business build. He is a mission-driven leader with incredible savvy to navigate the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial and genomics world. He has so much to offer. This is an essential read for any entrepreneur, investor, or executive.” 

Rob Webb, healthcare investor

“Stan Rose has a long track record of recruiting and working with diverse groups of people around the world, always considering ethics when making difficult decisions, and refusing to work with certain groups or people whom he felt did not adhere to a similar approach. In Can’t Tame a Mongoose, he illustrates the trials, tribulations, and successes encountered along this thrilling journey. His most important message is that in life and in business one must expect the unexpected. One needs to be aware of the possibility of unexpected events occurring and should plan accordingly to overcome such challenges.”

M. Roy First, MD, former president
of American Society of Transplantation

“This story is about passion, persistence, adaptability, and an insatiable curiosity—in science, in foreign culture, or in new markets. Fascinating!” 

Manfred W. Baier, PhD, biotechnology and business expert in diagnostics 

“It may be true that you cannot tame a mongoose, but with the right skills and incentives you can train one. In his insightful look at the business of science, Stan Rose subtly demonstrates how combining outstanding scientific and people skills with a wonderful sense of humor and deep personal integrity can inspire many a mongoose to use its aggressive instincts to build visionary and socially beneficial enterprises.”

Thomas Palay, JD, PhD, cofounder of NimbleGen Systems and Cellular Dynamics International

“Over 90 percent of technology-based companies fail within five years. Of those that succeed, most must overcome obstacles they never imagined they’d face. Stan Rose shares stories of real-life experiences in the emerging field of biotechnology, providing valuable lessons for navigating such ‘inevitable unexpected events.’ Anyone who aspires to be a bio or tech entrepreneur would benefit from reading his book.”

Robert Palay, entrepreneur, investor, and cofounder of NimbleGen Systems and Cellular Dynamics International