SmallBusinessNewz

VCs Trying to Pay for Legislation?

The ever-watchful eye of the American Small Business League (ASBL) has issued a press release today spreading awareness of the latest happenings in Venture Capital firms dealing with small business-related government entities.

The Free Model and Personal Experience

I’m so glad to see the Financial Times take a look at the biggest flaw with the "free" model that’s embraced the web: you can’t make money with it! “There is going to be a shake-out here in the next year or two” as many Web 2.0 companies disappear, said Roger Lee, a partner at Battery Ventures. Despite this, venture capital firms are still eager to throw money around…

Pain Plus Problems Equals Startup Profit

I have just stolen/adapted that headline from Christine Comaford-Lynch of Mighty Ventures It is the opening title of the first email that she sends to new subscribers to her email list, and goes on to say But remember: it's not enough to just "diagnose" that pain. People have to perceive it as a problem in search of a cure. Only then will they open their wallets to get that pain removed. and a little later on

Can Venture Capital Be More Like EC2 and S3?

I'm becoming an increasingly big fan of infrastructure services like Amazon's EC2 and S3. The reason is simple: You pay for what you need at around the time that you need it. This is the point I made when recently interviewed by Erica Naoone of MIT Technology Review in an article aptly and succinctly titled "Cheap Infrastructure".

ASBL Ready for Another Fight

The American Small Business League (ASBL) is making waves in the sea of small business contracts once again.Known for its persistent criticism of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the ASBL is calling out the House Committee on Small Business this time, and in particular Committee chairperson Nydia M. Velzquez.

Uncommon Questions For A Startup

Venture capitalists have a hard job.  The good ones have to pick a small number of investments from a large pool of opportunities, often with minimal "data".  If I were a VC, I'd  look at a lot of the things that VCs look at today and ask some of the same questions.  What's the market opportunity?  Who's on the team?  What do you think your sustainable competitive advantage is, or will be?