The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 14)

Raj and I engage in a conversation debating the potential uses and benefits of providing high speed network connectivity to rural areas. In the process, we have some disagreements on microfinance models, but agree on the end goal of the killer app: providing a livelihood to the poor population. SM: The question is, by selling

Read Full Article »

Featured Videos

Leadership Profile: Maggie Wilderotter (Part 1)

Maggie Wilderotter is the current CEO of Citizen Communications (CZN). Citizen is an industry leader in rural telecommunication services with 2006 revenues of $2B. It offers ILEC services under the Frontier name in the United States. I was introduced to Maggie as one of the most impressive women executives. [Bio] SM: Let’s start with your

Read Full Article »

Web 3.0 & Marketwatch

We have reviewed Yahoo and MSN’s Personal Finance offerings in earlier posts. Marketwatch Inc. is one of the leading providers of financial information, business news and analytical tools. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company Inc. Here, we take a look at Marketwatch from the web 3.0 perspective.

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 13)

Raj continues to address his concept of taking bandwidth to underdeveloped populations. SM: It is just sunk costs, that should be OK. RR: They just need to bite their tongues and assume it is all lost, and it will come back via economic growth. So, that is the first problem I would like to solve;

Read Full Article »

Turn Around Series: Jerry Rawls, Finisar (Part 14)

In the conclusion of the interview, I find it very interesting how Jerry was able to remain motivated and energized throughout the entire process, even after he had made (as Frank calls it) ridiculous amounts of money. SM: That sounds like a great story, congratulations for being able to navigate your ship through all of

Read Full Article »

Web 2.0 & Bootstrapping

Peter Rip wants to puncture the web 2.0 bubble. In truth, the web 2.0 phase has been a boon for entrepreneurs, not necessarily for VCs. And now, is it surprising to see a VC crying: grapes are sour? I just wrote a piece called Is Bootstrapping Becoming Sexy Again? In this piece, I have explored

Read Full Article »

Palm Changing Hands

Looks like Palm will change hands this week. The bidders are the usual suspects: Nokia and Motorola on the vendor side, and TPG and Silverlake on the Private Equity side. I was suprised that Dell isn’t bidding, and did some digging to see what’s going on, and found this: :: Here’s why, according to one

Read Full Article »

Entrepreneurship in India

Enterpreneurship is a critical element of a growth economy, and India is poised to unlock a Silicon Valley like entrepreneurial boom through the next 10 years. The beginnings are already in place, steps have been taken in the right direction. I have written extensively on the topic of entrepreneurship and venture capital in India, and

Read Full Article »