Catching Up On Readings: Optimism Is Contagious

Professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at UC Berkeley Naeem Zafar calls Vision India 2020 “unlike any book I have ever read” and puts forth that the book’s optimism is contagious in his new review. You can read all of this week’s posts by clicking on the full article. >>>

Building One Of The World’s Biggest Tech Blogs From New Zealand: ReadWriteWeb Founder Richard MacManus (Part 4)

SM: You have always stayed focused on quality content and good analysis.

RM: From the very beginning I have believed that analysis is important. I strive for thoughtful posts about technology that illustrate where technology is going. I highlight trends and the latest products. Throughout ReadWriteWeb’s history that has been the focus, and it remains so today even though it is a proper business now. >>>

Vision India 2020 Book Review: Five Stars From Amazon Reviewers

Two new five star reviews of Sramana Mitra’s Vision India 2020 were posted on Amazon. From Charles Ashbacher:

“And the entrepreneur shall lead her (India) . . . There are many reasons to believe that by 2020, the economically most powerful nation will be India. The arguments for that premise made in this book are a bit unusual; the book consists of forty-five short “histories” of businesses in India developed by visionary entrepreneurs. Most of the histories start with an idea hatched in the second half of the first decade of the twenty-first century and follow it through the development into an economically strong company into the year 2020. Most of the ideas are not new, what is interesting is that they are being applied to India and would do a great deal to remake Indian society. All are based on the changing demographics of India as well as the push to grow new infrastructure to support the economic development and rising population. India is a source of great entrepreneur energy and initiative, no better illustrated than by reading anything on the leadership of technology companies in the United States.
>>>

Partner Events

Sydney Business Networking Group – May 6, 2010
NYC Business Networking Group – May 13, 2010
Entrepreneur Commons, Madrid – May 26, 2010

Sydney Business Networking Group – May 6, 2010
“Mixer with a Twist.” This open, informal event is for both veterans and newbies – anyone who works for themselves, is a small business owner, entrepreneur, or those thinking of starting their own business or releasing their inner entrepreneur. The emphasis tonight is on roaming and connecting freely. Our business professionals come from a diverse group of industries and backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to attend FREE; however, you must RSVP through the website. Please also invite your professional contacts to come along and join us.
WHEN: May 6, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh St, Sydney, 2000
COST: Free with RSVP
RSVP here.
>>>

Building One Of The World’s Biggest Tech Blogs From New Zealand: ReadWriteWeb Founder Richard MacManus (Part 3)

SM: The nice thing about having an influential audience is that people are willing to pay to access that audience. The consulting and sponsorship revenues gave you time to build up your blog. Were you working entirely on your own at that point?

RM: I was definitely on my own by then. >>>

Forbes Column 2010: Financial Reform: Legal vs. Right

The Goldman hearings elucidate the financial system’s dilemma between what is legal vs. what is right. Read Financial Reform: Legal vs. Right

Building One Of The World’s Biggest Tech Blogs From New Zealand: ReadWriteWeb Founder Richard MacManus (Part 2)

SM: April 2003 was still very early in the time period of blogging.

RM: It was, and there definitely was no money in it. I had a day job at the time as a Web manager, and I was not fulfilling my mind. I wanted to explore all of this different stuff, and blogging was my way of doing it. >>>

Roundtable Recap: April 29 – Finding The Right Direction

This morning I spoke with four entrepreneurs covering a wide range of businesses, from an inventory optimization SaaS to an e-commerce site that creates a keepsake of your child’s artwork. They each have different choices to make right now.  Move to a different platform? Go non-profit? I developed my Web 3.0 framework to help entrepreneurs make the right choices moving forward. You can find my Web 3.0 formula here.

John Krech kicked things off with Phitch.  This SaaS business offers easy inventory optimization for businesses using QuickBooks.  This is a validated business with a few dozen customers who are charged a monthly fee based on the number of inventory items the business is tracking, making this service affordable for very small businesses who also happen to be QuickBooks’ best customers.  Recently John has been getting requests to expand Phitch to work with other platforms, but this is really not the way to go.  John has carved out a nice niche for himself-very small businesses that use QuickBooks- where there is not much competition.  QuickBooks is widely deployed with millions of users and John says he enjoys a good relationship with QuickBooks.  There will be much more competition if he builds compatibility with the platforms used by larger companies.  No, John’s current positioning for very small businesses is very compelling and I encourage him to continue to focus on QuickBooks’ customer base.  In fact, he has the right solution for many of the e-commerce entrepreneurs who have pitched at these 1M/1M roundtables and I encourage him to reach out to them as well.
>>>