Category Archives: Innovation and the World

Scalawags, Scoundrels, and Other Corporate Partners

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

If you only quickly scan this post, you may get the impression I’m suggesting that relationships with companies larger than your start-up are not a good idea.  If you are getting that impression, please keep reading.  For almost all B-to-B … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Planning, Entrepreneurial Advice, Innovation and the World | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ladies and Gentlemen…the Next President of the United States…Alexander Hamilton!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by

I woke up this morning from a dream which was set in the late 1700′s.  I believe it was 1796, because I was presenting to an enormous room full of people and the banners hanging declared “Welcome to the Federalist … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Economic Development Policy, Economic History Perspsective, Innovation and the World, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ohhhhh. I Get It Now. You Said Valuation…I Thought You Said Value.

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

I am obviously slower than I thought I was.  And I’m certainly slower than the capital aggregators known as Silicon Valley venture capital.  They understood long before I did that early stage company investing is NOT about the value of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Innovation and the World, Seed/Venture Capital | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t Bring Me Angel Investors…Bring Me Hero Investors

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

There is trouble in the town! In case you haven’t seen the headlines, let me deliver some bad news to you. You’re not going to like it, but it’s time you hear it too. The United States is no longer great … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Innovation and the World, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can Detroit Save America?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by

Everyone will have a different opinion, but in my opinion, the Chrysler Super Bowl advertisement highlighting Detroit and Eminem is the greatest commercial of all time.  I have spent many years working to make a small, urban industrial area more economically … Continue reading →

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How Do You Coach This Stuff? — Does GroupOn Prove Profitability is Obsolete?

Posted on June 6, 2011 by

Somewhere along the way, I’ve been miseducated.  Or, perhaps, I misunderstood my education.  Whichever it is, I’ve been wrong about a fundamental element of business.  And now, hundreds of entrepreneurs I’ve worked with and advised are paying the price. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurial Advice, Innovation and the World, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Small Time Politics, Big Time Stakes

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

Twenty-some years ago, I was a young economic developer working in the City of Allentown, PA.  My job frequently took me to city council meetings where I was able to witness fishbowl politics at its worst.  There were plenty of … Continue reading →

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Patent Reform 2011 – A Sword with Two Very Sharp Edges (part 2)

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

In part 1 of my post last week on patent reform, I identified several ways in which the new Patent Reform bill (S.B. 23 and H.R. 1249) is better for big business than small business.  And I’m disappointed in that.  One big … Continue reading →

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Patent Reform 2011 – A Sword with Two Very Sharp Edges (part 1)

Posted on April 20, 2011 by

David Kappos is President Obama’s “Patent Czar”.  He has helped create and guide patent reform legislation through the US Senate last week by a score of 95-5.  The US hasn’t had such a significant overhaul of the patent system in … Continue reading →

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“A Generation of Creators”

Posted on April 13, 2011 by

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Lehigh University Create! Innovate! awards dinner.  Over the past few years, my own Lehigh University set sail for the entrepreneurial horizon.  Donations from the Thalheimers and from Dexter Baker set this in … Continue reading →

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