Category Archives: Tech Based Economic Development

Q. Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? A. To Get to a Real Incubator.

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

Yesterday I received an email from an entrepreneur who wrote: “I am launching a startup in the mobile/social media/sales & e-payments/arts & networking arena this summer and am looking to get into an accelerator.”  Rather than try to figure out what … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary/Editorial, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What Erich Brenn Can Teach Us About Funding of Start-Ups

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Who remembers Erich Brenn?  In these blog posts, I’ve occasionally tried to understand, and explain, the business world I see by comparing it to famous people you’ve probably never heard of.  We’ve previously talked about Don Ho and Jim Riggleman.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Just Kidding, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should VC’s Be More Like Lumberjacks?

Posted on August 26, 2011 by

According to this Small Business Trends post, only 10% of all VC investment goes into seed and early stage companies.  That is up from only about 5% in the mid-2000′s, but well below the 15-25% range that existed between 1980 … Continue reading →

Posted in Entrepreneurial Advice, Seed/Venture Capital, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a 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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Maryland stepping up…Follows Pennsylvania’s Time-Proven Strategy

Posted on April 25, 2011 by

I was somewhat disheartened to read in the Maryland Daily Record, that Maryland was moving ahead with a plan to invest $70 million in high tech start up firms.  Pennsylvania has long been a leader among states in that business.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development Policy, Tech Based Economic Development | Tagged , , , ,

Is There a Difference Between an Economic Bubble and a Wheelbarrow Tire?

Posted on April 18, 2011 by

Sunday morning, I finally started to put up my garden fence.  My neighbors with gardens don’t seem to have trouble with varmints, but I do.  So I got started digging a trench around the perimeter, and hauled out the wheel … Continue reading →

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SBIR/STTR…Defense of a Government Acronym (part 2)

Posted on April 7, 2011 by

Last week, I wrote Part 1 of this post that provided a little background on the SBIR/STTR program.  This federal government legislation is in the process of being revised and, hopefully, readopted.  It basically assures that ~2% of all federal government … Continue reading →

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Y You Can’t Build a Business in 3 Months

Posted on April 6, 2011 by

If you are reading this blog post, you’re probably familiar with Om Malik and his blog GigaOm.  He’s basically turned tech industry reporting into a business.  This excellent post, “From Start Up to Business, A Long Strange Trip”, reminded me … Continue reading →

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SBIR/STTR…Defense of a Government Acronym (part 1)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by

Many of you may not be familiar with SBIR/STTR.  The quickest explanation is that there are two ways that your federal government invests in advanced technology.  One way they do so is by owning their own laboratories.  The National Renewable … Continue reading →

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