9 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

This is an interesting piece written by a high school entrepreneur who successfully pitched his startup to Mark Cuban.  In the article, the author/entrepreneur discusses how he approached Cuban and ultimately landed funding from the Mavericks’ owner.  Inc.ubator is a VC firm designed for entrepreneurs under the age of 30.  Please find the Forbes article and the website for Inc.ubator below.

http://fortune.com/2016/01/25/mark-cuban-venture-capital/

http://incubatorhs.com/

 

Interesting article on how open-source software is allowing startups to become involved with the driverless car innovation.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/startups-aim-to-get-a-piece-of-the-driverless-car-1453690985

 

Given the recent market volatility I found this article to be extremely relevant. The article explores how Angel Investors are tending to invest less in startups because they fear market uncertainty and found that past valuations of start ups were grossly inaccurate. The article describes that some of these tech startups funded by Angele investors are valued lower than they were in earlier fundraising rounds. In turn, as Angel investors look for new companies to invest in,they fear that these younger companies are overvaluing themselves as well.

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/as-angel-investors-pull-back-valuations-take-a-hit-1453337982

Below is quick case study on policy and social entrepreneurship after the Boston Marathon bombing. Boston’s way of distributing funds to those affected by the bombing was particularly effective, especially when compared to attempts following other tragedies.

https://hbr.org/2016/01/lessons-from-bostons-experiment-with-the-one-fund

Interesting article discussing how new state and federal laws now allow Illinois businesses to raise up to $4M from non-accredited investors. In short, this will allow for crowdfunding projects much larger than those ordinarily seen on platforms such as Kickstarter, perhaps even including crowdfunded shopping centers or local business. However, some fear the legal complications of having so many small scale investors claiming interests in the business.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-big-ideas-equity-crowdfunding-bsi-20160119-story.html

A study of young entrepreneurs & how hipsters are redefining business models.

http://time.com/3644520/why-you-should-love-hipster-entrepreneur/

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2013/02/25/boxee-ceo-on-the-future-of-tv-aereo-cloud-dvrs-netflix-and-apple-tv-oh-my/

Interesting approach by major industrial and manufacturing companies in the sphere of DMCA and software ownership on their cars, tractors, etc.

 

http://wrd.cm/1OaXZN5

In January of 2015, Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) introduced the fourth version of their Startup Act, which includes a proposed startup visa.  

The visas are included in the bipartisan Startup Act 3.0 bill, for which they have been lobbying for over three years, would be available to 75,000 foreign-born individuals who also start companies in the U.S., provided that they meet certain investment and job-creation benchmarks within three years. Once the company meets the benchmarks, the entrepreneur is able to apply for legal permanent residence. 

The Startup Act would also create a new visa category available to 50,000 foreign-born students who graduate from American universities with STEM degrees, and would further eliminate caps on the number of work visas that may be granted to individuals from each country.

A Kauffman Foundation study estimates that a startup visa could create 500,000 to 1.6 million new American jobs.

This sounds great, and the U.S. is long overdue for a pathway to LPR status for immigrant entrepreneurs, but one issue I wonder about is whether three years is long enough to prove an entrepreneur’s true resilience or potential for growth. I think the most important aspect of this bill is that it gives extended visas to those who obtain an education in the U.S. To turn them away after we have invested two, three, or even four years or longer leaves competitor countries in a much better position.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/senators-take-another-shot-at-startup-act-pitching-tax-tweaks-and-immigration-reform/2015/01/16/3ff2a584-9db1-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html