Category: Uncategorized

THE NUMBER OF VCs ARE HALF WHAT THEY WERE during boom times, and their criteria are tougher. However, counties like Turkey and others are trying to stimulate entrepreneurship, and it is expanding in unlikely places. The Crisis is imposing discipline and rigor and that is no bad thing. More carefully thought-out biz plans and more attentive investors have to be a step forward. http://lnkd.in/4SkZEQ View in LinkedIn

DUE DILIGENCE IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE if a company wishes to hide something, or if there is fraud. Exhaustive checklists, and representations and warranties can be dodged or misrepresented, if you have gone through due diligence and found nothing at all amiss, this should be a red flag. Your final resort is to triangulate with as many sources as possible, and perhaps most importantly, follow your gut feelings. There are more war stories about incomplete due diligence than perhaps any other business topic. Be highly skeptical and don't fall in love with an idea. Always be ready to walk away. View in LinkedIn

IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR BOARD for the right reasons, not because you are in the wrong job, or want a new fan club, consider the following. First, be honorable and ensure that you have met reasonable expectations about fees and equity. A good board is no more a charity than you are. Secondly, properly thank and acknowledge their contributions. Thirdly, think very hard about how you do it, because the last thing you want to do is insult people who have worked hard for you. Fail to do these three things and you may find it comes up during due diligence by new board members. View in LinkedIn

HOW TO WORK WITH YOUR BOARD. A good board can be invaluable for a growing company. Key rules are: no surprises, no games and politics, timely and good communication, and always listen carefully. All boards have fiscal responsibilities to shareholders, and surprises are universally unpopular. Stuff happens, but be sure to communicate it rapidly and completely. Politics almost always results in a divided and unhappy board. And if you are unable or unwilling to listen to the board, either you are the wrong person or you picked a lousy board. It is your job to make the board relationship work. View in LinkedIn

WESTERN BUSINESS IDEAS ARE NOT NECESSARILY ADAPTED FOR OTHER CULTURES as this article expansively points out. The need for culturally-appropriate solutions is highlighted. The discussion has clear implications if your company wants to do business in Asia, that you cannot ignore large cultural differences. Bottom line: partner with a local company if you want to do sales abroad. http://yourviet.blogspot.com View in LinkedIn

PHARMACEUTICALS face competitive hurdles from numerous sources: the scientific risk in innovation is not trivial; then there is the Regulatory risk, where good drugs fail not because they are bad but due to trial design or lack of statistical power in a study; and finally, even when these two immense hurdles are overcome, agencies like Britain's NICE, or the US equivalent give the thumbs up or down on actually paying for the medicine. http://lnkd.in/2j4hWn View in LinkedIn

EDUCATION FIT FOR THE MASSES is clearly taking root and this is a great thing. What is missing is the campus community experience, and the one-on-one experiences familiar to all of us in university. Online learning will be different, but is a great alternative; I am guessing that the two modes of education will progress in parallel and appeal to quite separate markets, and be valued differently. http://lnkd.in/ey2B-N View in LinkedIn

THE TEDIUM OF CREATIVITY as explained in this article is like Einstein's "inspiration is 90% perspiration". An interesting perspective on the ability to coach Mastery of a subject, which is different from coaching changing one's personality. http://lnkd.in/xsQtDs View in LinkedIn

FOR MOST ENTREPRENEURS, CLOSING SERIES A FINANCING is a huge milestone, the end of months of planning, pitches, seemingly spurious rejections, and roadshows spanning many cities. This can seem like a huge relief and accomplishment, which it surely is. However, in all cases, reality quickly sets in when they understand that they have only just arrived at the start of the race, not the end, and the slope ahead is even steeper: to actually deliver all those promises. This is a good time to take a week in the sun to recalibrate. View in LinkedIn

BURNOUT IS REAL in startup pressure cookers, as much as it is in any fast-growing enterprise. Slow increases in executive workload and pressure are harder to see than stepwise jumps. Although the popular myth recommends cooking a crab in cold water gradually getting hotter, this is as painful for the crab as for the executive. Ultimately, the executive's health, sleep, temperament, and cognition are all compromised. Be acutely observant of the small signs of severe wear-and-tear, and act accordingly, or imperil your venture. View in LinkedIn