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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

A VALUABLE SYNOPSIS OF COMPASSIONATE THOUGHTFUL AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP, but be careful of those who believe (earnestly) that they are ethical people, but have a completely different frame of reference and rules from other people. This dissociated viewpoint considers Machiavellian action justified to achieve business ends. Figure this out early in any new relationship or it will haunt you later. http://lnkd.in/AXjkHx View in LinkedIn

A WORTHWHILE READ, but use it as a mirror not as a self-improvement manual. Determine whether these characteristics describe you and if they do, perhaps you have the makeup to lead. I am always suspicious of tactics designed to make people what they are not (how to shine in an interview is on the cusp). Sure, we all can use coaching and practice (public speaking, pitching) but any promises to change fundamental personality should be viewed as bogus. Your most fundamental cards were dealt early in life. http://lnkd.in/_cdMj7 View in LinkedIn

Thank you everybody for filling out the survey. Last chances to send it in, before we distribute the results." "" " View in LinkedIn

BIOTECH INDUSTRY REPORT a must-read for all participants. Similar reports have been generated about Catalan biotech and high tech , giving it a high ranking. http://lnkd.in/Xu2uYk View in LinkedIn

A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF BIG COMPANY INNOVATION which deserves credit and applause, which is so clearly distinct from entrepreneuring. This clever person had the time and financial support to do very thorough homework and come up with fresh ideas for his company's established brand. http://lnkd.in/PUuP8r View in LinkedIn

THREE PLACES I CALL HOME ARE SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON AND BARCELONA, and all share an unusual environment that celebrates and fosters emerging companies, especially Tech companies. Each city has an infrastructure of intellectual excellence (universities), advanced medicine (teaching hospitals), logistics (incubators, science parks, bootcamps), and finally, investors (VCs and Angel networks). Young people leave PoDunk to seek their fortunes and passions in these exciting cities. The unlikely is born in bars and clubs and social events and the rest is history. http://lnkd.in/Fk-gst View in LinkedIn

SIGNS THAT ANGEL INVESTORS ARE COMING BACK TO INVESTING, as outlined in this article, and coupled with my personal experience and personal anecdotes seems to be the case. These important investors bridge Friends and Family earliest money and the first VC money for most Tech startups, and are often sophisticated former entrepreneurs or CEOs. They play a key role in helping a new generation of emerging companies be born. http://lnkd.in/kts_ic View in LinkedIn

USE THE SNIFF TEST OFTEN. When a new circumstance or proposal that requires you to make a decision and act, try and first apply the Sniff Test. This is variously called your gut feel, wisdom from your mama, or plain common sense. Imagine you were telling a younger family member about the options in a non-technical and boiled-down way. Does it sound sensible or half-baked? View in LinkedIn

BEING CURIOUS CAN LEAD TO REALIZING THAT THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES as this author explains, when arriving at a contrarian view of leading business thinkers. Let's not forget that business theories, like anything else, run in fashion lockstep, dominated by a popular idea quite often, and how healthy it is to take a step back and apply the sniff test. http://lnkd.in/rXTsqy View in LinkedIn