Revenge of the Nerds -- Again

Revenge of the Nerds -- Again Free perks range from gourmet meals at the company cafeteria to bathrooms equipped with digital toilets, where the seat temperature and bidet pressure can be controlled with a remote. "They have created a Willy Wonka effect," says James E. Pitkow, CEO of Moreover Technologies, whose former company, Outride Inc., was purchased by Google in 2001. "Engineers want to work on the coolest problems with the smartest people."

RED HERRING | Shasta: How to Start a VC Firm

RED HERRING | Shasta: How to Start a VC Firm Something to think about in 2010 :-)

Where are all the UK (& Irish) start-ups?

Where are all the UK start-ups? (plasticbag.org) You could say the same about Ireland - Ireland has a real strong tech scene - but that is primarily driven by the likes of Microsoft, Intel, Dell, eBay, Google, Yahoo, etc who all have bases in Ireland. The start-up scene is getting better - but to pose the question in the context "Where is the Blogger or Flickr or Odeo or Six Apart of Ireland?" - all who are web2.0 companies - they are thin on the ground. Here is an insight into the struggles of doing a "web2.0" in Europe We hope to change that !!

Loic Le Meur Blog: On Jeff Bezos' mind today

Loic Le Meur Blog: On Jeff Bezos' mind today

Side-Business Software: The neglected software market - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals)

Side-Business Software: The neglected software market - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals) "The most innovative software designed over the next 10 years will 1. be web-based, 2. will come from small teams, 3. will come from self-funded companies, and 4. will be for the “side-business” or 1-10 person business market."

TJ's Weblog - "Technology, Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship" - Event management ala Whizspark

TJ's Weblog - "Technology, Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship" - Event management ala Whizspark

A VC: In Defense of Free

A VC: In Defense of Free Quote: Because free is a great way to make money. You just have to know how you are going to get paid for being free.

SiliconValleyWatcher.com: [thoughtleaders] Most startups should avoid venture funding, not pursue it

SiliconValleyWatcher.com: [thoughtleaders] Most startups should avoid venture funding, not pursue it "you start by selling your concept to potential prospects (rather than stock to VCs), you will either end up with initial customers or a conviction that your idea won't work. Why raise money and then find out which one it will be?"

The Personal MBA - All Discussions

The Personal MBA - All Discussions theme: "Mastering Business Without Spending a Fortune"

€irePreneur: More rules for entrepreneurs

€irePreneur: More rules for entrepreneurs Great link from James from Eirepreneur.

Om Malik’s Broadband Blog � 1995 vs 2005, are we thinking different?

Om Malik’s Broadband Blog � 1995 vs 2005, are we thinking different?

John Furrier: Sequoia Capital Podcast with Mark Kvamme on Entrepreneurship

John Furrier: Sequoia Capital Podcast with Mark Kvamme on Entrepreneurship This is a great interview - it's very encouraging for entrepreneurs. Quote You don’t really read the whole business plan. Because if you cannot describe what you do in two declarative sentences, you don’t know what you’re doing. In fact, if you can do it in one declarative sentence. Take Google, for example. Larry Page said that Internet is about finding people, places, and things, and we do it better than anyone else. Two declarative sentences. That’s pretty good. Yahoo’s the same thing. Cisco: “We network networks.” I got it.

Hey Norton! - Ken Norton's blog - Five star product management

Hey Norton! - Ken Norton's blog - Five star product management Newsletter looks good

Feld Thoughts: Boards of Venture Backed Companies - "After The Term Sheet" (Jaffe / Levensohn)

Feld Thoughts: Boards of Venture Backed Companies - "After The Term Sheet" (Jaffe / Levensohn)

Southeast VC: Ten Strategies That May Improve Your Business

Southeast VC: Ten Strategies That May Improve Your Business Great list - refresh focus !!

The Post Money Value: Banned Words: Burn Rate

The Post Money Value: Banned Words: Burn Rate: "For true Start-Ups/Pre-Revenue companies, my tips: * If you get asked that question, respond we don’t have a burn rate. Pause for the knee jerk snarky comments and reactions. Then simply reply here is our capital investment schedule. Bring somebody else to your meeting to watch the VC body language. You’ll know more from this interchange then all the Colin Powell hires on the planet. * Put investment schedule into your presentations and lexicon. Change the rules on how the conversation happens."

Sligo Weekender: Contract signed for incubation and research building at IT

Sligo Weekender: Contract signed for incubation and research building at IT The building, which is funded by Enterprise Ireland, the Higher Education Authority and IT Sligo, will house 500sq m of research laboratories and will be the first research building to be constructed for the institute of technology sector. It will accommodate over 30 research students. The 1,350sq m business incubation facilities will have high-tech workshops with office, training and conference facilities for the development of campus companies. An in-house Business Development Office will provide support and mentoring services for new enterprises. The extended building will reinforce and expand the services of the existing business innovation centre. A further phase is planned under the college’s development Masterplan that will, when completed, consolidate this sector of the campus as the focal point for engineering, technology, research and business incubation activities. Its under development... we can hear the banging and clattering of diggers.......

VCball: Your Founder Got Strategy?

VCball: Your Founder Got Strategy? "While often entrepreneurs tout 'proprietary' technology, patents, or unique distribution relationships, in my book, pun intended, this often doesn't amount to mush and an incumbent can throw cash at these issues. So the only thing left is a keener savviness on how the game is played, and getting to where you need to be before the incumbent does. Why I and I think other VCs gravitate to serial entrepreneurs is that they have either have read these two books and experienced them and others like them, or have either by luck or sheer intuition figured strategy out." Bought the t-shirt !!

Feld Thoughts: Subscription Pricing

Feld Thoughts: Subscription Pricing Interesting post and reference from Brad Feld on subscription pricing.

Seeing Both Sides: Dr. Seuss and The Land Of No

Seeing Both Sides: Dr. Seuss and The Land Of No "Start-ups are like giant experiments. You make a few assumptions, add a few ingredients and see what happens over time. VCs prefer to invest in start-ups where the assumptions are clear, the experiment being run is discrete and not too costly, and where the outcomes can be easily measured over a reasonably brief period of time. A new company that requires $20M and four years to prove out whether the key technical or market assumptions are correct isn't very fashionable nowadays. Companies that require $4M and twelve months to prove out the three key assumptions, and then a well-defined set of milestones that will be achieved during the first phase of the experiment, are obviously far more appealing."

RoyalAlert: "Parking Lot" Factor is Virtually Dead

RoyalAlert: "Parking Lot" Factor is Virtually Dead This used to be a big factor in MSFT team building - "all for one, and one for all" - as Royal points out teleworking/broadband means that you don't need to be physically present but "always present"

Blog Happy - IRISH BOSSES WHO BLOG

The Sunday Business Post had an article on "IRISH BOSSES WHO BLOG" Check out the following Irish companies who have blogs on Nooked RSS directory - tag Irishcorpblog Feel free to add in more Irish corporate blogs to the directory and use the tag: Irishcorpblog Tags: irishblogs itnorthwest