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Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category.
Case In Point: Cisco Systems
In the early 1980s Stanford University had some 5,000 computers of various types. There was no campus-wide network, the systems were like islands. Bridges were needed to connect them together. Cisco Systems was founded in 1983 in the living room where Len Bosack and his wife Sandy Lerner lived. Their solution was to create the bridge that networked the networks. Continue reading ‘Managing the Rapidly Growing Venture’ »
Case In Point: Steve Case and America Online
Steven Case created America Online from scratch into the world’s largest online service by making the power of the Internet available to the average consumer. He describes his source of pain. “In 1982, I bought my first computer and wanted to hook it up and be part of this online world, and I went to great lengths to make it happen.
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Immigrant Entrepreneurs Ventures Similar To Other High-Impact, High-Tech Firms
Sixteen percent of high-impact, high-tech firms have at least one immigrant founder, according to a study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Although these firms are concentrated in states with large immigrant populations, in most other respects they resemble high-impact, high-tech firms founded by native-born entrepreneurs.
Continue reading ‘Report: High-tech Immigrant Entrepreneurship in the United States’ »
Silicon Valley Continues to Lead All Other Metropolitan Regions
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Silicon Valley, the largest and most influential high-tech center in the world, continues to lead all other metropolitan regions in North America in the breadth and scope of economic activity it creates through technological innovation. But many other metros have built strong and diverse industries that should allow them to prosper when the global economy recovery.
Continue reading ‘Milken Institute: New Report on North America’s High-Tech Centers’ »
By: Robert W. Price
Source: New York Times 02-03-09
Technology entrepreneurs are having a devil of a time finding angels.
Angel investors are the optimistic financiers who give entrepreneurs their crucial first infusion of cash to bring their ideas to life. Now, in the midst of a punishing economic downturn that is sparing few companies, these patrons are cutting back on their bets and threatening the very foundation of the technology economy.
Continue reading ‘Angels Stop Investing In Tech Start-Ups’ »
Smart Action Company
We are the Smart Action Company LLC, the commercialization subsidiary of Adaptive AI Inc., a company founded in 2001 to research, develop and commercialize a far-reaching set of inventions in the field of artificial general intelligence.
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Our first products, launched in early 2009, are designed to “change the game” of the multi-billion industry for interactive voice response (IVR) systems. Our future will take us beyond IVR systems into the intelligent automation of interactions between humans and computers for applications in business systems, entertainment experiences, and consumer products.
Continue reading ‘Smart Action Company - Interactive Voice Response’ »
By: Robert W. Price
“The world is moving so fast that even the short term seems long.”
Harvard Business School Article
by John Hagel III, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison
Feeling a little disoriented by the way the world seems to be changing faster than ever? Get used to it, says this blog post from two officials of the Center for Edge Innovation, a Silicon Valley think tank.
Continue reading ‘The New Reality - IT Causes Constant Disruption’ »
A start-up run by former Microsoft Corp. employees said it has made a tool to combat growing security risks on the Web. Haute Secure Inc. introduced a free online service says will let consumers detect and stop Internet-borne computer code designed to steal private information.
Continue reading ‘Start-Up’s Web-Security Tool Is Free to Consumers’ »
Danger Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of software and services for mobile handsets, has withdrawnits registration for a $100 million IPO. The move is related to Microsoft’s recent agreement to acquire Danger for approximately $500 million. Danger has raised around $142 million in total VC funding since 2000, including a Series E round in late 2006 at a post-money valuation of approximately $187 million. Shareholders include Mobius Venture Capital (17.6%), Redpoint Ventures (14.8%), T-Mobile (12.6%), Softbank Capital (12.7%), Motorola (11.2%), Meritech Capital Partners (7.8%) and VSP Capital (6.2%).
Leading Venture Capital Firm Starts Large Fund
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has launched a $100 million venture capital fund called iFund, which will invest in companies developing applications and services for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. KPCB partner Matt Murphy will lead the iFund effort, and be joined by partners John Doerr, Bill Joy, Randy Komisar, Ted Schlein and Chi-Hua Chien
Tesla Motors Inc., a San Carlos, Calif.-based maker of electric cars, has raised $40 million in “bridge financing.” Valor Equity Partners and Tesla chairman Elon Musk co-led the round. The company previously raised a $45 million Series D round last May from Musk, Technology Partners, Capricorn Investment Group, Vantage Point Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, JP Morgan Bay Area Equity Fund, Valor Equity Partners and Compass Venture Partners. Tesla recently said that it was hoping to raise another $250 million, via a combination of a private placement and an IPO in either the U.S. or Europe.
Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future
The InterAcademy Council has released a new report, commissioned by the governments of Brazil and China, identifying and detailing the scientific consensus framework for directing global energy development. Continue reading ‘Report: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future’ »
By: Robert W. Price
Company Behind WordPress Raises More Money
Automattic’s Series B round of financing with co-investors Polaris Ventures and Radar Partners, as well as new strategic investor The New York Times Company. Continue reading ‘Automattic Raises $29M Series B Round’ »
Developing and Managing Your Network
The development and management of an enterprise’s IT infrastructure has long been a challenge for businesses of all sizes. IT systems and network management are critical functions because poorly performing and nonfunctioning systems can be very costly. Continue reading ‘How will you develop and manage your Web site?’ »
Managing Customer-Specific Relationships
Customer relationship management (CRM) combines a strategic business approach with technology. Managing customer relationships begins with a strategic awareness based on customer-focused themes. Continue reading ‘How will you manage your customers via the Internet?’ »