Bold Ventures

Lender startup helps small businesses get capital
Kabbage, a company that offers capital to small businesses, examines social media and other data sources when determining whether to make loans. "When we tap into the data, we can see how you [an online merchant] were doing six months ago and project how you might fare a year from now," explained CEO Rob Frohwein. The company, which is backed by venture capital, is pursuing an expansion into the U.K. VentureBeat (2/16)
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Leading the Pack

5 keys to building a front-line-focused organization
Senior leaders who are committed to a front-line-focused organization must establish a vision that puts customers first, respect and encourage insight from front-line employees, and "obsess over talent," among other steps, write Noel M. Tichy and Chris DeRose in this book excerpt. Executives "must imagine what the ideal customer interaction will look like and ask where breakdowns may occur throughout the process, from generating customer awareness to building post-sale relationships," they write. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (2/12)
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Finance & Growth

Health-related startups find new crowdfunding options
Companies such as Medstartr are providing crowdfunding services for entrepreneurs who start health-related businesses. Company founders may be able to raise more money on the sites after the Securities and Exchange Commission finalizes rules for equity-based crowdfunding. Entrepreneurs are discovering that it's important to tap into their personal networks as they seek to raise funds through crowdfunding. Entrepreneur online (2/15)
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The Whole Entrepreneur

3 tips for a productivity-boosting diet
It's important to make time to eat breakfast, which can help you to be more productive during the day, writes nutritionist Barbara Mendez. You should stay away from sugar and eat food before drinking coffee, she recommends. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach "will increase your stress as well as increase your sugar cravings, which, if indulged, will lead to more brain fog," she writes. Inc. online (free registration)/Health = Wealth blog (2/14)
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How running a business is like climbing a mountain
Whether you're climbing a mountain or launching a startup, you'll be more successful if you do your research, celebrate your successes and assemble a strong team, writes Payam Zamani of Reply.com. VentureBeat (2/16)
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Ideas for Innovators

How to succeed in the innovation economy
If you want to create an innovative atmosphere at your company, you will need to create a collaborative culture and develop a process that your business can use to identify new opportunities, writes Faisal Hoque, founder and CEO at BTM Corporation. You must also motivate and inspire your team, Hoque writes. Fast Company online (2/18)
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Fortune from Failure

Reflections on a failed startup
When building your company, you should work with people who are committed, build a trusted network of advisers and realize that you might fail anyway, writes Julie Kantor, whose startup stalled. If you do fail, use the lessons you learned and look for new opportunities. "On a practical note, have money saved so you can live at times without salary," she writes. VentureBeat (2/15)
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SmartQuote

Entrepreneurs can't afford to take a round-about, stop-and-start approach to building their businesses." -- Payam Zamani, founder and CEO of Reply.com, writing at VentureBeat. Share: