Small Business Events You Should Check Out - The Business Insider

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You can find plenty of events for small businesses and startups this summer and fall, to educate yourself and your staff, and to network with your peers. Here is our hand-picked list of conferences, seminars and events. Don’t miss out on these excellent opportunities to help you start a business, grow it and run it like a pro!

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Startup Weekend
Multiple Cities and Dates 2012 – see website for full list

Startup Weekends are 54-hour events designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs. Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekends culminate in Sunday night demos and presentations. Participants create working startups during the event and are able to collaborate with like-minded individuals outside of their daily networks. All teams hear talks by industry leaders and receive valuable feedback from local entrepreneurials. The weekend is centered around action, innovation, and education. Whether you are looking for feedback on a idea, a co-founder, specific skill sets, or a team to help you execute, Startup Weekends are the perfect environment in which to test your idea and take the first steps towards launching your own startup.

Spark & Hustle Tour
Multiple Cities and Dates, May through August 2012

Led by Tory Johnson, the jam-packed, high-energy day enables you to experience big breakthroughs in your business and yourself.

Meet great people who can help with product development and packaging; manufacturing and distribution; multiple revenue streams and collaborations; mental preparedness for monumental success; and so much more.
Beyond the jam-packed sessions, this event is ideal to meet partners, collaborators and even clients!

The Real World Marketing Conference: What’s Working Now?
July 11, 2012, New York City

At this one-of-a-kind conference, top marketing experts will provide attendees with the strategy and tactics needed to create and execute proven marketing plans to help them exceed their business goals.This half day conference will feature four breakout sessions covering all of the latest marketing initiatives you can easily implement in your business. Topics include: engagement marketing, social media strategies, and content marketing. The event will conclude with a panel discussion featuring four experts that have significantly grown their businesses through successful, integrated marketing campaigns.
For $10 off registration use promo code NYER10.

Ultra Light Startups Investor Feedback Forum
July 12, 2012, New York City

The objectives of this event are:

To help early stage startups refine their investor pitch
To provide actionable advice and feedback for each presenting startup
To provide insight on how investors evaluate startups and pitches
To award prizes to the most viable startups, based on audience voting

Infusionsoft Small Business Success Tour
July 12, 2012, New York City
August 16 – San Francisco
August 24 – San Diego
September 13 – Chicago
September 28 – Los Angeles
October 5 – Boston

This series features a full day of strategies, tips and marketing best practices from the experts at Infusionsoft. You’ll receive hands-on instructions on how to develop a highly effective sales and marketing plan you can start implementing right away. You’ll learn to:

Drive higher customer referral traffic tomorrow
Calculate and optimize the lifetime value of your customers
Create a constant flow of new customers who are ready to buy
Build a healthy and responsive database
Get the right message, to the right person, at the right time

The Science of Inbound Marketing
July 12, 2012, online

Billions of pieces of data, five years of research, and tens of thousands of readers and attendees in the making, The Science of Inbound Marketing will be the paramount presentation of inbound marketing data, statistics and science. HubSpot’s Social Media Scientist Dan Zarrella and HootSuite’s VP Marketing Ben Watson will vanquish any unicorn-and-rainbows myths you may have about how inbound marketing really works and what role social plays in this ever-changing landscape. During this 60 minute webinar, you’ll learn:
How to make marketing decisions based on real data
Ways to leverage your channels for most visibility
How to beat the competition using inbound marketing

New York Launch Party
July 17, 2012, NYC

Small Biz New York was created by Small Business Expo and Do It In Person as a fun and informative monthly B2B networking event for New York City Small Business Owners. Not your typical monthly networking event, in addition to general meet & greet networking sessions at local bars & restaurants, each month is different ranging from cutting edge business seminars, to business owner luncheons & breakfasts, to Speed Networking & more…all leading up to the annual Small Business Expo.

Sammuel Adams Brewing The American Dream Speed Coaching
July 17, 2012, San Diego

Business owners in the restaurant, food, beverage or hospitality business can get free advice next week from the makers of Samuel Adams beer.

The event is part of a nationwide series sponsored by the brewing company. The event will kick off with a networking reception at 5:30pm. During the reception you will sign up for the consulting stations that are most relevant to your business.

The program will begin at 6:00 pm with welcome remarks, after which you will have the opportunity to spend 20 minutes at the coach stations of your preference and receive personalized 1-on-1 coaching from local professionals and Sam Adams experts. Make sure to bring your questions and anything you want feedback on, such as packaging, materials, and ideas.

Women’s Leadership Exchange Chicago Conference
July 17, 2012, Chicago

For the past 10 years WLE has been connecting women business owners throughout the country. 2012 is their 10th anniversary and WLE wants to give back to members who have helped them get to where they are today. At the WLE conference you will learn new strategies, new tactics and new resources that didn’t exist a few years ago. WLE has assembled a group of experts who are experiencing outstanding results. Join WLE in Chicago for a jam-packed day of content to drive new business and opportunities while making valuable business connections.

How to Design Slides for Webinar Presentations
July 17, 2012, Online

Whether you’re a marketer or communicator responsible for crafting virtual content, a sales professional looking convert more customers, or a business leader who presents on a regular basis, it’s time to learn the steps to make your next Web presentation a bigger, bolder success. Attend this free seminar as Roger Courville, author of The Virtual Presenter’s Handbook, demonstrates practical idea for improving virtual presentations quickly and easily—using real slides from real people. You’ll walk away with new ideas for taking your webinars from so-so to sensational.

Department of the Navy (DON) Small Business Opportunity Conference
August 6-8, 2012, San Diego

The DON OSBP is conducting its annual Gold Coast Small Business Opportunity Conference in San Diego, CA on 06-08 August 2012. The primary purpose of the event is to provide a forum to educate, guide and assist small businesses in working with the government primarily the Department of Defense. NDIA and NAVSUP have collaborated to bring interesting and motivating speakers that will present topics of interest with regards to working with the government. Plan on attending informative and relevant general/plenary and break-out sessions including Industry Day with five of the Navy commands. Visit over 250 industry and government exhibitors along with dozens of posters containing company information and opportunities. As with any of these events, there are also plenty of opportunities for networking.

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Governor’s Small Business Forum
August 7, 2012

The Forum is designed to give small business owners essential tools to help their businesses succeed, provide jobs for Texans and strengthen the South Plains economy. The Texas Workforce Commission will present information on the many services available for small business owners, including the $2 million dollar Skills for Small Business Fund, which provides grants to community colleges that small businesses may access for employee training needs.

MacTech Boot Camp
August 7 – San Diego, CA
September 5 – Minneapolis, MN
December 5 – Miami, FL

MacTech Boot Camp is a one day event for those that support the home user, and small business market held around the country. MacTech Boot Camp is a single-track, hotel based seminar that is specifically geared to serve the needs of consultants and techs wanting to serve their base better. This event is geared toward those that already support the home and SMB communities, or that want to become a consultant supporting these areas.

Sage Summit 2012
August 12-14, 2012, Nashville, TN

Sage Summit is the premier conference for Sage customers and partners. It’s the destination for learning better ways to leverage the software you already own and know and discovering new technologies. Plus you’ll hear what’s working for other people in your industry and gain insight on how to overcome the challenges your organization faces.

One Woman National Business Conference and Expo
August 17-18, 2012, Sugar Land, TX

“Changing the Face of Business One Woman at a Time” is the theme of the taking place Aug. 17 and Aug. 18 at Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. The two-day conference will give business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate employees the chance to network with like-minded decision makers.The conference also features a trade show exhibiting products, services and business opportunities.

Speakers will discuss industry trends and business growth strategies. Supplier diversity officers will talk about how to better serve the small business community and meet new potential suppliers.There will also be a “Youth Explosion” program for young entrepreneurs. One Woman is an annual women’s business promotion, advocacy and development forum.

MarketingProfs B2B Forum 2012
October 3-5, 2012, Boston

B2B Forum isn’t just another event. It’s the event for B2B marketers who don’t just follow yesterday’s best practices; they create the next practices needed to move their businesses—and industries—forward.

Five programming tracks covering the modern marketing mix: lead gen, content, social media, mobile, and marketing essentials.
Dozens of smart sessions by professionals on the pulse of marketing trends and growth.

Inc. 500 | 5000
October 3-5, 2012, Phoenix, AZ

Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is the must-attend event for the nation’s leading entrepreneurs. Join your colleagues and peers for three days of unparalleled networking and learning from the leaders of America’s fastest-growing companies. This year’s speakers include Captain Mark Kelly, Commander of the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final mission, Guy Kawasaki, Founding Partner of Garage Technology Ventures, and Marie Tillman, Founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Women’s Business Conference 2012
October 4-5, 2012, Louisville, KY

This year’s theme celebrates the entrepreneurial, innovative and adventurous spirit of women business owners. They are starting businesses at record rates and running these businesses on their own terms. They refuse to sit idle, waiting and watching. They have confidence and power to shake things up, take smart risks and do things differently to move forward. They are impacting positive change at every turn, speaking out on issues of public policy, lightening their environmental footprint and creating jobs that fuel the economy. They are part of something much greater than themselves—a grassroots movement of women business owners and their community of supporters all dedicated to helping one another grow, thrive, give back and leave a legacy.

The New York Enterprise Report 2012 Small Business Awards
October 10, 2012, New York City

The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. Now in its 7th year, the Awards gala attracts more than 400 business owners and executives and is often referred to as “the networking event of the year.” Don’t miss the chance to do business with the “who’s who” of the New York small business community.

Small Business Influencer Awards Gala
October 17, 2012, New York City

The Small Business Influencer Awards will honor the Top 100 small business influencer champions at a festive Awards Gala on the evening of October 17, 2012 at the Javits Convention Center. Last year’s event had a capacity crowd at a smaller venue. This year it will be bigger than ever — with the Awards Gala as the evening event at the New York XPO Small Business Conference. Don’t miss this exciting event! See last year’s recap. Meanwhile, be sure to nominate someone for the Small Business Influencer Awards (perhaps yourself?).

Small Business Expo
November 8, 2012, Los Angeles

Small Business Expo is a full day networking event, trade show & conference of the year for business owners, C-Level Executives & company decision-makers.

Network with other business professionals & check out the exciting exhibitor hall
Establish new contacts and reconnect with old ones.
Further your education by attending workshops & seminars.
Learn about new products and services that will help your business grow.
Interact with the movers and shakers of your industry.
Discover new and innovative technologies.

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.

If you are putting on a small business event or contest, and want to get the word out, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (it’s free). Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.

Brought to you as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.

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Small Business Events You Should Check Out

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The JOBS Act Offers Huge Opportunities To Hedge Fund Managers - The Business Insider

Mike McD comment: With the passage of the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act, the regulatory environment for hedge funds and other private investment managers is about to change dramatically.

I sat down with Kevin Cott, Esq. – An expert on securities law, and our legal counsel; to find out exactly how this new act will affect the industry.

In the interview that follows, we discuss the JOBS act implications for the marketing and promoting hedge funds, presentation of performance metrics, and creative avenues for managers to raise AUM (assets under management).

The situation is rapidly evolving, and it will be important for managers to stay on top of new developments.  This is true whether you are a hedge fund manager, a RIA or private investment manager, or if you are a trader considering opening your own shop.

If you would like to receive timely alerts regarding the JOBS Act and other regulatory issues for hedge fund managers, simply follow this link or use the form at the bottom of the interview.

This interview series is part of the Mercenary Vault, an archive of exclusive high quality materials available to Mercenary Dispatch subscribers.

The Dispatch is our means of direct communication (via email) with Mercenary community members — and it’s free! Sign up here and don’t miss out on future exclusives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MIKE: We’ve seen a lot of press regarding the JOBS Act and the affect it will have on hedge fund managers. Can you give us a quick overview of what has happened so far, and how the Act will affect hedge fund managers going forward?

KEVIN: Sure…  On April 5th, President Obama signed the JOBS Act, which effectively removes the general solicitation and general advertising prohibition for “rule 506 exempt private offerings.”   This is the regulatory framework that most hedge funds operate under.

Previously, if you were doing a rule 506 offering, you could not engage in any act of general advertising or general solicitation.  Because of the restrictions, hedge fund managers could only discuss their fund with a very close and restricted group of potential investors.

Under the regulations, managers could only raise capital within a very close circle of friends, family, and professional contacts with whom they have an existing relationship. This made it very difficult for new managers to build their business and raise enough capital to reach critical mass.

With the new regulations under the JOBS act, these restrictions on capital raising will be rendered obsolete. Private fund managers will have a broad array of capital raising options that were previously not given to them.

Essentially, managers will be able to engage in advertising, media broadcasts, public websites, interviews, social media, email campaigns, and any number of other marketing strategies to generate interest in their fund.

MIKE: So it sounds like the majority of restrictions will be lifted… Does this mean that hedge funds will be able to publicize track records?  I know that up to this point, any presentation of historical returns or a track record could be considered a solicitation.

KEVIN: Yes, that’s correct.  The key is that the JOBS Act essentially eliminates the former “rule 506” restriction on how managers can market and sell their fund.  They are still subject to general anti-fraud rules under the securities act and the exchange act.

Managers still cannot engage in anything that would be deemed manipulative or deceptive advertising.  Just like any other business, they are prohibited from making untrue statements of material facts.

They will also be subject to specific performance advertising rules.

So specifically for investment advisers, there is already a stream of “no action” letters which are based on the “Clover Capital SEC no action letter.” These guidelines would still apply to applicable managers.

Under these guidelines, there are very specific ways that investment managers need to structure and word performance advertising.  For example:

The effect of material market or economic conditions must be disclosed.Managers cannot use “cherry picking” when presenting returns.Results must show the deduction of fees and expenses.Managers cannot make claims about profits without also disclosing the possibility of loss.

So all of these guidelines would still apply, but the key is that managers will have the ability to disclose the information in a public setting instead of just through one-on-one presentations.

MIKE: So for new and even existing hedge fund managers, I guess there will be a significant ramp-up in terms of presenting this information. Now that they are able to disclose historical information, there is a need to determine how to format and present returns.

KEVIN: Right… Hedge fund managers used to be restricted to basic power point presentations and tear sheets, and now they have a more expanded arena in which they can present.  But there is a challenge in figuring out how to advertise in a legally compliant way and make sure that they are not opening themselves up to additional liability…

MIKE: So do you expect to be working with some of your hedge fund clients to help them design advertising material – or working with managers in reviewing promotion ideas?

KEVIN: I think the big initiative is going to be the use of public websites in addition to other public advertising avenues.  Managers will want to take advantage of the opportunity to reach a broad audience, but will need to be careful in how the fund or trading program is presented.

Formerly, any fund information offered on the web was done through the General Partner (or management company) of the fund. So the web address would be under the name of the management company and information for the fund would have to be password protected.

Typically there would be a legal disclaimer for the management company, but now if the fund is going to be able to market itself, there will need to be legal disclaimers on all of the fund websites.  There is going to be a significantly larger amount of marketing material that needs to be appropriately drafted and appropriately legally disclaimed.

So although the JOBS Act will create a much more open environment for marketing hedge funds, there are a lot of compliance issues that will also need to be addressed.

MIKE: I have to ask, do you think we’ll start to see World Series and Super Bowl commercials for hedge funds?  Will “Paulson & Co.” begin sponsoring major sporting events?

KEVIN: In theory, there’s no reason they couldn’t.  Of course they would have to follow all of the anti-fraud regulations, but it is certainly a possibility.

MIKE: I guess it’s probably very likely that we will see advertisements on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and other financial networks.

KEVIN: Right now we already have advertising for the management companies and for mutual funds. But the management companies can’t directly mention their funds on-air.  So in the future we will probably see more specific advertising for the hedge funds themselves.

The caveat here is that the JOBS act is still pending the SEC’s final draft of the new rules.  The regulations won’t actually go into effect until the SEC completes the formal process of drafting and approving the new regulations.

MIKE:  So what is the timeline and the process for the proposals to actually be organized and passed into law?

KEVIN: The SEC was given 90 days to basically write rules that remove the general advertising and general solicitation prohibition.  So initially that is 90 days from April 5th.

But a lot of times, these rule promulgations will get extended.  So it is not guaranteed that they will have final rules within 90 days.

There are a few specific issues that will come into play. Not only is the SEC removing the general advertising prohibitions, there are also caveats to consider.

For example, the rule 506 prohibition on general advertising / solicitation will be removed provided that all investors in the fund are accredited.  Formerly you could have up to 35 non-accredited investors in a hedge fund, so that is a significant change that the SEC has to draft.

There is another key concept that will need to be addressed. Essentially the management company itself will have to certify that the investor is accredited.

In the past, a manager could rely on an investor’s claim to be an accredited investor.  Of course this was “within reason” – as long as a manager didn’t have a reason to doubt that the investor was truly accredited.

MIKE: But now it looks like the burden of proof will be on the manager to prove that he performed adequate due-diligence to ensure that his investors are accredited — right?

KEVIN: Correct…  So these are some of the rules that the SEC will have to draft in addition to removing the prohibition on advertising. The timeline of when they actually complete these rules will be affected by how detailed the SEC is in covering some of these additional regulations being put in place.

MIKE: Do you expect that managers will now have to request pay stubs and tax returns from their prospective investors? And what about grandfather clauses? Do you expect that if someone is already running a fund which makes use of the 35 “non-accredited” slots, that they will be able to continue to operate with these investors in their fund?

KEVIN: That’s a good question…  This is a big part of what the SEC will have to clarify as they draft the rules. They will have to disclose how much documentation is required, and what it means to “certify” an investor as accredited. This will be a very important area for managers to follow as the rules are clarified over the next year or two.

At this point I haven’t seen any material that actually addresses a grandfather clause, but that will be an important issue for the SEC to cover as they draft the new rules.

MIKE: Do you think there will be an opportunity for managers to choose between structures – where they can either accept 35 non-accredited subscribers and NOT advertise to the general public, or they can take advantage of the solicitation privileges and restrict their fund to only accredited investors?

KEVIN: This is another critical issue that the SEC will need to address in detail.

My general expectation, based on the way the JOBS act was written, is that managers will have the option of continuing to use the 35 non-accredited investors option, but this will need to be clarified. It all depends on the SEC’s interpretation of the JOBS act.

MIKE: What are some creative ways that a hedge fund manager might be able to use this new latitude in marketing their fund or promoting awareness of their returns, even without spending the $3.2 million dollars for a Super Bowl television ad.

KEVIN: Well, there are a tremendous number of opportunities to pursue. Managers can now speak at conferences. They can attend seminars and discuss their fund with other attendees. We will probably see managers organizing events for the specific purpose of networking and exposing potential investors to the fund.

As far as creative ways of doing this, the sky is the limit. Just like any other small business owner, hedge fund managers can now look for effective ways to reach the broadest number of customers. These could range from online seminars to in-person presentations. Marketers can choose to present to large audiences, or engage prospects individually.

Now, instead of worrying about regulatory restrictions, managers can focus on the cost benefit analysis of promotion activities and build their business much more efficiently.

MIKE: Good deal. We will be sure to stay in touch with you as these new regulations are passed into law and the grey areas are clarified.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me today — we’ll look forward to circling back in the next few months.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kevin Cott is the founder and principal at Cott Law Group, and specializes in advising investment managers on all aspects of the fund formation process.  His practice focuses on structuring domestic and offshore funds, including traditional hedge funds, incubator funds, private equity funds, commodity pools, forex funds and separately managed account structures.

If you would like to speak with Kevin about forming a new fund, you can contact him via Kevin [at] cottlawgroup.com.

To stay up to date on legislative issues facing traders, investment advisors and fund managers, sign up to receive legal / regulatory alerts by following this link or using the form below.

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Celebrity Lawyer” Nick Nanton and Fit Business Insider CEO Pat Rigsby Host Fitness Business Book Conference Call Yesterday - YAHOO!

Pat Rigsby of Fit Business Insider, a website devoted to helping grow personal training businesses, hosted a conference call yesterday with Nick Nanton (“The Celebrity Lawyer”) to discuss how to write bestselling business books.

Elizabethtown, KY (PRWEB) April 11, 2012

Pat Rigsby, CEO of Fit Business Insider, hosted a conference call yesterday at 2pm with “Celebrity Lawyer” Nick Nanton. The two discussed ways fitness businesses can grow by writing bestselling fitness business books.

Rigsby and Nanton have co-authored several best-selling books over the years, including Total Body Breakthroughs and The Fit Formula as well as their most recent release: The Definitive Guide To Youth Athletic Strength, Conditioning and Performance.

“There has never been a better time to build a personal training business,” said Pat Rigsby, Co-Owner and CEO of Fit Business Insider’s parent company Fitness Consulting Group. “The field is more wide open than ever, but not every personal trainer knows how to make their fitness business profitable.”

Rigsby is co-owner of numerous successful fitness businesses. With a background as a college athletic coach, Rigsby is also a widely sought after public speaker and an author of several books on fitness business practices.

According to Rigsby and Nanton, one way fitness business owners can expand their brand and generate income is by contributing to bestselling fitness books. The two are offering such an opportunity to a select few fitness professionals as they compile their next book: The Fad Free Fitness Formula.

“Pat and I are creating a new book on fitness, and we’re looking for dedicated fitness professionals to contribute content,” Nanton explained.

“Although some fitness pros might be stepping out of their comfort zone by writing,” Nanton noted, “Best-selling authors can use that status in their fitness marketing. Of course, only the sharpest fitness minds can produce a book worthy of becoming a bestseller.”

Nanton, an Emmy winner, has worked with many celebrities and knows all about branding. He has developed and marketed business and professional experts through personal branding, media, marketing and PR to help them gain credibility and recognition for their accomplishments.

With their new book, Nanton and Rigsby believe that they can help quality fitness professionals become bestselling authors, position themselves above the competition, use the book to get new clients, use their bestseller status to market their business, and more.

While the purpose of yesterday’s teleseminar was to show fitness business owners how much a bestselling book could expand their brand, Rigsby maintains that Fit Business Insider remains true to the ideal of writing books of the highest quality for people wanting to learn about fitness.

“This new book we’re working on is going to present real advice from real fitness experts to combat all of the misleading fads that prevent so many people from achieving lasting fitness results,” Rigsby said.

For more information on the teleseminar and the new book, visit: http://www.celebritypresspublishing.com/fadfree_call.html.

About Pat Rigsby and Nick Berry: Pat Rigsby and Nick Berry are the co-owners of Fitness Consulting Group, a leading business development consulting firm within the fitness industry.

Fit Business Insider is part of the Fitness Consulting Group family of companies. It provides personal trainers, coaches, and fitness business owners around the world with business building

programs, coaching, consulting, and resources.

To learn more about growing your fitness business, visit http://FitBusinessInsider.com.

Matt Sizemore
Press Manager
1-877-814-6302
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Opportunities in Clean Rare Earth Mining: Dallas Kachan - The Business Insider

The Gold Report is a free newsletter focused on investment in precious, base and rare earth metals

The Critical Metals Report: Dallas, can retail investors make money in the near-term in cleantech companies or should they be more focused on the long-term?

Dallas Kachan: If you had asked this question three months ago, my answer would have been different. Recently, cleantech stocks have outperformed the broad indexes and investors have made money in cleantech investments in the short-term.

Three indexes in particular, the Australian Cleatech Index (ACT), the Clean Edge Indexes (CLES) and the Cleantech Index (CTIUS) are all outperforming the NASDAQ and other benchmarks, largely because cleantech did not have much farther to fall. Companies have taken a battering in recent months. With the recent rise in oil prices, investors have started to remember the alternative energy sector.

What's more, the cleantech umbrella is much wider than renewable energy. Transportation, air, water, waste and heavy industry also contribute to the increase in the cleantech index.

TCMR: Roughly how much was invested in cleantech in 2011? And how does that compare with previous years?

DK: We have followed the flow of venture capital in cleantech since 2006. The data show that while 2011 was a difficult year for cleantech company valuations, it was a great year for cleantech venture capital investment. A total of $9 billion (B) was put to work in 2011, up 13% from the previous year and higher than any other year in history with the exception of 2008, back in the heyday of solar and biofuels. Cleantech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) reached record highs in 2011, with 391 transactions worth $41.2B and 153% growth over 2010.

TCMR: With that amount of venture capital coming into the sector, does the U.S. government need to continue to subsidize the sector while it finds its feet?

DK: Neither the U.S. nor any other government needs to pass more subsides to encourage cleantech innovation. Governments shouldn't be in the business of using taxpayer money to make technology bets. Instead, governments really need to pass aggressive mandates and standards, like renewable portfolio standards, that mandate a certain percentage of power from renewable sources by certain dates, and then step back and let the private sector figure out how to achieve them. Or, mandate efficiency or emission standards for coal-powered plants and let the private sector figure out how.

TCMR: If you could make that recommendation, what portfolio percentage would you recommend?

DK: I would take a cue from a jurisdiction like California, which is pursuing 33% of its power from renewable sources by 2020. That's an aggressive number. Anything over 40% does not feel achievable in the short term, because renewable sources are not ready for baseload power at this time. Arguably nuclear and natural gas are can play that role, but those quickly become political discussions.

TCMR: What role does China play in these cleantech venture capital investments?

DK: China is receiving a small but growing percentage of global cleantech venture capital. Starting in 2009, China accounted for almost three-quarters of all cleantech IPO proceeds worldwide, and that still roughly remains the case today.

Asia is the top region for cleantech M&A activity, averaging around 30% of the total. Europe is also around 30% and North America has about 26%. So China has become an important global cleantech powerhouse, already dominating manufacturing in many important cleantech subsectors such as solar and wind.

TCMR: Nonetheless, China produces more power from coal-fired plants than any other country.

DK: It is fashionable to point to China as the world's largest polluter. At the same time, China has put more money and more brainpower into solving the pollution problem than any other country. For instance, the amount of stimulus funding China has allocated to clean technologies, including water, waste and other non-energy cleantech infrastructure, is four times that of the U.S. ($221B vs. ~$60B). China has also taken a very aggressive stance in pursuing next-generation nuclear technology. That is encouraging.

TCMR: What other encouraging signs do you see coming out of China?

DK: The "Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant" report from the Breakthrough Institute claims China, South Korea and Japan have already collectively passed the U.S. in the production of virtually all clean energy technologies. Over the next few years these countries will out-invest the U.S.

In addition, China makes decisions quickly, unencumbered by a democratic process. Last January, China announced intentions to build a 2 GW $5B concentrating solar thermal plant. Bill Gross, CEO of eSolar?the company whose technology was selected?recounts that, in the time it took the U.S. Department of Energy to complete the first stage of an application review, China approved, signed and started construction on a project that is 20 times bigger. Things happen fast in China.

TCMR: We watched oil rise about $106 a barrel (bbl) recently. What would a sustained run above $110/bbl mean to the cleantech space?

DK: Cleantech falls in and out of favor with retail and institutional investors as oil prices ebb and flow. When oil prices drop, cleantech falls out of fashion. As they creep back up, cleantech becomes in demand again.

The biggest single issue has been the high upfront capital costs of renewable energy. It is hard to raise the magnitude of money needed when finances are scarce and investors are short-sighted and risk-averse.

TCMR: In addition, a number of these plays have not proven profitable even with verbal power purchase agreements.

DK: Most solar and wind firms have struggled to stay profitable. Overcapacity in the renewable sector has resulted in massive pricing pressure. While that pressure is driving a more rapid move to grid parity, it erodes margins. In the long term, these price drops are good for the economy, the environment and the uptake of the product. But they are a significant negative for near-term corporate profitability.

TCMR: What advice would you give retail investors looking to add cleantech exposure to their portfolios?

DK: Although competing interests may be delaying investor's financial returns in cleantech, the sector's three fundamental drivers are sound.

First, the world is running out of the materials we need to sustain modern life. The supply-and-demand issues related to water, food, energy and resources are only going to get worse. Plus, the infrastructure to deliver them is under stress.

Second, countries are increasingly seeking resource independence, and as the supply-and-demand deltas get bigger, you'll see more nationalism and protectionism.

Finally, even though it's taken a backseat of late, climate change is a very real issue.

TCMR: How would retail investors get exposure to each of those themes?

DK: A good strategy might be to take a long position in any of the cleantech indexes: the ACT, CLES or CTIUS. They are broad indexes that attract an array of companies that will offer investors a certain amount of insurance. Buying exchange traded funds that track these indexes would be a safe way to enjoy returns in the cleantech space without having to do in-depth due diligence on individual companies.

TCMR: Looking at small-cap equities in cleantech, what are your investment themes?

DK: Each December, our company issues annual predictions for the year ahead, and for 2012 our first theme is betting against energy storage. Energy storage made headlines as the subsector that received the most global cleantech venture investment in Q311. That was driven by large investments in stationary cell fuel makers Bloom Energy and ClearEdge Power. We do not see any more investments of that size on the horizon. Of the 60 or so companies vying for this tiny market, many are selling at zero or negative gross margins.

The main reason we are not bullish on the storage sector is that smoothing the intermittency of renewable, solar and wind power might soon lose importance. We believe that utility-scale renewable power storage might be less necessary if utilities embraced other ways to generate clean, base-load power. We believe base-load power options will start to include new, safer forms of nuclear power or natural gas turbines powered by renewable natural gas. All of these promise to be less expensive than solar and wind when you factor in the expense of storage systems.

TCMR: OK, that is one theme. What is another?

DK: A second favorite theme we're watching for 2012 is increased venture investment, M&A and public exits in the water and agriculture space, specifically what is called "'solutions to produced water."

Until recently, only cleantech industry insiders were talking about water as an investment category, and it remains a small percentage of the $9B dollars we talked about in cleantech venture investment. However, industrial wastewater is driving growth in today's water investment. Two of the top VC deals of Q411 focused on oil-and-gas water solutions.

Regulations aimed at making hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, less environmentally destructive will spur innovation and water-related investments in 2012.

TCMR: How does this technology work?

DK: Produced water is created by most hydraulic fracturing. There are more companies than ever bringing new remediation technologies to bear to try to clean up this produced water. In some cases, they are trying to remove and recycle metals and other dissolved solids and repurpose them as revenue streams.

TCMR: So, instead of just pumping produced water into a basin, it would be recycled and reused, for example in oil sand plants where steam is used to separate the oil from bitumen. Is that the gist of it?

DK: Yes. And in the case of fracking, the goal is returning clean water back to the ground water. Many companies are chasing what they believe are commercial opportunities.

TCMR: And what is your third theme?

DK: We expect to see more clean mining companies in 2012. After centuries of environmental effects ranging from toxic emissions to tailings ponds, mining is slowly cleaning up its act.

Why? Because new, clean technologies can increase industrial efficiency and lower mining companies' power needs. They can even help reduce water requirements and remediate the mines of years past. That can translate into cost savings for mining companies.

Companies to watch here include American Manganese Inc. (AMY:TSX.V; AMYZ:OTCPK; 2AM:FSE), which has developed a lower power process intended to use only about 6% of the energy required by the high-temperature roasting process of conventional manganese production. It also intends to reduce its water requirements by using nanofiltration and precipitation to remove contaminants.

TCMR: Are those processes the primary reason to invest in American Manganese?

DK: We recently published an in-depth report looking at American Manganese and its process developed for its Artillery Peak resource in Arizona. We looked at the company's probability for success based on a technology assessment and market supply-and-demand perspective. Our findings were cautiously optimistic that the company stands to have an impact in the global market for manganese given its net opportunity.

TCMR: How much does the price of manganese affect the share price of American Manganese?

DK: Well, we need to remember that the company is not yet in production. Its target for production is 2014.

Our investigation suggested that prices for manganese could be heading up given global supply-and-demand issues and what China, the world's leading producer of electrolytic manganese, is expected to do in terms of consolidation of its production. Rising prices for electrolytic manganese spells better and better things for American Manganese, as long as the company can keep its production costs as low as currently planned.

TCMR: As far as its position as the only manganese project in America, what does that mean for the company?

DK: If American Manganese becomes a significant North American producer of electrolytic manganese and electrolytic manganese dioxide, it could potentially also do so at much lower costs for North American-based customers, which could make it very attractive for North American companies to do a lot of business with American Manganese.

TCMR: What are some other companies in this subsector?

DK: In toxin remediation and resource recovery, I would watch BacTech Environmental Corp. (BAC:CNSX; A1H4TY:WKN) and REBgold Corp. (RBG:TSX.V), which are using bacteria that the companies claim is harmless to humans and the environment to liberate precious and base metals from difficult to treat ores and tailings.

The process provides the bacteria with optimal conditions in closed reactors, according to the companies. Bactech and REBgold say they can oxidize sulfides in as few as five or six days, a process that normally takes many years in nature. The recovery of these materials allows Bactech to offer mine tailing remediation services at no charge to governments and for REBgold to pursue interests in gold mines and operations in Australia, Tasmania and China.

BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. (BQE:TSX) of Vancouver, Canada, is one of the handful of companies specializing in acid mine discharge. The company has built 14 industrial water treatment plants ranging in size up to 23,000 cubic meters a day. It has sites in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Australia and China.

TCMR: Basically, BioteQ collects the water runoff at existing mining operations or past producing mining operations, and separates the water from the various heavy metals. Is that right?

DK: Correct.

TCMR: With its 14 water processing facilities around the world, what is its growth plan?

DK: The last time we spoke with the company, we were told it was focused on execution and keeping its head down.

TCMR: Do you have some parting thoughts on the cleantech space?

DK: I would restate the three drivers of cleantech I mentioned earlier. First, we are running out of materials we need to sustain life as we live in on earth. Second, countries are pursuing resource independence now more than ever. Third, climate change is not going away. Those three points are a great reminder that the demand for cleantech products and services is not going away anytime soon, short-term economic issues notwithstanding.

TCMR: Dallas, thank you for your time and your insights.

For more clean energy investment ideas, go to The Energy Report.

Dallas Kachan, managing partner of Kachan & Co. is former managing director and executive editor of the Cleantech Group, credited with coining the term cleantech and founding the cleantech investment class. He is author of 400+ cleantech articles and reports, a regular speaker at cleantech events worldwide and is cited widely as a cleantech market dynamics and technology expert.

Want to read more exclusive Critical Metals Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you'll learn when new articles have been published. To see a list of recent interviews with industry analysts and commentators and learn more about critical metals companies, visit our Critical Metals Report page.

DISCLOSURE:
1) Brian Sylvester of The Critical Metals Report conducted this interview. He personally and/or his family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in the interview are sponsors of The Critical Metals Report: American Manganese Inc. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for services.
3) Dallas Kachan: I personally and/or my family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: None. I personally and/or my family am paid by the following companies mentioned in this interview: American Manganese. I was not paid by Streetwise Reports for participating in this story.

( Companies Mentioned: AMY:TSX.V; AMYZ:OTCPK; 2AM:FSE, ACT, BAC:CNSX; A1H4TY:WKN, BQE:TSX, CLES, CTIUS:NYSE.A, RBG:TSX.V, )

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Credit Repair Report - How To Improve Your Credit Score - Free Credit Score Insider

http://ClickHereForMore.info/credit-repair-report-video - Watch the rest of the credit repair report video. Learn how to improve your credit score. Kick ass advice by free credit score insider.

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About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

Read more posts on Sovereign Man »

View the original article here

About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

Read more posts on Sovereign Man »

View the original article here

About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Follow us on Facebook and get updates from Money Game Contributors posted directly to your news feed Enter you email address and zip code to set up customized email alerts.You have successfully emailed the post.

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

Read more posts on Sovereign Man »

Please follow Money Game on Twitter and Facebook.

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Research and Markets: mWomen: A Win-Win Opportunity for Mobile Operators - Global Telecom Insider Vol. 3, No 3, Edition 12 - Business Wire

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fb6b59/mwomen_a_winwin) has announced the addition of the "mWomen: A Win-Win Opportunity for Mobile Operators - Global Telecom Insider/Vol. 3, No 3, Edition 12" report to their offering.

“mWomen: A Win-Win Opportunity for Mobile Operators - Global Telecom Insider/Vol. 3, No 3, Edition 12”

Although there has been a notable uptick in mobile phone subscriptions around the world, statistics increasingly point to the fact that there are still a number of women without access to mobile phone technology.

In February 2010, the GSMA released a landmark report that found that at least 300m fewer women than men have a mobile phone subscription. This difference in mobile phone access and ownership has been referred to as the mobile phone gender gap, and a number of groups and organizations are now racing to bridge this divide.

The impact that mobile phone access and usage can have on women has never been greater. The proliferation of projects in the fields of mobile health, mobile education, mobile agriculture, mobile money/banking, mobile social networks and mobile innovation in general have all demonstrated that women in particular can benefit both directly and indirectly through time and cost savings, access to life-saving information, the ability to communicate with others (who may be at long distances), increases in access to business opportunities, the ability to perform monetary transactions, and even nurturing their ability to read and write.

Cumulatively, these benefits for women can help mobile network operators (MNOs) create a situation that is equal parts altruistic and lucrative. Pyramid Research believes that by supporting access to mobile phones, operators can help women leverage the information and tools that they need to assist them in the realization of their own personal and professional development goals. At the same time, MNOs can establish a broader customer base that could result in more mobile phone subscriptions for female end users and eventually generate more revenue for the industry.

In this Insider, we examine the inhibiting factors as well as the conditions that drive interest in mobile phone adoption by women around the globe. Next we highlight examples of the benefits that mobile phones have played a role in producing for women. Then a discussion follows of the potential gains that MNOs and governments will derive from a female citizenry with better and increased mobile phone access. We conclude with case studies of mobile women (mWomen) in action from the regions of Latin America, Africa & the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Key Findings:

Providing women with access to mobile phones can present tangible opportunities for mobile network operators, governments and private vendors to support development goals. Direct investment in mWomen projects and programs should reward early supporters in the long run. Although there are a number of challenges such as gender relations, cost of use` and literacy that must be surmounted, the idea of increasing mobile phone adoption among women remains feasible given the varied interests that women have in accessing the technology. Advantages of the development of mWomen can include increased productivity, heightened feelings of personal safety, and even a reduction in maternal and infant mortality rates. As demonstrated through the case studies, the introduction of mobile phone access can have multiple levels of impact in different areas of the lives of the women and girls who have the opportunity to benefit from the technology.

Key Topics Covered:

mWOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A BREAKTHROUGH

A. What hurts and what helps: Mobile phone adoption by women worldwide

B. Perspectives on the benefits experienced by mWomen

C. When women win mobile access, MNOs and governments become winners, too

MARKET DETAIL

CASE STUDY: Palestine/mEmployment/Souktel

CASE STUDY: Tanzania and Kenya/mHealth and mMoney/Fistula Care project

CASE STUDY: India/mEntrepreneurship and mEducation/Hand in Hand Citizen Centres

CASE STUDY: Zimbabwe/ mBanking/Eco-Cash

CONCLUSIONS

Key findings

Recommendations

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fb6b59/mwomen_a_winwin

Source: Pyramid Research, Inc.

View the original article here

The FTC’s New Business Opportunity Rule: What It Means for You - The Business Insider

Small Business Trends is an award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and the people who interact with them

“Make thousands stuffing envelopes!  Unique work at home business opportunity!”

It’s statements like these which often lead to bogus business opportunities that have spurred the U.S. Federal Trade Commission into taking action to protect people who think they’re buying a legitimate business. Called the Business Opportunity Rule, this new requirement states that any individual who sells a business opportunity to another is required to disclose more information than in the past.

A business opportunity is simply a comprehensive business investment that lets the buyer start a business immediately. It’s “out of the box,” so to speak. It’s different from a franchise.  A franchise is a business opportunity, but not all business opportunities are franchises, says Joel Libava, author of Become a Franchise Owner.

“Sometimes, people confuse a franchise business opportunity with a business opportunity, or bizopp. The major differences include upfront costs, (which are almost always significantly lower with a bizopp) support, and  the rules. In a business opportunity, there aren’t that many rules to follow as an owner. Business opportunities are generally looser in nature; you buy the opportunity, learn how to run the business, and then you’re pretty much free to market it and run it as you wish.”

What’s Required if You SELL Business Opportunities to Others

Anyone selling a business opportunity or bizopp must now provide information on a one-page disclosure document (PDF file) at least seven days before the buyer pays money or signs a document. The seller must state the following:

Whether legal action has ever been taken against the sellerWhether there is a cancellation or refund policy for the business transactionAny earnings claims that the buyer will earn a specific amount of money through the bizoppReferences for the seller

Because of the rising number of business opportunity scams over the past few years, the FTC wanted to step up the measures taken to ensure the safety of buyers.

If you’re selling a business opportunity, understand that this new rule is meant to help you and the buyer perform a smooth transaction. Here are some tips to minimize the stress on your end:

Never make unsubstantiated claims. Be prepared to back up any income potential your business opportunity can provide.Offer a refund or cancellation policy. It’s good business. Outline what the stipulations are for the buyer to be able to cancel.Stay in contact with your buyers so you can use them for references down the road. Even if you don’t promise support in your contract, it’s good customer service to be available should your buyer have questions.

What You Need to Know if You Are BUYING a Business Opportunity

If you are buying or considering buying a business opportunity, then know that the Business Opportunity Rule is to designed to help protect you from potentially bogus deals. Armed with the information the seller is required to give you, you should be able to get a better sense of whether a deal is legitimate. If it’s not, you now have ammunition for legal proceedings.

Pay attention to the earnings claims. In the past, companies have claimed that you could retire off of what you make stuffing envelopes, or make thousands of dollars off a work from home opp. These claims must now be substantiated in writing, and the buyer must list how much other buyers have made, and where they were located (since results may vary depending on many factors).

“The revised Business Opportunity Rule is long overdue,” says Libava, “The most positive change has to do with research. Business opportunity buyers will now have access to a list provided by the business opportunity seller of at least 10 people who have bought their business opportunity. And, if fewer than 10 people have bought the business opportunity, every person that’s bought it must be listed.”

Libava says that buyers should know that they will have to sign a document stating that the buyer can share their personal contact information with future buyers.

Here are more tips to ensure you find a trustworthy business opportunity from the Business Opportunity blog:

Ensure that the seller has filled out the disclosure document thoroughly, and has provided supporting documents.Contact the references the seller lists and ask questions about their experiences with the business opportunity.Look for bizopps that illustrate how you’ll make the money, rather than drawing you in with promises of  big financial rewards.

You can read the complete Business Opportunity Rule document on the FTC website. The Rule will go into effect March 1, 2012.

Envelopes Photo via Shutterstock

From Small Business Trends

The FTC’s New Business Opportunity Rule: What It Means for You

Read more posts on Small Business Trends »

View the original article here

About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

Read more posts on Sovereign Man »

View the original article here

About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

Read more posts on Sovereign Man »

View the original article here

About those business opportunities… - The Business Insider

Simon Black is an international investor, entrepreneur, permanent traveler, and self-described free man

January 16th, 2012
Manila, Philippines

[Editor's note: Tim Staermose is filling in for Simon today.]

Reaction to my article last week about the strong economic picture, and business opportunities I see all around me here on the ground in The Philippines was overwhelming.

Evidently there are some go-getters out there in this community who want to take action. Andthat’s great to know.

So, today I thought I’d share more specifics about a few of the ideas so that you can make a better judgment about whether there may be some opportunities for you, personally.

Simon and I talk a lot about “adding value.” And really, that’s what it’s all about. Whether in business, adding value for your customers, or as an employee, adding value for your employer, if you think in terms of how you can add value, you will be amply rewarded for taking action.

I’ve written before that there is a massive real estate boom under way here in Manila. New condominium projects are being sold off-plan to investors, both foreign and local (foreigners can own apartments so long as less than 40% of the units are in foreign hands).

This has bubble written all over it. Here’s what happens in a bubble–it bursts. Then the guys who are left without a chair when the music stops delude themselves into thinking they can just ‘wait it out.’ Which means they’ll turn to the local rental market and try to achieve a yield to offset carrying costs.

Consequently, there is going to be huge demand for property management services–finding a tenant, collecting rent, maintaining the property, ensuring that taxes and dues are paid, and even hiring out to short-term tourists.

I know of a few companies springing up in this niche, but they’re in the embryonic stage. A professionally organized outfit that can achieve scale and a strong online presence could quickly dominate the market. Simon has mentioned before that a great model to copy already exists in Panama. Check it out and you’ll see.

For hungry real estate professionals, there is also ample room here in Manila for competent and knowledgeable buyers’ agents. The way the real estate business works here is that, in the new construction market, all of the brokers work for the developer. In the existing homes market, they work for the sellers. Buyers usually fend for themselves.

Setting up a small consulting firm that provides high quality, unbiased advice for buyers would be another excellent opportunity that is under represented at the moment.

Another idea I have is for a web-based service business in the Philippines. I can’t be too specific in this forum as I’m actually planning to get this one up and running. However I am looking for an IT professional who can design and build a custom, rigidly secure data warehousing platform.

If you have this kind of experience and are interested in hearing more, please fill out this form to let me know. 

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Business Insider Is Hiring An Advertising Yield Optimization Analyst - The Business Insider

Business Insider is looking for a self-driven revenue analyst for a new role in the business development department. This person will work with third-party advertising partners, technology providers, and internal ad operations to develop a smart approach to maximizing ad revenue. He or she will work across all Business Insider channels including the web site, email, video, and mobile.

The role involves forecasting available inventory, monitoring partner performance, and proactively optimizing available ad opportunities. The right candidate will understand the nuts and bolts of current yield optimization operations and be up-to-date on emerging technology and models. Responsibilities include:

Extensive testing and refinement to maximize revenueAnalyze the effectiveness of new yield optimization projectsConduct competitive and industry researchStrong analytic and interpretive skillsFamiliarity with ad-serving technologiesFamiliarity with A/B testing and experiment designFirm grasp of key ad metrics Strong communication and presentation skillsSelf-starter curiosity and a drive toward efficiencyAbility to juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines

Experience: 

1-2 years in ad operations or related areas, either at a publisher, technology company, or ad agency

The position is located in our Manhattan office.

You'll thrive at Business Insider if you are a quick study and have a roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic. Ping-pong skills are a plus. This is a great opportunity to make a huge impact at the fastest-growing business news site on the web.

Interested? Apply by sending an email with your Linkedin profile to bwilliams [at] businessinsider.com.

Please follow Business Insider on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Bridget Williams on Twitter.

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Home Business Internet Marketing Secrets(keyword phrases insider secrets to internet marketing)

http://secretleadgenerator.info/ When you can implement home business internet marketing secrets into your day to day operation of your internet marketing or affiliate marketing activities you can elevate your results. Home business internet marketing secrets most of the time are carried by keywords or keyword phrases. If one knows how to properly research keywords they could find it much easier to find exposure from their particular target market in their niche. Internet marketing and affiliate marketing does not have to be that complicated if you seek out answers....proven solutions...which are known as home business internet marketing secrets.

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