Venture capital

TEACH TEENS TO FISH AND THEY EAT …

Teach young adults entrepreneurship and they learn how business works; how to plan, develop, launch and manage a new business; how you shape ideas into business opportunities and earn money. No limit on the possibilities.

Entrepreneurship also teaches young adults critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, teamwork, ethics, and social responsibility. Most important, Entrepreneurship gives young adults a competitive edge in the job market no matter what career path they pursue. One study shows one in three US employers seeks entrepreneurial experience in their new hires.

“That is why I created the Doc Larsen New Business Adventure Series to introduce young adults to entrepreneurship and help jumpstart their careers…”    

Paul B. Silverman

Check here for more info on the new Doc Larsen New Business Adventure Series for young adults and the first book in the series  Freddie and Billie’s New Business Adventure   

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Entrepreneurship. TV Interview. Nov 30th

Entrepreneurs need Untitled design(2)to  learn new traditional management skills to improve their ability to both attract funding and succeed. That is the message I delivered in a local TV interview discussing #entrepreneurship in Northern Virginia. The region is now called “Silicon Valley East” based on the surge of entrepreneurial ventures in the area.  Read More








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Entrepreneurship-Interview-Aug 7th

Untitled design(2)Interview and Book Review published in Ocean City Today – August 7th  issue:

Interview/Review- Ocean City Today Aug 7th

I shared why I wrote the new book- to help entrepreneurs create successful companies, moving beyond basic “start your own your business” guidelines to reach the critical five year survival milestone.

I also shared some key points, such as why clearly defining your business model and strategy up-front, is critical, and discussed what readers are saying.

I emphasized that statistics show entrepreneurs are a major force to spur job creation, and economic growth. New policies/programs to directly help entrepreneurs; proposed new university programs to more tightly link to the business community and leverage university assets and IP; and national entrepreneurship initiatives are my vision that I shared during the interview

I will be expanding on these points in upcoming interviews  and presentations. Stay tuned…comments always welcomed.

 

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.








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Quote for Entrepreneurs

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that is your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterwards, when you have worked on your own corner.

                                                                                                                         – Aldous Huxley








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$9 M Google Ventures Funding… And Shows Future of Digital Publishing

Book Pile   BlogRecommend reading the Fast Company article “The Picture Book That Parents Worldwide—And Google Ventures—Can’t Put Down” http://www.fastcocreate.com/3048158/the-picture-book-that-parents-worldwide-and-google-ventures-cant-put-down

Take a good look here and you see where digital publishing is heading as print-on- demand, analytics, creative software, graphics design, and content creation merge to create what looks like a new market sector.

When we here about personalized children’s books we think about a child’s name inserted into the same story and replicated for others. Here we have a new paradigm using algorithms to create customized stories printed with high quality illustrations.

Here is what #Google Ventures says: “We don’t look at them as a book publishing company,” says Avid Larizadeh Duggan, a London-based general partner at Google Ventures. “It’s a platform for the best personalized content for children’s entertainment on multiple platforms. They’re redefining a category.”

When you read this article, I suggest keep the following points in mind:

  • Automated content creation using algorithms and software is a new frontier- as noted “… there are tens of thousands lines of code for each book delivered”
  • This is a technology not a book publishing startup –when you review the article that is clear
  • The team identified a market opportunity, organized a talented team, and then pursued the business. Market opportunity defined first, then technology solution- that is the way it is done to avoid having a creative technology looking for a market, a problem we often see with early stage companies

So where is this heading? Here are may perspectives:

  • The content creation analytics and software will advance quickly- we can envision more powerful and multi-threaded content creation options emerging- I expect these will be driven by start-up firms
  • We will move beyond the children’s book market- what I call ‘adaptive’ content creation will also address other traditional book publishing markets
  • Adaptive, personalized content creation has other applications in education and training. Customizing content to adapt to readers’ learning styles and disabilities, personalizing training content based on readers’ skill level; developing personalized healthcare education materials which adapts based on staff background, experience, their optimum learning approach are some of the many possibilities here.

Bottom line – like 3D printing, this is another disruptive breakthrough that I believe will open many exciting opportunities to create value. Recommend all stay tuned as this develops.

Paul B. Silverman

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.








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New Book Release: “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business”

I am pleased to advise publication of “8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business”  – book is now available on Amazon (Print and Kindle).

8b3_copy(4)Here is press release…

HALF OF ALL BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN FIVE YEARS

New book offers solutions for success

Reston, VA, July 3, 2015 – “8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Successful Business” is available today on Amazon (US and global markets) and Kindle (July 8th). Targeted to entrepreneurs, the book walks readers through the many steps needed to not only launch a business, but stay in business and succeed.

“SBA and other statistics confirm what I’ve seen so many times,” said author Paul B. Silverman. “You can have a great idea, market need, solid team, funding and maybe a customer or two, and then five years later you’re out of business.”

8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manager and Grow a Successful Business” provides a step-by-step guide to all the key elements an entrepreneur needs to tackle to meet today’s challenges, profitably stay in business, and create value for shareholders. The book delves into the reasons why most businesses fail, how to prevent common pitfalls, and winning strategies…. READ PR AT PRESS RELEASE- 8 BUILDING BLOCKS

Here are some related links:

Reviews – I appreciated the support and comments of the pre-publication reviewers- reviews at http://paulbsilverman.com/books/reviews/

Link to new book page-  Book Page: * Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business  

 Read Book Excerpts at http://paulbsilverman.com/books/excerpts/

Link to Amazon to order the book  Amazon Link; 8 Building Blocks to Launch, Manage, and Grow A Successful Business

Link to blog a paulbsillverman.com/blog/

Sign up for new Entrepreneurship Today! email updates on areas I am tracking such as crowdfunding, Reg A+, cybersecurity, healthcare, IOT, and analytics . The email updates will cover new venture developments, blog posts highlights, upcoming interviews with leading entrepreneurs, guest posts by investors and entrepreneurs, and new Entrepreneurial Management 2.0 techniques. More info and sign-up page at http://paulbsilverman.com/contact/ 

I am ramping up speaking engagements and plan on doing several interviews related to new venture development and entrepreneurship and glad to address any group where I can contribute and schedules work

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me anytime and I will be glad to help.

All the best,

Paul B. Silverman

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

 








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Comments On Richard Branson Post TED Talk

Commented on excellent Richard Branson TED talk How To Hack Into Happiness good messages here.

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.








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Failure Is Often A Key Driver for Success: Check out “Failing Forward — 3 Tips for Failing Your Way to Success”

Most entrepreneurs are familiar with the story of Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb. To outsiders, looks like a waste of time and effort- we see about 10,000 failures and one success. Thomas Edison saw it differently in his widely quoted views on success and failure: “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

I agree with Thomas Edison and always define failures as “Learning Experiences” — this works for me.

I recommend checking out “Failing Forward — 3 Tips for Failing Your Way to Success” – an excellent perspective on success and failure from Marshall Graham, Managing Partner at Indian River Advisor, LLC. Excellent insights here for all entrepreneurs.

 

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.








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Inc. – 8 Recommended Courses for Entrepreneurs 

Interesting Inc. Article on 8 recommended courses entrepreneurs should take. Check out  http://tinyurl.com/mct6llb

I posted following comments:

Good post and pleased to contribute here.  I like to say the “traditional laws of business are not repealed for new ventures”- not all agree with this assertion but my experience with many ventures shows these skills improve probability of success. Your selection of recommended courses is a good starting point and reinforces this point which I believe is missed by many. I suggest two additional recommended course areas

— Mathematics/Statistics – new business models and ventures are using analytics to develop innovative lines of business. Conceiving, managing, marketing, financing and growing these new analytics-centric businesses in fiercely competitive markets demands new analytic skills I find lacking. These skills can provide a competitive edge

–International – all business is global and more than 50 percent of Fortune 500 revenue is derived from overseas business. Entrepreneurs should understand how to operate in the international arena, i.e., how non-GAAP differs from GAAP reporting; how to develop equity and non-equity intl alliances; how exchange rates impact financial flows and strategies- all important management skills that provide entrepreneurs with a competitive edge.

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.

 








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Posted “Emerging Business Models Driven By Predictive Analytics” in Business Model Innovation Forum

Agreed to serve as a member of the Business Model Innovation Forum. Good discussion here on all aspects of business models and where we are heading. I posted following comments today as an initial contribution – more information in the Forum at www.businessmodelhub.com. I am pleased to share a copy of my posted comments:

Emerging Business Models Driven By Predictive Analytics

I am pleased to contribute to the Forum and look forward to discussions with other members.

Two areas related to business models in my view should be discussed. First, predictive analytics which is reshaping traditional business models and changing the competitive landscape. These new tools analyze millions of “information records”, develop “rules” to explain the outcomes with major improvement in speed and accuracy. Note information records may include traditional databases, as well as unstructured “text analytics” from news feeds, messaging, maybe doctors notes related to an electronic health record (EHR). Seamless analysis of both traditional structured and unstructured data is a powerful new direction and where we are heading.What we are seeing are new services emerging, creating new markets, many driven by entrepreneurial firms. New clinical diagnostic services to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs- results show dramatic improvement. Technology Assisted Review or TAR, using advanced analytics in the legal arena to assist in identifying relevant and priviliged documents reviewing millions of documents for class action and other major legal cases. Continuous Audit, Continuous Monitoring or “CA/CM” using real time analytics in Fortune 1000 companies to identify problem, possibly fraudulent transactions pre-audit saving time and money and reducing exposure.

I have been involved in these and can cite many others. Key point- we are creating new business models here- some based on outcomes, others based on client savings maybe linked to longitudinal or total costs. So today what looks like a traditional software product, services, or solutions business may be competing with “transaction based” players, oftentimes entrepreneurial firms using creative business models and pricing structures.

Secondly, while we often focus on the internal, company- centric elements of the business model which are essential, lets keep in mind that external factors play a major role in shaping a firm’s business model and strategy. In 2013, I made this point in comments on an excellent business planning post by Accenture. You can see my comments and the Accenture link at http://tinyurl.com/ozugkl9

Bottom line here- we can expect to see many new, creative business models emerging which “push the envelope” demanding that management acquire new business planning and analysis skills. “Business as usual” will not be a successful strategy. Many of these new emerging business models in my view will be driven by agile entrepreneurial firms creating both new investment and value creation opportunities as well as challenges for traditional players,

Paul B. Silverman writes about entrepreneurship, healthcare, analytics, and strategy management and serves as Advisor, Speaker, Educator, and Managing Partner of the Gemini Business Group, LLC, a new venture development firm, and author of “8 Building Blocks To Launch, Manage, And Grow A Successful Business.” He also serves as Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at George Mason University. See more at Paul B. Silverman Blog and sign up for Entrepreneurship Today! email updates to track latest new venture developments.








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