Comments on: If You Had $500 Million to Promote Entrepreneurship, How Would You Spend It? http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html Exploring the trends driving small business Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:37:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Detective Krum http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-617649 Detective Krum Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:45:10 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-617649 I like Tony Vignieri's approach however, I would use $ 500 million as follows: 1. Secure the investment money from a bank failure. 2. Organize workshops throughout the country (America first) setting up teams to develop workable alternative forms of transportation and energy related plans with the winning team from each section receiving financial rewards in addition to patents, royalties, etc. 3. Develop manufacturing for my item #2 above. 4. Organize teams to address and provide workable solutions to food production, telecommunications and an outdated electric grid, then offer incentives for production. American ingenuity with American products and American production helps put and keep America great and I would start in America with items named above then help the world be a better place by lending a helping hand. I like Tony Vignieri’s approach however, I would use $ 500 million as follows:
1. Secure the investment money from a bank failure.
2. Organize workshops throughout the country (America first) setting up teams to develop workable alternative forms of transportation and energy related plans with the winning team from each section receiving financial rewards in addition to patents, royalties, etc.
3. Develop manufacturing for my item #2 above.
4. Organize teams to address and provide workable solutions to food production, telecommunications and an outdated electric grid, then offer incentives for production.
American ingenuity with American products and American production helps put and keep America great and I would start in America with items named above then help the world be a better place by lending a helping hand.

]]> By: Patricia http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-617117 Patricia Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:24:36 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-617117 Education on every level! I'd invest the bulk of the money on the education of making, growing and keeping the money. The region I live in is rural and agriculture has always been the way of life here. So, I would invest in programs to educate people about the various phases of business. I would give them real time help on all levels. Money for long term training as they transform from farm to business mindset. Education on every level! I’d invest the bulk of the money on the education of making, growing and keeping the money. The region I live in is rural and agriculture has always been the way of life here. So, I would invest in programs to educate people about the various phases of business. I would give them real time help on all levels. Money for long term training as they transform from farm to business mindset.

]]> By: Tony Vignieri http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-616445 Tony Vignieri Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:13:50 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-616445 When it comes to encouraging entrepreneurial vision and fresh ideas, nothing beats the peer-group approach to growth. CEO members of Vistage International meet once a month in small groups, where rookie entrepreneurs and seasoned executives benefit from a confidential exchange of ideas, wisdom and lessons learned. Members also exchange ideas and insights through an online network of more than 14,500 business leaders around the world. With $500 million to invest, many more entrepreneurs—those who are struggling to get their business off the ground as well as those grappling with the unique issues of fast growth—could explore the benefits of the peer-group approach. I invite your readers to learn more about the kinds of business insights available to Vistage members at www.vistage.com/economy. When it comes to encouraging entrepreneurial vision and fresh ideas, nothing beats the peer-group approach to growth. CEO members of Vistage International meet once a month in small groups, where rookie entrepreneurs and seasoned executives benefit from a confidential exchange of ideas, wisdom and lessons learned. Members also exchange ideas and insights through an online network of more than 14,500 business leaders around the world.

With $500 million to invest, many more entrepreneurs—those who are struggling to get their business off the ground as well as those grappling with the unique issues of fast growth—could explore the benefits of the peer-group approach.

I invite your readers to learn more about the kinds of business insights available to Vistage members at http://www.vistage.com/economy.

]]> By: Jan Dillaha http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615731 Jan Dillaha Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:09:38 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615731 1. Provide education for people who are considering opening a small business. 2. Mentoring for small business owners. 3. Loans. And if there is any left over, some voter education wouldn't hurt. Especially in my area of the world, r tax policies hinder business growth. 1. Provide education for people who are considering opening a small business.
2. Mentoring for small business owners.
3. Loans.

And if there is any left over, some voter education wouldn’t hurt. Especially in my area of the world, r tax policies hinder business growth.

]]> By: BGMTony http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615713 BGMTony Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:19:16 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615713 Excellent article. In my experience, many small and medium sized business owners limit their own abilities to achieve major growth in their business. With significant investment in helping them to realise what is possible through structured guidance and mentoring would provide significant benefit very quickly. This support would focus on all aspects of building a growth business and b delivered by peope who have been there and done it. This makes it much more real and valuable to the business owner. We have been doing this offline and online with amazing success. Excellent article.

In my experience, many small and medium sized business owners limit their own abilities to achieve major growth in their business. With significant investment in helping them to realise what is possible through structured guidance and mentoring would provide significant benefit very quickly.

This support would focus on all aspects of building a growth business and b delivered by peope who have been there and done it. This makes it much more real and valuable to the business owner.

We have been doing this offline and online with amazing success.

]]> By: Business Attorney http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615691 Business Attorney Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:17:21 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615691 I would spread the money out in a number of ways. First, I would make more money available as loans to small businesses at market rates. Many small businesses don't offer the kind of returns (or the amount of investment) that justify finding equity capital, but with inadequate capital and no hard assets, the small business often finds borrowing money nearly impossible. Second, I would support research and development as well as commercialization of new products. Most small businesses cannot afford to wait years without any revenues. If good inventions go undeveloped, we all lose. I would insist that the small business have substantial "skin in the game" so that the business owner has to carefully evaluate the potential, but I would provide support the development of products that offer the prospect of a reasonable commercial market. I would spread the money out in a number of ways. First, I would make more money available as loans to small businesses at market rates. Many small businesses don’t offer the kind of returns (or the amount of investment) that justify finding equity capital, but with inadequate capital and no hard assets, the small business often finds borrowing money nearly impossible.

Second, I would support research and development as well as commercialization of new products. Most small businesses cannot afford to wait years without any revenues. If good inventions go undeveloped, we all lose. I would insist that the small business have substantial “skin in the game” so that the business owner has to carefully evaluate the potential, but I would provide support the development of products that offer the prospect of a reasonable commercial market.

]]> By: Amanda http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615647 Amanda Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:33:08 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615647 I would love to educate low income individuals on starting and operating a small business. Encouraging and providing entrepreneurial guidance would not only provide a low income family with financial resources but also boost esteem and confidence. I would love to educate low income individuals on starting and operating a small business. Encouraging and providing entrepreneurial guidance would not only provide a low income family with financial resources but also boost esteem and confidence.

]]> By: Moise levi http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615627 Moise levi Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:23:44 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615627 100% would go to financial education. There are some very smart people out there with great ideas .... that lack the basic skills of management, goal settings, planning, marketing, accounting, sales method ..... etc .... 100% would go to financial education.
There are some very smart people out there with great ideas …. that lack the basic skills of management, goal settings, planning, marketing, accounting, sales method ….. etc ….

]]> By: Arthur Bland http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615537 Arthur Bland Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:23:18 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615537 Very wonderful article. If I will be given that $500 million, I'll spend it to put up business incubators in the region. I will also spare for putting up financial institutions to help small business entrepreneurs with their financing problems. In this way, I believe I will be able to effectively promote entrepreneurship in the region. Very wonderful article. If I will be given that $500 million, I’ll spend it to put up business incubators in the region. I will also spare for putting up financial institutions to help small business entrepreneurs with their financing problems. In this way, I believe I will be able to effectively promote entrepreneurship in the region.

]]> By: Mark Bantigue http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html#comment-615530 Mark Bantigue Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:52:11 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/09/if-you-had-500-million-to-promote-entrepreneurship-how-would-you-spend-it.html/#comment-615530 Excellent article. Very timely -- a true subject of our times. Sources of capital is the single most important issue for entrepreneurs and social progress. In my humble opinion, great strides have been made with micro-loans (micro-finance). No collateral, social-pressure to repay loans -- these financial instruments have proven effective in developing nations and can be duplicated in depressed parts of developed nations. I have experience in micro-loans and the instrument is amazing. Incubators work as well to minimize exposure, access to support and education, but few provide direct access to working capital. A combination of incubators with micro-loans would be stellar. Larger capital needs like VC and Angel are for more sophisticated and technical entrepreneurial ventures/ideas and inventions. The classic case of entrepreneurship (where one finds a gap which is under-served, commonly a simple product or service and innovates along the way), incubators and micro-loans should do the trick. Government-backed insured loans like the SBA work well too. Just discovered your blog. Congrats. I find it great. Excellent article. Very timely — a true subject of our times.
Sources of capital is the single most important issue for entrepreneurs and social progress.
In my humble opinion, great strides have been made with micro-loans (micro-finance). No collateral, social-pressure to repay loans — these financial instruments have proven effective in developing nations and can be duplicated in depressed parts of developed nations. I have experience in micro-loans and the instrument is amazing. Incubators work as well to minimize exposure, access to support and education, but few provide direct access to working capital. A combination of incubators with micro-loans would be stellar.
Larger capital needs like VC and Angel are for more sophisticated and technical entrepreneurial ventures/ideas and inventions. The classic case of entrepreneurship (where one finds a gap which is under-served, commonly a simple product or service and innovates along the way), incubators and micro-loans should do the trick. Government-backed insured loans like the SBA work well too.

Just discovered your blog. Congrats. I find it great.

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