Dr. Earl R. Smith II

NASA SBIR AND STTR 2010 Program Solicitations

This week the U.S. Chamber sent a document to Capitol Hill with a number of proposals for lawmakers to consider that, if enacted, will provide more capital for small and mid-sized businesses to grow the economy and create jobs. Many of the proposals have bi-partisan support and are contained in existing pieces of legislation in both the House and Senate.

The first national teleconference Subcontracting Opportunities for Katrina Disaster Relief and Reconstruction” will be held, Thursday, September 15, 2005 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time. It covers timely and critical issues relating to subcontracting opportunities for emergency and reconstruction services, materials and products at the federal and state levels.

Governor David A. Paterson today signed four ground-breaking bills into law, including legislation that will establish a level playing field for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) in New York State.

You spend an extraordinary amount of time and effort putting together an excellent proposal for the government. You feel great about your changes of award. But then . . . you receive notice that the contract was awarded to another company. How do you decide whether you should challenge (or “protest”) the agency’s decision?

In business, we often set aggressive revenue targets. We chase a certain dollar amount ($1 million, $5 million, $10 million) or we chase a percentage increase. (25% revenue growth, 50% profitability growth).

Such might be the solution for venture-capital firms, which make equity investments in early-stage growth companies. The industry rode high up to and during the dot-com boom but has suffered a vicious cycle of losses since the bubble burst.

Just one deal in the cloud computing space closed in 2005, noted Lawrence Aragon, editor in chief for Venture Capital Journal and Private Equity Week at the GigaOM Network’s Structure conference today. But by last year the sector delivered 52 such deals, and so far this year there have already been 33.

In today’s diverse and unpredictable economy, the need for a sustained profit plan and long term growth strategy has become essential for both individuals and corporations. Merchant banking principally involves providing financial services and advice for individuals and corporations. Merchant banking operations consists of providing clients with a variety of financing options to sustain long term growth.

Venture capitalists are entrepreneurs. They’re willing to take reasonable risks for a business, but before they do that, they need to see that you’re completely devoted to the success of the project. Professionalism is a requirement with them, not an option.