Small Business Entrepreneur blog

Tipping the Odds for the Entrepreneur: Big Ideas on Success for the Small Business Owner

2010-07-21T19:53:51Z

Widely acclaimed book provides valuable advice on how to operate a successful small business

“To succeed in business today, you need to have everything going for you. This great book is full of practical,
proven strategies and techniques that will give you an edge in any market.” ~ Brian Tracy, Founder, Brian Tracy International, Author of The Way to Wealth and other titles

With the country in an economic slump, the number of new small businesses being started is at a 14 year high. Business owners seeking an edge need to look no further than Tipping the Odds for the Entrepreneur. The content holds true to the title, providing a compendium of valuable wisdom from author and business owner Kevin C. Maki.

After more than 25 years of studying entrepreneurs, as well as running business units and his own companies, Kevin Maki has identified key concepts about small business success that consistently separate the top performers from the rest of the pack. Thriving as an entrepreneur is rarely due to luck, and there is no business gene. Instead, he attributes success to “learning and applying the knowledge and skills necessary to attract, serve and retain profitable customers.” These big ideas are described and illustrated with many stories from his own experiences, as well as profiles of business owners who run their companies in a manner consistent with the recommendations in the book.

This book explores what separates the few high performing small business entrepreneurs from the many who find long-term success elusive. Business owners nationwide concur: bestselling author of How to be a Fierce Competitor and founder of Fox & Company, Inc. Jeffrey J. Fox states, “Wow! This is THE big book on succeeding in a small business. Chapter 20 alone is worth the price for all current and future entrepreneurs.”

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Author: Kevin C. Maki, PhD is the founder, President and Chief Science Officer of Provident Clinical Research & Consulting, Inc. and owner of a successful property management company. He is the author or co-author of five books and hundreds of published articles on topics ranging from entrepreneurship to preventive medicine.

the first Philippine International Eco-Show (PINES), August 26-28 2010

2010-07-18T17:21:44Z

In line with global efforts to preserve the environment, the country’s green stakeholders unite in preparation for the first Philippine International Eco-Show (PINES) slated August 26-28 of this year, reported the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Led by CITEM, PINES is a three-day trade event meant to encourage environmental investment through the showcase of the latest Philippine-made environment-

friendly offerings in an exhibition and an international conference which will highlight eco-industry trends and issues, especially for those planning the future of their businesses.

Steering the event is the PINES Advisory Board, an array of green industry leaders tasked to lend their expertise and advice on the technical and strategic direction of the project .

“We believe that the imperative for going green is such that it requires partnerships between the government and private sector which includes the business community and the academe, as well as meaningful international cooperation,” said Thelma Dumpit-Murillo, CITEM Deputy Executive Director and the eco-show’s Project Director.

Members of the Board include: Trade Senior Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino as Chair; Gil Carandang, founder and lead farmer of Herbana Farms; Arch. Christopher Dela Cruz, chairman and president of the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC); Grace Favila, Special Adviser to the Board of the Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE); Elisea “Bebet” Gozun, chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Officers of Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP); Antonio Kalaw, Jr., president of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP); Arch. Felino Palafox, Jr., principal architect and urban planner of Palafox Associates; ED Jason Lao of DTI’s Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC); and Amelia Supetran, team leader of the United Nations Development Programme Energy and Environment Project (UNDP-EEP).

“I expect [PINES] to raise awareness of green products and services that are already available here in the country… [to] help accelerate change in consumption patterns of Filipinos towards a more sustainable lifestyle,” said Grace Favila of the Philippine Business for the Environment, a non-profit organization that helps Philippine industry address its environmental concerns and responsibilities.

She added: “I hope the producers and distributors of these green products and services will feel that government supports them in their effort to grow a green local market and… encourage them not to give up.”

The show’s exhibit features a spread of the the latest eco-industrial, eco-lifestyle, and eco-advocacy products and technologies available locally, with participation from international brands like Nestle, Sharp, Jollibee, Mariwasa, and Palafox Associates.

Meanwhile, the PINES conference themed “Towards a Greener Earth” will have on the first day a plenary session that focuses on environmental commitments and the existing environmental standards integral as the international community takes its stand against global warming. The second day hosts sectoral tracks on Green Building, Green Business, and Green Community sponsored by the PhilGBC, PBE, and the UNDP-EEP, respectively.

“As we move on to this green philosophy – a paradigm shift of minds – the industries supporting this philosophy and goal will be in the front run,” said organic farming advocate Gil Carandang of Herbana Farms, an ecologic organic demonstration farm located in Laguna.

In 2009, Philippine business was named as most environment-friendly by leading global accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton in its annual International Business Report (IBR), which represented the views of senior executives of more than 7,200 private companies in 36 countries.

To be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, PINES is also supported by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AmCham), the Haribon Foundation, and the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP).

For more information on the 1st Philippine International Eco-Show, log on to www.pines.com.ph.

US – Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference in Algiers, September 29 – 30, 2010

2010-07-18T14:06:59Z

On September 29 – 30, 2010, the US-Algeria Business Council will host the US – Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference in Algiers, Algeria. The US – Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference is a follow-on conference to the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship held in Washington, D.C., in April 2010 and demonstrates the continuing work of non-governmental organizations to create regional partnerships that promote entrepreneurship.

This conference will bring together business leaders and entrepreneurs, and aspiring youth entrepreneurs from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. The conference will also feature business leaders of the North African Diaspora, along with U.S. business leaders and entrepreneurs. The conference will include moderated discussions on key issues and challenges for advancing entrepreneurship, including: lessons learned from the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship , improving access to capital, enabling small and medium sized business, catalyzing youth entrepreneurship, perspectives from U.S. and Maghreb business leaders, promoting cross-border business partnership initiatives, transatlantic business networking, incubating innovation and technology, and exploring business opportunities in the creative industries. The conference will also provide capacity building for entrepreneurs through a number of skills training workshops and networking opportunities.

The United States will send a senior-level delegation to participate in the conference. The State Department is supporting the organizers of this event by identifying key speakers, participants, and U.S. entrepreneurs that can help advance our shared goals of economic partnerships for entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in the Maghreb.

For more information about this conference or to register, please contact Dr. Ismael Chikhoune, the President & CEO of the US-Algeria Business Council by e-mail at chikhoune@us-algeria.org

Are successful entrepreneurs special?

2010-07-17T10:37:10Z

There is a lot of debate if entrepreneurship can be taught or not. I’ve always said that education makes you more prepared to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is no easy job especially during the crisis. Let’s say that everybody can be an entrepreneur. In fact it’s easier now than ever before to be an entrepreneur, so the question is not if entrepreneurship can be educated but if you have to have special abilities to be a successful one.

Through my interviews with entrepreneurs and my own experience I’ve came to realize that success in entrepreneurship has little to do with education, luck or the economic environment. Of course, things can be easier or harder depending on where you are, but apart from this, the universal entrepreneurship essence says that entrepreneurs are people that find ways to adapt to the market and start successful businesses where everyone think there is no opportunity. For example, would a fashion business thrive in Africa? Well, it does, against all odds.

What I did find through the interviews was interesting: successful entrepreneurs have special personality traits. Determination to succeed; commitment towards growing the business against all odds; positive thinking. And I’ve always said there is something wrong about entrepreneur’s mind.

So what’s special about successful entrepreneurs personality? I’ve did a bit of research and I’ve came across a report called “Six Dimensions that Characterize Success-Oriented Small Business Owners” from The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute:

Collaborative. Success-oriented small business owners learn how to delegate effectively to others within their business as well as build strong personal relationships with their management team, employees, consultants, vendors and customers. They are more committed “to creating opportunities for others.”

Self-fulfilled. Success-oriented small business owners place a high value on the personal fulfillment and gratification that their companies provide them, relishing the self-determination and respect that come from being their own boss and being in control of their personal income and long-term net worth. They are more desirous of “doing something for a living that I love to do,” “being able to decide how much money I make” and “being able to have the satisfaction of creating something of value.”

Future-focused. Planning for both the short- and long-term future are key traits that characterize success-oriented small business owners. They are more focused on cash flow and more likely to have “a well thought out plan to run our business for years into the future” as well as “a well thought out plan to run our business day to day.”

Curious. Success-oriented small business owners are more open to learning how others run their businesses. They actively seek best practice insights regarding management, business innovation, prospecting and finding / motivating / retaining employees.

Tech-savvy. Technology is a key point of leverage for success-oriented small business owners. They more intensely value their company’s website and are significantly more likely to “rely a great deal on technology to help make our business more effective and more efficient.”

Action oriented. Finally, success-oriented small business owners are more proactive in taking initiative to build their businesses. They are more committed to “taking the business to the next level,” “differentiating ourselves from our competitors” and “having something to sell when I’m ready to retire.” They also see adversity as “a kick in the rear to help move you forward.” Not surprisingly, they are less concerned than other small business owners about the overall state of the economy.

Don’t have these personality traits? Don’t worry, Steve Welch, a successful entrepreneur says We Are All Born Entrepreneurs and wrote a book about this.

Did the crisis improve the banking system in Romania?

2010-07-17T06:47:38Z

A few days ago I was watching the Discovery channel and in a factory, one of the workers used to have a job in the banking industry before the crisis. As much of the crisis went through the banking system into the real economy it sounds like it’s quite hard to find or keep your job. So you would expect that banking services should have improved even in Romania?

I’m from Eastern Europe and banks over here don’t make any efforts to help small businesses. High taxes, obscure policies and bad services happen not because there isn’t enough competition but because there isn’t a culture of small business banking. It took almost one month to have one of my cards re-issued, and they were expecting to go pick up the card from the same location where it was issued 2 years ago (which was way far from my current location).

The thing is that while we had some big crashes in the financial industry Worldwideand the credit went down, the basic banking operations still exists; unless we stop using money, all businesses need a way to cash in money from the customers. So it seems that no matter how hard things are, banks here

So I decided to have a look and see how things are looking.

In a total contrast, each time I look at the financial institutions in U.S. I’m amazed at the efforts they are putting into marketing their services. For example, to grow the sales force, North American Bancard created a site for the North American Bancard Agents and created the North American Bancard Linkedin company profile. So they are using social networking!

Also, they do provide much more services that a regular bank here (solutions for Credit, Debit, EBT, Check Conversion and Guarantee, Gift & Loyalty Cards and much more).

They seem to have a quite aggressive plan to grow their customer base, which is currently around 100000 businesses (it’s amazing what competition and a strong culture of supporting small businesses can do) . And are there any jobs? Sure, look at the North American Bancard Jobs.

Business Building Opportunities Abound at EngEx 2010

2010-07-11T16:26:35Z

Professionals in the energy, water, transportation and environmental industries will learn how to leverage innovative business opportunities for both personal and professional growth at EngEx 2010 Conference and Exhibition, which begins July 29 at the San Diego Convention Center and features three full days of workshops, special issue meetings and keynote addresses.

Top-Notch Experts to Provide Informative Keynote Sessions
President of Shell Energy North America, Mark Quartermain, will speak in a special keynote session covering “Counting Carbon” and address how emissions trading can provide companies with a way to reduce their carbon footprint as industries shift toward a low-emission economy. “Shell is at the forefront of the energy challenge of keeping a delicate balance between our need for energy and transportation fuels along with concern for the environment,” said Kausain Shaikh, Founder of EngEx 2010. “His address will be highly relevant in today’s world, where many businesses are faced with one of the most complex issues facing our world for the next century.”

Additionally, EngEx offers over 30 workshops over three-days between government and private sector to provide access to over $500 billion dollars given annually in government contracts, grants, exports and financing. More information is available at www.engexpo.com.

WOMENS SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TM ANNOUCES SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

2010-07-11T13:17:36Z

The Women’s Small Business AssociationTM (WSBA), an organization that stimulates small and start up businesses that spans five Western Pennsylvania counties and includes almost 600 members, announces the topics and speakers for its signature event “The Seven Steps to a Highly Successful You,” being held at the University Club from 8:30 to 5:00 on July 14th. This all-day event is part of the WSBA’s annual Women’s Small Business Week a part of their small business development program. The day’s agenda includes the following sessions:

Health and Wellness with Dr. Nancy Mramor of Transformedia

Dr. Mramor, a psychotherapist and Spiritual Fitness Coach with 25 years of experience, will address modern heath concerns for women and steps women can take to maintain and improve health. She will share proven techniques that engage and synthesize mind, body, and spirit for total wellness to protect your most valuable asset for wealth – your good health!

Finding Funds For Your Small Business with Lindsay Biddle, Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence

This session will identify sources of cash flow, as well as the types of investors needed to back a small business. Womens small business (http://www.wbsa.ws) growth and development will be the focus. Ways to budget creatively and to avoid financial pitfalls will also be discussed. This session will be presented by Lindsay Biddle, who brings years of experience to her role at the Institute.

Success From Saying, “No!” presented by Sharon Eakes of Hope Unlimited

As a personal and executive coach with backgrounds in psychology and management, Ms. Eakes helps clients thrive in both their personal and professional lives. Her session will help attendees learn how to avoid over committing, focus on their unique strengths, and prioritize responsibilities without guilt.

Branding and Marketing Your Business by Liz DeWitt of Liz DeWitt Marketing Consulting

Ms. DeWitt, a marketing strategist who specializes in helping clients create authentic, differentiated brands and develop marketing/public relations plans for increasing market share, will presenton the importance of building and selling a brand. Tools for brand building that will be shared include utilizing the media, online networking, licensing, and strategic partnerships.

Networking Essential – by Barbara Schwarck of Clear Intentions

As founder of Clear Intentions, Ms. Schwarck offers executive coaching, training, and assessment to business leaders seeking to improve leadership skills and become truly effective and satisfied. Her session will focus on the benefits of face-to-face networking and techniques for productive networking to stand out in the crowd and drive profits.

Business Operations and Outsourcing with Ruby Wilkosz of Working Order

Ms. Wilkosz is the regional director of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania’s Working Order program. Her organization offers a small business development program which develops and supports entrepreneurship for individuals with disabilities or other obstacles to traditional employment. Her session will address hiring the right professionals to build your business.

Using Technology Within Your Small Business by William Weil of Pittsburgh SEO

Mr. Weil is a marketing and technology expert whose firm specializes in website development and search engine optimization (SEO). His session will help attendees make sense of how to grow your business using strategic internet strategies.

This event is sponsored by The Pittsburgh Business Times, Keystone Benefits Group, and MedExpress. The cost of the event is $38.00 for WSBA Premier Members, $43.00 for general members, $48.00 for non-members or for admission at the door. The cost includes the Honoring Extraordinary Women Awards Luncheon and an afternoon networking happy hour. For additional information on the sessions and speakers, as well as event registration, please visit the calendar section of the WSBA website http://www.wbsa.ws.

Seventh Annual Stevie(R) Awards for Women in Business Launches 2010 Call for Entries

2010-07-11T13:15:00Z

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business today launched the Call for Entries for its seventh annual competition. Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at www.stevieawards.com/women.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business feature over 50 categories including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, Employer of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Female Employee of the Year, Women’s Blog or Web Site of the Year, and Marketing Campaign for Women of the Year, among others. The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards.

All female entrepreneurs, executives, and the organizations they run, worldwide, are eligible to be nominated.

The discounted early-bird entry deadline is July 28 and the final deadline is August 31, 2010. Entrants save 25% by entering early. Winners of the seventh annual competition will be announced at a gala awards dinner in New York in November.

TANCon 2010 set to showcase business opportunities in Africa

2010-07-11T12:38:29Z

TANCon 2010, the annual conference hosted by The African Network (TAN) on October 30th, 2010

TANCon is the world’s sole event of its kind for entrepreneurs of African descent. The target audience includes entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 business leaders, venture capitalists, investment bankers, government policy makers and other entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations.

Attendees to TANCon 2010 will have the wonderful opportunity to listen to and participate in engaging and informative panel discussions which focus on the challenges and great business opportunities in Africa. The panel topics planned for this year’s TANCon event include:

Traditional & non-traditional sources of funding for your business idea
Low-tech & no-tech business opportunities in Africa
How the growth of mobile banking and mobile services is creating & changing entrepreneurial opportunities in Africa
Energy – securing your business’ needs, and creating a business delivering both traditional and non-traditional (i.e., “clean”) energy

Previous TANCon events featured esteemed speakers such as: Dr. Frank Greene – Founder & CEO of New Vista Capital, Sean Maloney – Executive Vice President of Intel Architecture Group, Dr. Lawrence Spinelli – President of OPIC, Professor Kunle Olukotun – Stanford Professor and developer of one of the first multicore microprocessors, Guy Kawasaki – Director of Garage Technology Ventures, A.J. Patel – Founder of TiE, Matt Flannery – Co-Founder & CEO of Kiva, Mohamed Hersi – President of AfGlobe Communications, and many, many more.

Guardian Announces 2010 Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Award Winners

2010-07-11T12:35:45Z

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) today announced the winners of its 2010 Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Award Program, a national competition that recognizes teen girls ages 12 to 18 who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurship and community service. This year’s award marks Girls Going Places’ 10th anniversary.

“Since we launched Girls Going Places, 150 young female entrepreneurs have been awarded more than $300,000,” said Kathy Readinger, national manager, Girls Going Places Program, Guardian. “We salute the 2010 winners and all 150 girls who have utilized our program to reach financial independence and move on the path to business ownership.”

This year’s 15 winners from nine states represent a wide range of business interests from local food distribution to youth music academy to singing telegram greetings. This group also exhibits a growing trend in socially aware and ecologically conscious teens interested in philanthropy. Many focused on designing products from recycled or sustainable materials while others focused on mentoring younger children and raising funds for charities.

The top 2010 winner is Chelsey Schlosnagle, 17, Pleasureville, KT. Chelsey has owned and operated the free-range egg business, Chelsey’s Gourmet Pasture Eggs, for five years. The eggs are produced by 1,800 hens and are distributed through specialty health food stores in the Louisville and Lexington areas, including Whole Foods, Paul’s Fruit Markets, Good Foods and local restaurants. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky to study agriculture education and political science. After that, Chelsey hopes to continue on to law school.

Second place winner Zoe Albert, 15, from Allen, TX started her own business at the age of 11. Zoe’s company, Faux Paws, makes and markets her own line of faux fur flip-flops. What started as a hobby has turned into an opportunity to express her vision for animal rights. Zoe is involved with The Center for Animal Research and Education and her company has donated more than $11,000 to animal advocacy groups. She plans to become a veterinarian.

Sixteen-year-old Janice Aebi-Magee from Lake Oswego, OR won third place for founding “Aebi la Mode-Teen Fashion Boutique.” Through her own retail outlet store, Janice provides the community with fashionable and affordable teen clothing. Driven by entrepreneurial spirit, Aebi-Magee also serves as an inspiration for other firsts in the area – to encourage other teens to start their own businesses, she now sells handcrafted necklaces, earrings and acrylic paintings produced by classmates.

“We are delighted to see how this program has evolved over the last decade,” said Readinger. ”Girls Going Places is an example of Guardian’s ongoing commitment to small businesses, which are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Women-owned enterprises are among the fastest growing small businesses and Guardian is pleased to reward to the entrepreneurial zeal that these girls have demonstrated. As we congratulate this year’s winners on their extraordinary business accomplishments, we are celebrating the decade long success of the program and are looking forward to continue to support tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.”

Guardian granted the fifteen girls a total of $30,000 which they can use to reinvest in their entrepreneurial projects or to save for college. The first, second and third place winners receive prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively.

The 12 finalists are granted prizes of finalists $1,000 each and include the following young women from nine states:

Shayna Turk, Agoura Hills, Calif.

Bridgeja’ Baker, New Orleans, La.

Melissa Monette, Mililani, Hawaii

MaKenzie Holmsborg, Annandale, N.J.

Mary-Brent Brown, Covington, La.

Emily Zauzmer, Dresner, Penn.

Shea Gouldd, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Lauren Schifsky, Stillwater, Minn.

Taylor North, Lake Charles, La.

Grace Li, Manvel, Texas

Quinn Kelley, Delhi, N.Y.

Rachel Osborne-Schwartz, Sarasota, Fla.

For more information about the program, its awards and conferences, please visit www.GirlsGoingPlaces.com. Information is also available on MySpace, Facebook and YouTube; keyword Girls Going Places.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium 2010- 14 June 2010 – 16 June 2010 (YES 2010)

2010-06-13T09:15:52Z

The youth Entrepreneurship Symposium’10 (YES) is an initiative by the nEbO entrepreneurship committee. In its third year running, this symposium aims to introduce youths to entrepreneurship, and to provide a platform for youths to be engaged within the entrepreneurship community in Singapore.

This 3-day event will be sprinkled with motivating talks by prolific entrepreneurs, problem solving sessions by established companies, industry visits and networking opportunities. One highlight of the symposium is a mass entrepreneurship game which will simulate conditions of a real business world. Ultimately, we hope to put across the concept of entrepreneurship to all participants in the most unique and fun way.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium 2010 (YES 2010) is a conceptualized platform for youths to be engaged within the entrepreneurship community in Singapore. i.e. We aim to allow youths to take further action, to shape their dreams into reality. In essence, YES 2010 is going to focus on creating new youth entrepreneurs, and providing these youth with a framework to work with.

Speakers

Eric Feng – Take the Stage

Eric is an executive speech coach who recently wrote a bestseller with local celebrity Irene Ang “The FAQ Book On Public Speaking.” Eric was also featured as one of the 25 top young entrepreneurs of Asia.

Nicholas Chan

Nicholas Chan is a Singaporean serial entrepreneur turned early stage Venture Capitalist in Azione Capital Pte Ltd and Managing Director of Fredrik Marine IT Services Pte Ltd. Having started work at 12 and his first business at the age of 16, his ventures has taken him into the villages of Viet Nam, the factories of Thailand and in the high seas of Europe, experimenting with new technologies, trading exotic products and figuring out new ways in making sure things get done with nearly nothing in hand.

Siraj Iqbal

Siraj has over 15 years of experience in the IT and Telecomunications space having been instrumental in the design and implementation of several large projects such as the Singapore Technologies Mail Services, Singtel Y2K compliance and the launch of the Blackberry services for StarHub.

The 5th Asia LNG Summit 2010 will be held on October 13-14 at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel in China

2010-06-13T09:08:15Z

The Asia LNG Summit is jointly convened by Global Leaders Institute and China Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering Institute, which is the only event supported by the top three oil companies in China — CNOOC, CNPC and Sinopec.

This Summit is a premier conference that gathers the decision makers of LNG buyers, sellers, traders, LNG shipping companies, technology providers and investors to be in one room to discuss about LNG future trends, business opportunities and technical issues that are critical to the development of the LNG market in the Asia Pacific region.

In the Asia region, the old LNG consumption pattern which is led by Japan and Korea is changing obviously due to the rapid development of the LNG market in China and India, etc. Asian buyers show much concern towards how to secure the LNG supply for their own country. In 2009, global gas consumption declined for the first time in the past decade and the price of gas in the key markets in Europe, South-America and Asia-Pacific sharply dropped. However, the consumption in Asia is still increasing.

For more information please visit the official conference website: http://www.lng-summit.com

Progress in Regulatory Reform in Nigeria means more Business Opportunities

2010-06-13T09:05:38Z

The Doing Business in Nigeria 2010 report shows Nigerian states have been actively reforming to encourage business activity over the past two years. The study shows that eight of 11 states improved in at least one of the areas measured between June 2008 and January 2010. A total of 14 reforms were recorded; eleven focused on property registration and construction permits. Kano is the top reformer, with reforms in three out of four indicators. The top three performers are: Jigawa, Gombe and Borno.

Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director said:”In Nigeria, secure property titles exist for less than 5 percent of the land area, keeping 90 percent of businesses in the informal sector without access to credit”. He believes that if it’s easier to get property titles the job creation will get a boost.

“Efficient, accessible, and simple regulations could unleash the natural entrepreneurship of small and midsize firms in Nigeria even further,” said Janamitra Devan, World Bank Group Vice President and Head of Network, Financial & Private Sector Development.

For more information, please visit www.doingbusiness.org/nigeria and www.doingbusiness.org.

Mining companies make a significant economic contribution to the world economy, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers study

2010-06-13T08:57:55Z

The taxes and other contributions to government that mining companies pay are an important element in the creation of prosperity and stability of the countries in which they operate. However, the full extent of this contribution is not always recognised. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ second Total Tax Contribution (TTC) study of the global mining industry aims to bring greater transparency to the full economic contribution that these companies make by providing data on all taxes and other payments made to government.

The results show that mining companies make a large economic contribution to public finances in relation to the size of their operations. On average, the companies participating in the study paid an amount equivalent to 15.3% of their turnover to government, comprising 10.8% in amounts borne and 4.5% in amounts collected. These companies pay many other taxes and contributions in addition to corporate income tax which, on average, represents only 40% of all the taxes and contributions they bear. For every $1 of corporate income tax paid, these companies pay another $1.50 in other taxes and contributions borne, plus $0.52 in taxes collected.

Dragon Business Xchange Helps Businesses Find China Opportunities

2010-06-10T20:06:48Z

New online tool provides direct way for businesses to find China opportunities with leads ranging from interactive smartboard technology to banking contacts to frozen fish.

(PRWEB) June 10, 2010 — Dragon Business Network’s newly launched Business Xchange provides a direct, effective way for Western businesses to find new opportunities in China, with leads ranging from interactive smartboard technology to banking contacts to frozen fish. In the Xchange, business people can search for, or post, leads and opportunities related to their business interests.

“North American and European businesses have their eyes set on China for future growth, but making the right connections can be a road block,” said Dragon CEO Ed Choong. “We created our Business Xchange to help facilitate business with China for our members and anyone involved in China business or trade.”

Dragon Business Network (http://www.dragonbn.com) is a networking site specifically designed for people and companies doing business with China. Business people in China and around the world use the site to make new contacts, find business opportunities and share tips and knowledge related to China business.

The site, which soft-launched in April this year, is fast-becoming a key central resource for anyone with China business interests.

“We want to increase our members visibility in the China business community and we want them to be successful. The Business Xchange is the latest of a series of new tools we will be launching to fulfill that mission.”

Dragon Business Network also features a blog (http://blog.dragonbn.com) with news and articles by China experts, an up-to-date listing of all business networking events happening in China, and comprehensive networking tools and resources.

Membership is free while the site is in beta test.

Verizon Launches Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Program in New York State

2010-06-10T05:54:12Z

Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation, in conjunction with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV), today announced the launch of the Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant Program, which will provide grants to domestic violence survivors to help them successfully develop small businesses.

Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation are donating a total of $45,000 to fund the grant program. One-time grants will range from $500 to $2,500 per applicant and can be used to make a down payment on a work space, purchase a computer or other office equipment, purchase initial product inventory, as collateral to support the receipt of a small business loan, pay for child care or transportation necessary to complete entrepreneurship classes, or other start-up costs.

Knowing of Verizon’s strong support of domestic violence survivors through its HopeLine initiative and other grant-making activities, OPDV Executive Director Amy Barasch approached the company with the idea for the scholarships, and Verizon put the idea into action. The grant program is based on the premise that domestic violence survivors, through their past experience and the coping and problem-solving skills they developed to escape the cycle of violence, are uniquely prepared to step into an entrepreneurial role.

The program was announced today during a joint press conference at Equinox Community Services of Albany, which has been providing domestic violence services since 1984.

“For many domestic violence survivors, escaping an abusive spouse or partner is only half the battle,” said Russ Preite, president of Verizon Wireless’ Upstate New York Region. “Moving forward and creating an independent, self-sufficient life is a critical next step. It’s our hope that the Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Program will help some of these women put their hard-won skills to work to successfully bring a small business to life and regain their independence.”

Added Executive Director Barasch: “We are so pleased that Verizon was interested in developing their historic support of domestic violence survivors in this new direction. In tough fiscal times such as these, creating small businesses can actually be a smart economic decision, and for domestic violence survivors, a safe one as well. We hope that this new resource will encourage entrepreneurship programs across the state to establish working relationships with their local domestic violence providers, giving them access to promising new students who will be able to reach safe self-sufficiency while growing the state’s economy. ”

Applicants will be required to submit a business plan, and be enrolled in, or have completed an entrepreneurship assistance program, many of which are offered across the state through local chambers of commerce or schools and universities. New York State’s Empire State Development funds a network of entrepreneurship assistance programs across New York.

The partnership between entrepreneurship programs and domestic violence programs makes a great deal of sense: in 2007-08, 60 percent of the state-supported entrepreneurship program graduates were female, and the programs overall resulted in significant increased sales, employee retention, and new jobs. In addition, many existing entrepreneurship programs have graduated domestic violence survivors, even though the programs may not know that fact.

“I applaud the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation, for their efforts in launching this important program,” said Dennis M. Mullen, chairman and CEO of Empire State Development. “Governor Paterson and ESD are committed to helping New Yorkers to overcome obstacles and achieve financial stability. New York State’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program has assisted new and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing basic business management skills, refining business concepts, devising early-stage marketing plans and preparation of action plans. We have heard many stories about survivors of domestic violence who have come to our EAP Centers looking to build their business skills and fulfill their small business dreams. The grant program announced today is a chance at another start for those individuals and another step towards supporting the growth and development of small businesses across New York.”

In New York State, 87 percent of all business enterprises have four employees or less, illustrating that entrepreneurs and small business owners play a significant role in the state’s economy and will be a key force in the state’s economic recovery. In addition, the successful development of a small business can bring survivors increased control over their working lives, create important financial and social opportunities for them, and help ensure their long-term safety and stability, according to Executive Director Barasch.

Interested individuals can obtain a grant application through their local domestic violence organization – visit http://nyscadv.org/directory.htm for a complete list of programs in New York State – or by sending an e-mail to hopelinesmallbiz@verizonwireless.com.

Survey says Risk Management a Low Priority for Small Business Owners

2010-06-09T19:26:32Z

Risk management ranks relatively low among the many priorities facing small business owners, is the finding of a new survey conducted by Travelers.

The survey, conducted at America’s Small Business Summit 2010, held May 17-19, 2010 in Washington, D.C., also found that nearly half of small businesses are operating without a Business Continuity Plan. Travelers is a corporate sponsor of the Summit, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Small business ownership, while potentially very rewarding, also carries with it great risks,” said Marc Schmittlein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Travelers Select Accounts. “Owners largely focus their efforts on growing their business and, too often, they overlook risks that could stunt that growth and/or even shut their doors for business permanently. The most successful owners are those that balance their pursuit of growth with a prudent approach to risk management.”

According to the survey, ranked in order from highest to lowest, business owners’ most pressing priorities are:

1. Marketing and sales

2. Managing cash flow

3. Attracting financing

4. Attracting and retaining employees

5. Identifying and managing insurable risks

6. Compliance with federal and state regulations

7. Protecting against litigation and lawsuits

In addition to the relatively low priority placed on risk management, 44 percent of small businesses are operating without a Business Continuity Plan and only 36 percent have ever spoken with an insurance agent about developing one, despite data from the American Red Cross that indicates that as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a disaster.

The survey found that business owners are confident that their businesses are protected against insurable risks that can result in significant financial losses or even cause them to go out of business altogether. In fact, only six percent of business owners are not at all confident that their business is adequately protected; 53 percent are somewhat confident and 41 percent consider themselves extremely confident. This confidence comes despite the fact that 39 percent of business owners are unable to make the time necessary to effectively identify and manage operational risks, given competing priorities.

Schmittlein continued: “While confidence is key to a small business owner’s success, so much of what can derail a business is outside of the business owner’s control. There is no reason for a business owner to bear risks that can be avoided. Developing a Business Continuity Plan is a critical success factor for business owners with a long-term view.”

As one of the largest providers of small business insurance, Travelers has the background and experience necessary to offer small business owners superior products and services. By working with independent insurance agents that represent Travelers, small business owners have access to insurance coverages and risk mitigating services designed to protect against the unique risks and exposures they face, giving them the time to tend to their business and know that it is protected.

Full results of the small business owner survey are available online – Risk Management on Main Street. For more information on developing a Business Continuity Plan, visit Travelers Risk Control Services industry-leading website www.travelers.com/riskcontrol or speak to an independent insurance agent.

Remarkable Progress in Regulatory Reform across Colombia report says

2010-05-31T05:33:44Z

Reform of commercial regulations has become a nationwide phenomenon, finds Doing Business in Colombia 2010. Launched today, the IFC-World Bank report is the second in a series studying the ease of doing business in Colombian cities.

Results show that the 13 cities evaluated in 2008 have since improved in at least one of the areas measured. The eight cities benchmarked for the first time also show good practices. Neiva was the fastest reformer. Thanks to reforms in business start-up and property registration, it jumped from the bottom ranking in 2008 to 11th among the 21 cities. Manizales and Pereira continue to rank high on the ease of doing business by simplifying commercial regulations across the board.

“Colombia’s progress in regulatory reform at the local level is an important step toward expanding business opportunities throughout the country, advancing our shared goal of creating jobs and alleviating poverty. IFC will continue to help local governments implement further reforms,” said Rachel Kyte, IFC Vice President of Business Advisory Services.

Doing business is easiest in Manizales, Ibagué, and Pereira; more difficult in Cali and Cartagena. So there is still room for reform. But the good news is that cities wanting to improve their practices need not look far: the country has good, practical models to draw on.

Some changes are easy to implement. For example, six of the 21 cities still require the certificate of land use to start a business, even though it was abolished by a national decree in 2008. Other changes may be more challenging. While civil courts have reduced their case backlogs, enforcing a contract in Colombia still takes 833 days on average, twice as long as in Peru or Mexico.

Doing Business in Colombia 2010 studies business regulation from the perspective of a small to midsize domestic firm. The report covers 21 cities—Armenia, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Manizales, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Popayán, Riohacha, Santa Marta, Sincelejo, Tunja, Valledupar, and Villavicencio. It benchmarks six regulatory areas—starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders, and enforcing contracts.

The report was produced by the World Bank Group in partnership with Universidad de los Andes and the Private Council on Competitiveness. To ensure sustainability, the methodology is being transferred to a local strategic partner. The project was sponsored by the National Planning Department; the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism; the Colombian Confederation of Chambers of Commerce; the U.S. Agency for International Development; and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

For more information, please visit www.doingbusiness.org/colombia and www.doingbusiness.org.

100 Companies to Watch in 10 Fast-Growing Areas via Entrepreneur.com

2010-05-31T05:32:09Z

Entrepreneurs in every town, city and state are seizing opportunities all around us to create incredibly impactful, relevant and innovative businesses. Nowhere is there a more clear demonstration of this than in Entrepreneur’s June issue profiling 100 Companies to Watch in 10 vibrant areas of opportunity.

The 100 Companies to Watch are making their marks in areas as far-ranging as mobile technology, outsourcing, fitness and pets. Take the category of outsourcing with Ian Ippolito, who launched Rent A Coder, a site that connects businesses with a global freelance market of programmers. With more than $24.7 billion of outsourced contracts just in the fourth quarter of last year, Ippolito’s business is brilliantly positioned to expand its existing 136,837 buyers.

In the area of seniors, even Florence Henderson is exercising her entrepreneurial muscle with FloH Club, her new tech service for—of course—seniors. Other businesses are uniquely answering growing demands and needs in domestic services, home improvement, handcrafted goods, health and fitness, value and green sectors.

“The 100 Companies to Watch is a look at flat-out brilliant businesses with bold concepts that will shape the future,” says Amy Cosper, VP/editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “It’s a powerful story for readers seeking markets with unsurpassed potential for new ventures, inspiration for additional product lines and services, and insight into how other entrepreneurs are establishing themselves within growing sectors.”

To check out the 10 fast-growing categories for business and all 100 companies to watch within them, pick up the June issue of Entrepreneur on newsstands now or visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2010/june/206722.html.

Funding for Open Space and Developing Green Projects across the Greater Philadelphia region

2010-05-31T05:31:05Z

PECO has chosen 20 municipalities across the Greater Philadelphia region to receive $150,000 in grant funding as part of PECO Green Region, the company’s municipal open space grant program.

PECO Green Region provides grants for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and conservation. Since 2004, PECO has provided nearly $800,000 toward qualifying projects.

In partnership with Natural Lands Trust, the region’s largest land conservation organization, PECO will award grants to the following municipalities:

– In Bucks County: New Britain Borough ($7,500) Doylestown Township ($7,500), New Britain Township ($7,500), and Morrisville Borough ($7,500).

– In Chester County: East Bradford Township ($5,000), East Pikeland Township ($5,000), Valley Township ($5,000), Oxford Borough ($5,000), London Grove Township ($5,000), Pennsbury Township ($2,500), and West Pikeland, ($2,500).

– In Delaware County: Thornbury Township ($10,000), Folcroft Borough ($5,000), Haverford Township ($5,000), Springfield Township ($5,000), and Concord Township ($5,000).

– In Montgomery County: Norristown Borough ($5,000), West Pottsgrove Township ($10,000), Conshohocken Borough ($10,000), and Worcester Township ($5,000).

– In Philadelphia: three organizations with open space projects in Center City, Wissahickon, and Chestnut Hill each will receive $10,000. They are Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation, Friends of the Wissahickon, and Chestnut Hill Historical Society.

Grants provided this year will support an array of green projects including the development of recreation trails, the purchase of open space, planting of trees and other vegetation, and park planning.

Municipalities can apply for a Green Region grant of up to $10,000 per project each year. A committee with representatives from PECO, its parent Exelon, county agencies and conservation organizations reviews each application and selects the projects to receive funding.

“We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and greening our operations at PECO,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president and CEO. “We want to work together, with our customers and community partners, to have an even greater environmental impact through grants and educational programs.”

“Open space preservation and access to outdoor recreation are essential to the livability and prosperity of our communities,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Land Trust. “That is why Natural Lands Trust has been so honored to be a partner in PECO’s Green Region program. It is a wonderfully effective way to help our region’s municipalities invest in their own future.”

Doing Business in the East African Community 2010 report

2010-05-30T07:43:51Z

The report entitled Doing Business in the East African Community 2010 was authoured by the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank Group.

The Doing Business in the East African Community 2010 Report, which was prepared as part of the EAC Investment Climate programme supported by the World Bank Group and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, draws data of the annual global Doing Business study and takes a detailed look at business regulations in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Report indicates that in a year of fast-paced reform, the East African economies continued to improve their performances. It notes that the East African economies were at different stages of regulatory reforms and the average ranking for the countries was 116th out of 183 economies overall in the Doing Business 2010 Report. If each East African country were to adopt the region’s best practices for each Doing Business indicator, East Africa would rank 12th.

“A key objective of the EAC is to develop an effective common market. The Report provides a good basis for comparing regulatory performance across the region, and how this contributes to deeper regional integration,” noted Amb. Juma Mwapachu, Secretary General of the EAC.

Amb. Mwapachu said the East African Partner States were in the process of harmonising all the laws pertaining to doing business with the view to getting rid of all the “nuisance” taxes impeding business and investment in the region. The Secretary General noted that the Report underpins the strategic reforms being undertaken by the EAC Partner States in terms of doing business in the region.

The Programme Manager, Doing Business, Financial and Private Sector Development at the World Bank Group and co-author of the Report, Ms Sylvia Solf said “in times overshadowed by the global financial and economic crisis, business regulation can make an important difference for how easy it is to reorganise troubled firms to help them survive, to rebuild when demand rebounds, and to get new businesses started”.

Mr. Uledi Mussa, the Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania said the relevant Sectoral Councils at the EAC will discuss the Report’s findings with the view to addressing the challenges indentifed as impeding trade and investment in the region. The Report will form the basis for engaging thoses mentioned to be impeding doing business in the region.

“This Report shows that within the borders of the East African Community, there is already excellent experience of innovative investment climate reform that has delivered tangible benefits. EAC can improve business regulation significantly just by implementing best practices already developed in the region,” said Tim Lamont, the Regional Economist for the DFID Programme in East Africa.

Also present to witness the Report’s unveiling were Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of the East African Community Affairs of the Partner States of Uganda and Kenya: Mrs Edith Mwanje (Republic of Uganda) and Mr. David Nalo (Republic of Kenya). Mr. David Bridgman of the World Bank Group and Mr. Keli Killu, Vice Chairman of the East African Business Council were also in attendance.

For more information about the Doing Business Report series, visit www.doingbusiness.org

Entrepreneurship & Youth Empowerment conference, Egypt, June 27th 2010

2010-05-30T07:42:49Z

Career Development Foundation (CDF) 2010 “Entrepreneurship & Youth Empowerment” conference under patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed Darwish the Minister of State for Administrative Development , which will be held on Sunday June 27^th 2010 at Fairmont Hotel – Heliopolis - Cairo, the conference will provide a leading opportunities for Entrepreneurs & Youth to discuss firsthand the problem of Entrepreneurs & Youth Career opportunities, and the ways and means to increase the awareness of Entrepreneurship success and ass the opportunists that exist for Entrepreneurs.

See more here.

Survey says Almost a third (31%) of online entrepreneurs today are 50 years or older

2010-05-25T20:16:56Z

Almost a third (31%) of online entrepreneurs today are 50 years or older, revealed a national survey of 25,000 business by the small business website company, CityMax.com. Released to mark National Small Business Week, the study also found that the morning newspaper has become almost irrelevant to small business owners, with 48% going online immediately after waking (compared to just 3% reading print news).

A Snapshot of America’s Entrepreneurs Online

“We’ve seen a recent surge in older entrepreneurs making their own websites,” said Dean Gagnon, Chief Evangelist and President at CityMax.com. “To kick off National Small Business Week, we wanted to share our findings on what today’s online entrepreneur is thinking.”

The survey found California to be the most entrepreneurial state online (12.3% of those polled), followed by Texas (8.4%) and Florida (7.0%). Two thirds of online businesses had no paid employees, and two in five generated a household income upwards of $75,000. Surprisingly, half (51%) of online businesses claimed that they were not negatively affected by the past year’s recession.

Other notable trends included the majority of online entrepreneurs foregoing long work hours, in favor of more efficient websites using tactics such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Social media marketing is also currently at the forefront of small business owners’ minds, yet very few are monitoring their online reputations (28%) or have begun any social media campaigns (19%).

For the full survey and more information, visit: http://www.CityMax.com/SmallBusinessWeek.htm

About CityMax.com
CityMax.com is an easy-to-use online business website builder company that empowers entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and education to achieve their dreams. Since 1999, hundreds of thousands of websites have been built using our technology. With our all-in-one website builder solution, customers can create a complete online store without ever having to learn design or computer programming. In January 2010, CityMax.com awarded the 1st annual Homepreneur of the Year award to Marco Barberini for the top home-based business in North America. CityMax.com is built on an award-winning culture, employing 36 staff and two directors of greetings (DOGs) named Jack and Farley. Visit: http://www.CityMax.com.

About National Small Business Week
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes this special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. In 2010, National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America.

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Small Businesses Feel Economic Conditions are Improving, According to Capital One Small Business Barometer

2010-05-25T20:14:10Z

Capital One Small Business Banking today released the results of its Q1 2010 Small Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of small businesses across the nation gauging their current financial condition and business projections for the next six months. A large majority (nearly 80 percent) of the small business owners surveyed in the first quarter of this year believe that economic conditions are either improving or holding steady. In addition, 39 percent of small business owners report that their company’s financial situation is better than it was last year (an increase of 11 percentage points over fourth quarter results) while 38 percent say that the firm’s finances have been stable over the past 12 months.

“While financial conditions are not back to where they were pre-recession, our survey results show that there is some positive momentum and reveal that small business owners across the nation believe things are beginning to turn around,” said Robert M. Kottler, Executive Vice President of Small Business Banking at Capital One. “The resurgence of small businesses within the U.S. will be a gradual process, but with growing access to capital and steady improvement in financial conditions, it’s clear the industry is trending in the right direction.”

Access to credit and spending plans

While most (70 percent) of the small business owners surveyed said they are able to access the credit or financing they need and more than half (60 percent) plan to maintain their current level of spending on business development and investments, most remain cautious when asked about hiring plans. The majority (62 percent) of those surveyed said they do not have plans to hire new talent over the next six months.

Looking ahead to future growth

While many small business owners nationwide appear to be experiencing gradual improvements financially, they continue to be mindful of their plans for future growth. Just over two-thirds (69 percent) said they are looking to grow their business by increasing turnover, sales, and number of customers and 33 percent would like to expand their premises, add new sites or move into new markets. When looking ahead to potential challenges over the next six months, almost half (48%) of small business owners cite the ability to obtain new customers as one of the biggest challenges they will face, while 30 percent cite the need to maintain existing customers.

Bank financing is still the primary funding source for the growth of most small businesses. Half of the small business owners surveyed intend to finance their growth through commercial banks and lenders. One-third (33%) intend to finance their growth through personal savings, and 9 percent intend to use financing from outside partners.

Survey Methodology

The findings reported in this release are from a telephone survey conducted by the opinion research firm, Braun Research of Princeton NJ. Braun Research interviewed a nationally-representative sample of 1,915 for-profit small businesses in the U.S., weighted to Dunn and Bradstreet counts of all businesses nationwide by employee size and geography. Samples were also taken in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas and the Washington, D.C. area. Small businesses are defined as those with less than $10 million in annual revenue. The interviews were conducted from April 1-13, 2010. All interviews were conducted by telephone at their places of business. One respondent per business was conducted. The margin of error is ± 4.38 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Interviews were monitored at random. Sampling for this study was conducted using a national sample of businesses drawn from InfoUSA. All interviews were conducted using a computer assisted telephone interviewing system. Statistical weights were designed from the United States Department of Commerce to ensure proper inclusion of all SIC codes.

About Capital One Small Business Banking

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., had $117.8 billion in deposits and $200.7 billion in total managed assets outstanding as of March 31, 2010. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “COF” and is included in the S&P 100 index.

Capital One Small Business offers a range of products and services to meet small business needs, including small business credit cards, loans and lines of credit; business checking, money market and savings accounts; and payroll and merchant services. Capital One has a team of bankers committed to deepening our relationships with small business owners and helping them achieve their financial goals.

Capital One Bank is a registered trade name of Capital One, N.A.

Young Entrepreneur Summit, hosted by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)

2010-05-25T20:13:11Z

In four weeks, the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit, hosted by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), will bring together entrepreneurs, academics, government officials and leading youth entrepreneurship organizations from around the world at a two-day Toronto-based Summit designed to promote and encourage global youth entrepreneurship.

The Summit, taking place in Toronto, Canada June 20-22, 2010, will assemble delegations from the G20 nations to identify and examine the issues impeding young entrepreneurs around the world. The discussions will result in the development of a communiqué identifying shared key policy issues and approaches. This information will be presented to the G20 Leaders to help them to maximize the economic potential of young entrepreneurs in their respective economies.

“Young entrepreneurs are an essential element in global economic growth,” says Vivian Prokop, chief executive officer of CYBF. “By working together with other like-minded organizations from around the world, CYBF is contributing to the global discussion surrounding the challenges facing youth entrepreneurship, as well as the policies needed to support innovative young business owners.”

The Summit has been recognized by the Canadian federal government as an official G20 event, and its recommendations will be the focus for a discussion of entrepreneurship at the G20 Business Summit (B20) on June 25 – 26. It will feature prominent government officials and business leaders such as Tom Jenkins, executive chairman and chief strategy officer of Open Text Corporation, who will deliver the keynote address on the evening of June 21.

“Youth entrepreneurship is a vital issue that needs to be discussed by the leaders of the G20 nations,” says Prokop. “The G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit will bring the importance of youth entrepreneurship to the attention of the G20 leaders, and, in turn, to the rest of the world.”

The Summit builds on the success of the inaugural G8 Young Business Leaders Summit held in Stresa, Italy in 2009, where CYBF represented Canada. The intention is to establish the Summit an annual event that will be held in conjunction with the G20 Leaders Summit, moving forward.

About The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)

Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca.

About the CYBF G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit

The CYBF G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit is a unique forum for youth entrepreneurship organizations and young entrepreneurs (ages 18-40) from G20 countries to meet, exchange ideas and to establish international networks and partnerships that will drive sustainable global economic growth. www.cybf-g20.com.