Disney: When You Wish Upon a Startup

by Ronald Grover | BusinessWeek

Its media-oriented VC fund, Steamboat Ventures, is quietly nurturing entrepreneurs

How to be a good manager: Be generous

Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk

"There are a lot of rules for first-time managers. For example, never hold a meeting without an agenda, because if you don’t know what you’re going to do there, then no one else will know what you’re doing, either. But the rule about agendas is a great example, because, like most rules for good management, it is about being kind."

Pretend you're a venture capitalist, with VenCorps

By Rafe Needleman | Webware : Cool Web apps for everyone

"If you think you have what it takes to be a venture capitalist, you will definitely want to check out VenCorps when it launches in about three months. It lets you try your hand at picking start-ups to invest in."

VenCorps' Sean Wise.

(Credit: Rafe Needleman / CNET)

Top 10 Mistakes Businesspeople Make When Forming Partnerships

from SF_Gate.com

"Partnerships can provide a means by which partners can pool their best skills and resources to create a sound business. Mistakes can be made, however, in both general and limited partnerships, and these mistakes can impair the progress and potential growth of the business. Here are 10 of the most common mistakes"

The Weird Economics of Information

By Brad Burnham | Union Square Ventures

"Simply put the entrepreneurs who are aggressively open in describing their plans seem to do better than the ones who are cagey. There is absolutely no data underneath this observation. It is just my sense after meeting hundreds of entrepreneurs over 15 years as a VC. If it is true, it could be for lots of reasons."

Union Square Ventures is an early stage venture capital fund located in New York City.

Seedcamp

Seedcamp is where Europe's top young founders can come together in one place.

From securing funding to developing the right network, young entrepreneurs in Europe face challenges in building globally competitive technology businesses. Through the provision of seed capital and a world class network of mentors, we want to provide a catalyst for Europe's next generation of entrepreneurs.

Seedcamp 2008 is set for Sept. 15-18 2008 in Central London at UCL's new Engineering building.

See the calendar for more information about upcoming events.

Excellent video after the jump

Why Start-up Lawyers Frustrate Me

Mendelson's Musings | Tales from a VC and recovering Lawyer

"The start of a series of posts called “Why Xs Frustrate Me.” Today, X = Venture Lawyers. In future posts, X will equal academics, entrepreneurs, accountants, venture capitalists, drummers, the patent ecosystem and other targets of my affection."

Jason Mendelson is "a co-founder and Managing Director of Foundry Group, a Boulder based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage information technology companies."

In a city that plays it safe, incubator has a tough job

By Scott Kirsner | The Boston Globe

"Azuki Systems Inc. and Tsumobi Inc. are two start-ups with big plans to extend your cellphone's capabilities. But the differences between the two companies, based in Acton and Cambridge, respectively, highlight a serious glitch in the way Boston's innovation economy works."

In the Y Combinator: Innovation Economy video Paul Graham talks about Y Combinator, a program he founded in 2005 to cultivate start-ups; the Y Combinator motto is "Make something people want." Graham also talks about the challenges Massachusetts faces in staying competitive with Silicon Valley.

Take the Illusions of Entrepreneurship Quiz

The Illusions of Entrepreneurship:

The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By

Do you understand the reality of entrepreneurship or do you believe the myths?
Test your entrepreneurship knowledge with a quiz designed by the author!

Listen to a recent podcast with the author on Total Picture Radio.

The 10 Rules of Cash Flow 101

From Philip Campbell, CPA , for About.com

"Cash flow is the lifeblood of all businesses. Learn the Cash Flow 101 Rules to free yourself from money worries. Use the basic rules of Cash Flow 101 to help you take control of your cash flow so you can create the business you have always dreamed of."