SmallBusinessExecutiveInforming, Inspiring and Connecting Businesses

Seasoned entrepreneurs forecast disruptive technology will fuel new startups

By Ann Meyer

For SmallBusinessExecutive

Expect to see rapid change in Chicago’s business community in the coming year, as technology disrupts old industries.

“Think about what the Internet has done in the last 10 years,” said Matt McCall, partner at New World Ventures. It has created companies, while putting others out of business. “I also call it the venture capital employment act.”

Most of the entrepreneurs who …

How to avoid hurting your social media image

By Marsha Friedman
Guest columnist

– I remember when the Internet first gained prominence and it became apparent that having a website was essential for any commercial enterprise.

Back then, web designers were not plentiful and few people thought to hire a professional to create a site. They felt that any web presence was better than none, and they found people they knew who were “into the whole Internet thing” to help them.

As …

10 years after 9/11, security still top of mind

By Ann Meyer

– Chicago photographer Jimmy Fishbein hasn’t forgotten the terrorist attacks that struck New York 10 years ago, where his photography studio was located at the time.

Fishbein lost just about everything, including his portfolio, when his studio next to the World Trade Center got caught in the disaster …

Bankers bearish on U.S. IPO market: BDO

While early projections for IPOs in 2012 aren’t promising, Lee Graul of BDO USA points out that investor confidence can change quickly.

By Ann Meyer
 

The bull IPO market that many were predicting a year ago might take a bit longer to materialize.

While Groupon made headlines when it raised about $800 million in a November …