Startup

Amid the release of new data* on American small businesses revealing that that, in November 2015, the economic outlook among U.S. small business owners—down nearly 2 points year-over-year—has finally stabilized after a 6-month decline, there’s cause for entrepreneurs to be optimistic for the year ahead.

Whether or not that outlook begins to uptick not only depends upon how agile, adaptable, creative and resourceful entrepreneurs can be in planning for, or reacting to, market conditions, revenue and brand-building opportunities and other key concerns, but also how well they maintain a forward-thinking mindset.

The cloud computing marketplace is an evolving landscape filled with corporate giants, plucky startups, and creative innovators intent on launching the next big cloud breakthrough. In this constantly shifting environment, many cloud competitors are diligently working on ways to get an edge over their rivals. Part of this strategy, at least on the part of the larger cloud companies, involves acquiring cloud startups that feature unique services and products. This helps the larger companies diversify their offerings, increase their share of the market, and incorporate new ideas with the goal of moving their business forward.

The year is still young, but it is already a busy one for software startup, Altocloud. The Mountain View, California company just announced $2 million seed funding and the commercial availability of its predictive communications platform for customer sales and engagement. The funding, led by Delta Partners, Digicel Group and ACT Venture Capital, brings Altocloud’s total funding to $3 million. Altocloud's new platform intelligently identifies the optimal online visitors and delivers tailored chat, voice, video and content so customers get the information and help they need at exactly the right moment.  

Google has already rolled out its fiber-optic technology for residents in specific areas of Kansas City – on both sides of the state line. High-speed Internet and TV services have come to many of the city’s “fiberhoods” – a neighborhood which has pre-registered for Google’s network in order to get its service.

The fiber has been installed in twelve areas of Kansas City, Kansas and in two areas of Kansas City, Missouri. The installation is in progress in many more areas of the Kansas City metropolitan.

"We can now send people through their own personal industrial revolution in 90 days. So if you're a bright guy, a bright gal, you got an idea you can turn it into reality. Just like you could do it in code 15 years ago, now you can do it in hardware."

- Mark Hatch, CEO Techshop, Interview by Robert Scoble in "America's most important startup?",  Video published on Mar 25, 2013 via YouTube

"The most successful people online, starting with Seth Godin, Chris Brogan, or Guy Kawasaki, all have one thing in common. They maintain a very active blog. At the end of the day, this is where your online home base resides.

If you want to succeed online, get a blog (via Tumblr, WordPress, or Typepad) and start crunching out quality content. It's the lifeblood of your online presence."

- Ilya Pozin, 7 Habits of Web-Savvy Entrepreneurs, Inc., July 5, 2012

Not sure if I'm early or late to the party, but I just discovered Mixergy.com. Mixergy is a place where 20ish Andrew Warner wants to help ambitious people who love business as much as he does to learn from a mix of experienced mentors. Somebody on the Internet wanting to help you make money, imagine that.