Small Business United Blog

The Unsinkable GenY Entrepreneur

by Carolyn Ockels

Looking for a bright spot in today’s doom-and-gloom world?  Take note of the GenY entrepreneurs around you.  They’re building a future unlike those of generations past.  GenYers, according to Jeff Cornwall, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, make up the most entrepreneurial generation ever.
 
Even in a ...

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Are Worms a Girl’s Best Friend?

by Carolyn Ockels

The answer is yes, for Maria Rodriguez, who is creating social change through her new business start-up, Byoearth.  Rodriguez sees worms as an answer to self-help in the urban slums and better farming practices throughout her native Guatemala. 
 
Worms, according to this Gen Y social entrepreneur, are at the core of a growing ...

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Should Artists Quit their Day Jobs?

by Carolyn Ockels

Etsy is a great example of the artisan movement thriving.  Over 155,000 vendors – Etsians — offer their hand-crafted wares on Etsy.com, with sales of $87.5 million reported for 2008.   In spite of the recession, sales for 2009 are double that of 2008 for the first 5 months of the year.  Clearly, the demand for unique, ...

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Location-Smart Innovation

by Carolyn Ockels

GPS systems are the directional bible for drivers today. Combining the logistics of a road atlas and the listings of a phone book, GPS enables customers to find restaurants, hotels and other services wherever they are just by clicking through on the GPS screen.
More and more, location-smart devices not only help consumers find products ...

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Incubators offer Pay-as-you-go Solutions

by Carolyn Ockels

The age-old tradition of sharing time in the kitchen is quickly becoming a new-style start-up phenomenon. Start-up incubators, not just for hi tech, but for down-home cooking, are on the rise.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles based Chef’s Kitchens is one of about 60 such incubators operating around the country. Individuals ...

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Using Your Know-How in Reverse

by Carolyn Ockels

Habitat for Humanity is not only building houses, it’s now ripping them down. Well, almost.
Driven by consumers’ interest in recycling and building greener through reuse — and an ongoing need to generate funds for its traditional mission to build houses that build communities — Habitat for Humanity took its construction expertise to the ...

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