Author Archives: Allen
The Sleeper Business Strategy: Personal Health
Why are sleepless nights, late evening fast food dinners at the office, and unused gym memberships the badges of honor for driven entrepreneurs and aspiring business leaders? Believe me, I’m the worst offender. I realize there are only so many hours in a day and only so many hands to do the work, [...]
Posted in Health, Unconventional Ideas 3 Comments
When seeking partnerships, lose your pitch and perfect your question
What’s more important than perfecting your pitch? Perfecting your question.
Forming strategic partnerships, especially early on, can be the catalyst necessary to take a new business from year 1 to year 2. However, pitching a potential business partner can be tricky, especially if they are an industry incumbent and you’re the new guy on [...]
Posted in Business Development, Entrepreneurship Leave a comment
Changing the World is Cheap
I harp on the power of the internet as a tool for philanthropy a lot. It’s hard not too. The increases in communication and financial payment platforms on the web have crushed the barriers that used to block access to third world countries. Now, anyone can set up an online fundraiser to [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise, Travel, Unconventional Ideas 1 Comment
Library For Laos: Updates and Photos
Last week I received an email with photos from the crew at Big Brother Mouse in Luang Prabang, Laos updating me on the reading programs we funded through the Library For Laos campaign.
For those that don’t know, Library For Laos was a blitz fund raiser run by Ryan Graves and myself last spring [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise, Travel Leave a comment
Kiva.org Needs Better Twitter Integration (A Micro Case Study)
It can sometimes be difficult to explain to friends and family the power of Twitter, so I’ve resorted to telling them the following story. Furthermore, this story serves as a micro case study as to why Kiva.org needs better social media integration.
How We Raised $550 for a Lady in Cambodia in 7 Hours Using [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise 1 Comment
What Will Ecommerce Look Like in 10 Years?
Last week Fred Wilsion (@fredwilson) posted on his blog, AVC.com, about the movement of Social Commerce – the shift to an evermore social and interactive form of commerce on the web. He declared Etsy.com as the web’s closest equivalent to a real life open air market place, like that of the San Telmo market [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Revenue Models 3 Comments
Why Consultants Need an Internet Presence
“But, we’re in the relationship management business. We don’t need a strong internet presence.” . . .
I hear it all the time from former colleagues and friends in the consulting business. Guess what folks, this isn’t 2002 anymore. An internet presence isn’t just for e-commerce and tech startups. Today, [...]
Posted in Business Development 2 Comments
A Revival of the Mom & Pop
Walmart may have run your local family owned grocery out of town, but they did not spell the end to Mom & Pop businesses. Another type of small family business is making a notable comeback, and they’re doing it on the web.
Artisan food and craft producers managed to survive the corporate invasion of small [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship 1 Comment
Hacking Consumer Psychology: The Power of the Group (and Groupon.com)
The power of the consumer collective is raging full steam ahead and Groupon.com is cleaning up in its wake!
The Chicago based startup, that offers extreme discounts on local products if enough people opt-in to the deal, just announced a series B round of financing of $30 million. Their success over the last year can [...]
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Revenue Models 7 Comments
Not Only is Failure an Option, It’s Mandatory