Finance, Portals

Path-breaking Research on Small Business

A Division of Milagrow Business and Knowledge Solutions

2009 Knowledge Releases 5 Publications

(Focused on MSMEs)

Titles Released

Government-backed initiatives and MSME progress in India – MSME Policy Framework: Good Beeps or Good Deeds

? More than 96% of MSMEs acknowledge or choose to avoid giving direct answer on corruption & bribery

? 70 to 80% MSMEs still not aware of various Govt. initiatives

? 65% MSMEs complain of infrastructure and 56% MSMEs of raw material prices as main issues

Price: Rs. 1,500 | ISBN 978-81-908328-1-6 Continue reading More…

Milagrow – Business & Knowledge Solutions

Networking, Portals, Resources

TiE – The Indus Entrepreneurs

The World’s largest Not-for-Profit Organisation promoting Entrepreneurship

iE-The Indus Entrepreneurs – founded in Silicon Valley in 1992 by successful entrepreneurs and professionals with roots in the Indus region.
TiE is also known as Talent Ideas and Enterprise and is today spread over 53 chapters in 12 countries.
TiE Currently has 11,000 members and 2,500 charter members – includes top Entrepreneurs, VCs, Private Equity, Angels, Law Firms, Tech & Management professionals.
Business Ideas, Business Plans, Marketing, People / Stories

Entrepreneur Toolkit – Ideas Unlimited

Elevator Pitch:

The purpose of an Elevator Pitch is to QUICKLY and BRIEFLY explain the business proposition to the investor and why it is an ‘investment worthy’ business idea. The intent is to evince an interest in the investors and get them to say “tell me more”.

10 things that mentors/investors look for in a startup

10 do’s and don’ts when meeting a mentor/investor and pitching

10 things that make a good business plan

10 reasons why startups fail —

How to start a business in a bad economy?

The Making of an Exceptional Enterprise

Customer Dissatisfaction as a source of Entrepreneurial Opportunity

5 ways to take advantage of the slowdown

Click here for The Power of Ideas – Economic Times

Business Ideas, News, People / Stories

Solutions for Rural Communities and The Geo Tourism Challenge

Solutions for Rural Communities and The Geo Tourism Challenge

Here are announcements of two opportunities to enter global online competitions and to be showcased to a network of like-minded community members, funders, CSOs, thought leaders, universities, governments, and enthusiasts!

Ashoka is a global non-profit network and support system for social entrepreneurs—people who devise innovative solutions to the social
problems that plague society. To further this goal, Ashoka’s Changemakers provides an online, interactive forum that encourages collaboration and
discussion, along with theme-based competitions, to draw out the most effective ideas.

ENTER ONLINE GLOBAL COMPETITION: “The Geotourism Challenge: Power of Place.”
Entry Deadline: May 20, 2009.
Prizes: Three top
winners get $5,000 each.Competition focus: In partnership with National
Geographic Society, Ashoka’s Changemakers is looking for examples of sustainable management of tourism, or geotourism, as it is widely known. NatGeo defines geotourism as ”tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place–its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” We’re looking at people and organizations — including the government, and corporations — that are are initiating responsible innovations that use tourism to help sustain, enhance, or preserve local culture, build heritage, and natural habitats. For more details on the competition, please visit:
http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallengeENTER ONLINE GLOBAL COMPETITION, “Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for Rural Communities”
Entry Deadline: May 13, 2009.

Prizes: a) Three top winners get $5,000 each; b) Early Bird Prize: If you
enter by April 13, 2009, you could win a cell phone and digital camera (equal value of USD $1000); c) Nominator Prize: If you nominate people/organizations who could enter the competition, you stand to win a special prize!

Competition focus: In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ashoka’s Changemakers is looking for innovative solutions that span the entire agricultural value chain – from seeds to sales. Three-quarters of the
world’s poorest people—the 1 billion who live on $1 a day or less—rely on
agriculture to feed themselves and their families, yet many cannot grow enough to sell or even eat. If you’ve come up with strategies, tools and opportunites for small farmers to boost their productivity, increase their incomes, and build better lives for themselves and their families, enter now! For more details on the competition, please visit
http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/agriculture
For more information or media queries, please contact Ms. Kalpana Kaul, Asia Director & Managing Editor, Ashoka’s Changemakers. Tel. No. 033-2417-2587; 6535-8647 (Kolkata, India). Email: changemakers@vsnl.com; kkaul@ashoka.org
Networking

Skoll Foundation

Skoll Foundation

What We Do:
The Skoll Foundation’s mission is to advance systemic change to benefit communities around the world by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurs are proven leaders whose approaches and solutions to social problems are helping to better the lives and circumstances of countless underserved or disadvantaged individuals. Find out more.

Portals, Resources

TED- Ideas Worth Spreading

Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

Our mission: Spreading ideas.

We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you’re an important part of it. Have an idea? We want to hear from you.

Click here to learn more…….