Growth in Social Network Patent Applications (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Patent searches by startups looking at whether they can file new applications can be expensive and time consuming. While hiring a patent attorney is the best way to avoid pitfalls, one can reduce the costs by being smart up front on competitive patent applications.  Reed Technology…

DropShip Commerce, a Salt Lake City-based provider of virtual supply chain management solutions, has raised $4.3 million in VC funding. The company’s founders invested $2.8 million, and were joined by Kickstart Seed Fund, Peterson Ventures and David Cohen. www.dropship.com

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Photo credit: Wikipedia) According to Art Markman, A-Hah moments are a myth.  But it is common to tell stories of great discoveries and link them back to a specific event in the inventor's life.  "Hundreds of years later, we still talk about Galileo dropping balls of different weights off the Leaning Tower…

Recently the SEC published proposed Rule 506(c), which for the first time will allow companies to advertise offerings of securities without filing a registration statement. The key limiting factor is that sales under the amended Rule may be made only to institutions and individuals who meet the accredited investor definition. For many years the “accredited-only”…

Conflict minerals will cause major supply chain headaches–and penalties–if not mediated….. http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/09/14/conflict-minerals-rules-could-reverberate-through-supply-chain/

Here's some good advice for entrepreneurs on avoiding mistakes in seeking angel funding… http://www.forbes.com/sites/babson/2012/08/11/improving-your-chances-for-angel-funding/?utm_source=Sept+2012&utm_campaign=Sept+2012+Newsletter&utm_medium=email

Trimble Navigation has acquired transportation and logistics software maker TMW Systems from Pamlico Capital for $335 million, the companies announced today. Beachwood, Ohio-based TMW Systems develops enterprise-level transportation management software that lets businesses manage operations from a central hub, analyze data, and automated important business processes. TMW’s enterprise software already integrates with Trimble’s software —…

Excellent post by Fred Wilson on leveraging partners in growing your start up http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/07/mba-mondays-leveraging-your-partners-to-grow-and-develop-your-team.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AVc+%28A+VC%29

Failure IS an option, perhaps a requirement for start ups…check out this video http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/05/startupstories.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AVc+%28A+VC%29

Interesting thoughts on how to dominate global supply chains…. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/apples-supplychain-secret-hoard-lasers-11032011.html