In this week's installment of the ReadWriteStart Weekly Wrapup, we analyze some industry predictions on social media and provide entrepreneurs with some stock tips to bring to the negotiating table. We also look into a man in Australia who's looking to turn some heads by launching a Web startup in just seven days on a $500 budget, and we run down the top 10 tools to help small business collaborate online. As usual we check in with our semi-weekly series Never Mind the Valley, which this week chronicles the emerging tech scene in Israel, and shows us how there's more going on in Austin than just South by Southwest.
Top 10 Online Small Business Collaboration Tools
With the growing number of online services, it's becoming more economical for small business to rely on Web-based tools rather than expensive enterprise software. Not too long ago we brought you 5 Web Apps To Keep Your Startup Organized, and now the website Business Pundit has released their top 10 list of online collaboration tools for small businesses.
Why Bloggers and Agencies Justify Social Media
While few of us are bold enough to lay claim to Nostradamus-like powers of prophecy, it's still interesting to read industry predictions. ReadWriteWeb recently posted a list of tech predictions for 2010 and as of a yesterday, senior VP Steve Rubel and the folks at Edelman PR agency uploaded their predictions, entitled Digital Visions: 10 Ideas for the New Decade.
7 Days and $500: One Man's Plan to Bootstrap A Startup In A Week
The next time you find yourself claiming to not have enough time or money to create a startup, just remember the name Sebastien Eckersley-Maslin. While it may not be the easiest name to remember, it could certainly come in handy if you ever want to learn to quickly launch a startup on the cheap.
Stock Options 101: Negotiating Ownership
Before moving to the Valley I thought stock was something you made by simmering meat and vegetables in a pot of boiling water. To this day I'm still no expert in negotiating for equity, but I recognize a great resource when I see one. Fansnap co-founder and investor Andrew Payne recently wrote an article entitled, Startup Equity for Employees. Payne offers a stock cheat sheet and some useful points to consider.
Never Mind the Valley: Here's Israel
Israel isn't just an emerging tech hub, it's a hotbed of activity and has been for many years. Per capita, Israel has the most startup companies and spends more on research and development than any other nation in the world. Israelis lay claim to the invention of Intel's Pentium 4 microprocessor, CheckPoint's firewall, Comverse's voicemail, Amdoc's telephone billing system and a ton of VoIP technology through companies like Audiocodes and Vocaltec. Between valuing innovation and having a great funding scene, Tel Aviv and Herzliya are ripe with startup entrepreneurs. ReadWriteWeb caught up with some influencers to hear their thoughts about the country's tech scene.
Never Mind the Valley: Here's Austin
Settled in the 1830s along the banks of the Colorado River and named for the father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, the city of Austin is known for its thriving music scene and as the home of the University of Texas Longhorns. But in the past few decades, the Texas capital has built up a reputation of a different sort.