If you’re about to approach a larger company and propose a partnership, stop now, and ask yourself the following questions:

• What are you bringing to the table for the potential partner?
• How can you help them increase their revenue?
• Does your startup have something of value that they need?

Startups can benefit immensely by partnering with bigger companies. Larger companies can give them channel reach and a more powerful engine to drive sales as well as increase clout with prospects. But what does the larger company gain? Why should they partner with you?

THE “PATHWAYS” that disrupted the course of the world’s journey were born out of visions for a different future. They changed the way we think and the way we do. They introduced new technologies, found new cures for man’s ills, made life easier and sadly in many instances, also made its extinction faster.

These inspired visions were fueled by innovation. Today, leaders recognize that without this drive to create something, to improve the way things are done and to enable meaningful transformations, they are at best, taking the path to mediocrity or risk fading into oblivion.

Business leaders have many tasks to accomplish and prioritizing stuff can be hard. Yesterday I wrote about the need to “do fewer things, more often” in which I described that frenzied world we live in and why the shiny objects and distractions stop us from living up to our true potential.

Some days I have so many ideas that I despair of ever seeing anything come of them. You see, to me, all my ideas – like my children – are precious. They just need someone to raise them. Like the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, there are so many, I rarely know what to do.  

That’s what made it so wonderful to be asked to speak at TEDx-Bedminster*. Not only would this be a platform for my ideas, but in the process I would get to hear other timely and beneficial ideas as well.

Back in December 2012, Kunal Bahl of Snapdeal was buying time. The e-commerce start-up that he founded with school friend Rohit Bansal was in the middle of a fund-raising round. He had some offers on the table, including from eBay, the US-based online marketplace.

Image: Nilesh Kothari (left) and Rahul Khanna, managing partners, Trifecta Capital (Photos: Rachit Goswami)

Global innovation consulting firm Innosight flagged the scale of disruption that looms large over corporates back in a 2012 study, projecting that three quarters of the S&P500 will disappear from the list by 2027.

Large companies faced with the imminent threat of disruption posed by technologies such as cloud and mobile are having to reassess their place in the business landscape. Corporates need to figure out how to stay relevant not just in today’s ultra-competitive environment but also well into the future, to avoid having their bottom lines wither away.

Image: http://www.innovationexcellence.com

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a law he called a “potential game changer” for entrepreneurs seeking financing to start or expand a business: Small companies looking for financial backers could advertise their offerings online, and average people — not just wealthy accredited investors — would be allowed to buy stakes in businesses they found promising.

You know how they say there's an Uber for everything? This new platform wants to add to the list.

ArticleBunny, which launched this week, says it stands to have an equally transformative impact as Uber — this time on the way businesses build original and engaging content.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You want to become an early riser.

You know that waking up early is one of the best ways to be more productive. You know that many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs are early risers.

Yet no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to stop hitting snooze.

Millennials are poised to bring significant change to the workforce.

For one thing, millennial employees are more highly educated than any previous generation. And while it can be a shock entering the "real world," employment prospects aren’t looking too shabby, especially for those after a job in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, according to a recent report by CareerCast.

Image: A group of young professionals speak at a conference. IMAGE: FLICKR, WORLD WATER WEEK

There are so many different things that go into running a business – it can be easy to get distracted. So sometimes it can help to get back to basics. Things like remembering how to handle failure and improving productivity can have a bigger impact than which new app you’ve downloaded this week. For some basic tips that can make a major impact on your business, read on for this week’s Small Business Trends community news and information roundup.

CCG Community Partners, LLC in Princeton has been awarded $55 million as part of a program to attract private investment and spur economic activity in low income communities throughout the state, according to U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

The money was part of a total of $170 million through the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC). This federal tax credit helps finance projects by allowing investors to make larger investments than would otherwise be permitted.

Startup Saturday, on the 13th of this month, saw an overwhelming number of over 500 start-ups, listening to start-up pitches, an investor’s panel on how to raise funds, and Sumit Jain, (Co-founder and CEO, Commonfloor)’s take on the growing trends.

Sumit Jain on entrepreneurship

To begin with, Sumit said that entrepreneurship is not only about people leaving their comfortable jobs and work on an idea; it is about what drives you. “From personal experience, I can say that you can do what you want, but it all depends on how badly you want to do it,” said Sumit.  He added that while he had several options, including being part of the family business, he chose to start up.

As I was coming up with ideas for my new wine brand, my mother had suggested I call it “Josh” -- my father’s nickname. Although she was half joking, I loved the idea because the name embodied everything the wine stood for; it was bold and complex, yet approachable, just like dad. Although my father never got to see my dreams come to a reality, his support and advice played an important role in the success of my business today.

Much of my passion and drive stems from the life and business lessons I learned from my father, but there were 5 distinct pillars which have influenced my life.

MakeLoveNotPorn’s Cindy Gallop says fear should not dictate innovation.

Image: http://fortune.com

Every culture and community puts pressure on its members to follow the norms. Even young people who start out wanting to be different are called “freaks,” and most are slowly bent back into the norm by the time they “grow up.” Maybe that’s why so many entrepreneurs struggle with building a disruptive new business, where breaks from the norm are the key to success.

There is no longer any doubt: we are entering a mass extinction that threatens humanity’s existence.

That’s the conclusion of a new study by a group of scientists including Paul Ehrlich, the Bing Professor of Population Studies in biology and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Ehrlich and his co-authors call for fast action to conserve threatened species, populations and habitat, but warn that the window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Image: http://www.kurzweilai.net

Intel’s announcement of its $125 million fund to support women and minority-led startups last week was invigorating news to many who are vying for the few venture dollars that arrive in the pockets of women and minorities.

It’s good timing, and it comes on the heels of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s new regulations under RegA+ which just might be a new avenue for much needed capital for the same group of entrepreneurs.

GUELPH, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bioenterprise Corporation is pleased to announce it will be opening its fourth office, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bioenterprise has established a two-year strategic partnership with Innovacorp for the commercialization of agricultural technologies and innovations.

“Partnering is the foundation of Bioenterprise's expansion strategy and doing so with a leading organization like Innovacorp, results in an exceptionally strong commercialization engine for the region,” explains Dave Smardon, President & CEO of Bioenterprise Corporation. “Expanding our footprint enables us to provide our comprehensive commercialization services to a much wider range of entrepreneurs and gives Bioenterprise critical links to universities, local incubators and strategic partners.”

You'll be shocked at some of the cities that are included in our top 25—and surprised to see which ones did not make the cut. One location that made it onto this year's list? A namesake town in a Coen brothers' movie that gets 50 inches of snow on average per year.