The long standing struggle between Israel and the Arab Middle East is certainly well known. But did you know Israel has produced more NASDAQ-listed publicly traded companies than Europe, Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, and India combined? Moreover, Israel has more engineers and scientists per capita than any other country?

Start Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle is a nonfiction look at the reasons behind these facts and more. It examines Israel’s technological and venture capital industries through the prism of its economic, political, and social culture, as well as through events such as the airlift of Ethiopian Jews in Operation Moses.

Start Up Nation makes for an interesting read, particularly for business owners who draw metaphors from the example of business leaders. In this case, however, the leader is a nation with no natural resources and a short history marked with shorter yet intense periods of war.

According to recently released research from the Pew Center, we're just as optimistic about the web as we were ten years ago during the Internet's first boom cycle.

At the end of 2009, most Americans in this Pew survey have a dismal view of the 2000s. Between the Iraq war, the 9/11 attacks, economic and political distress and the curse of reality television, the decade has been voted the worst in our collective memory. But one of few bright spots in a tense ten-year period was and remains technological innovation, including the Internet, cell phones and email. Social sites, however, still have a way to go in the public eye.

Our mission is to know who our clients are and where they want to be not just today but in the next 12 months and beyond.

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We look for the same in our partners and professional associates. Below you will find useful documents for download and links for small business assistance.

This morning’s roundup of the latest venture capital news and analysis across the Web:

Corporate Acquirers Hitting The Post-Holiday Sales - While tech and social networking IPOs are at the top of bankers’ wish lists for 2010, VentureWire reports the exit climate is also favorable for health-care VCs, as corporate acquirers seek to strike deals while valuations are still favorable. “They’re going to go on a shopping spree,” said Claremont Creek Ventures Managing Director John Steuart. However, the year may also bring about fire sales of companies which limped through 2009.

Venture Dollars May Be Found In Translation - Outside of Israel, venture capital and tech growth has been all but non-existent in the Middle East and much of the Arab world. The Los Angeles Times posits that the September purchase of Maktoob.com by Yahoo has paved the way for other start-ups - search engine Yamli, for instance - to start drawing in investors. However, the region’s start-ups face a host of unique obstacles, including “censorship, corruption and weak infrastructure.”

Income stemming from research hits $7.1 million despite the economic downturn

An economy deep in recession didn’t prevent the University of Oregon from racking up another gain in technology transfer revenue this year.

For the 14th year in a row, the UO saw an uptick in what it earns from licensing inventions and services stemming from faculty research. Income for 2008-09 was $7.1 million, up from $6.8 million the year before.

The increase comes despite a bad economy and reduced state support for universities. Very little state revenue goes to support research, and what there is goes to a limited number of targeted programs.

In 2000, California's unemployment rate was 4.9 percent. Venture capital funding hit $41 billion. Jobs and income were rising after a five-year spurt during which California outpaced the nation in virtually every major economic measure.

In 2009, the state's unemployment rate will average 11.7 percent. The state has lost more than 1 million jobs in the latest recession. Venture capital funding plummeted in the first half of 2009. The state and nation have seen losses in the value of homes and retirement savings. Fear and caution abounds in the land. Both the state and nation will end the decade with fewer jobs than existed 10 years ago.

Brand experience is rapidly becoming the new frontier for innovation.

Such brand experiences authentically embed the product into deep content or services, stretching the footprint of the brand far beyond where it is used. This type of innovation is becoming a mandate for growth across a number of consumer categories, particularly in package goods.

IMAGINE a planetarium-style presentation about the future of technology, followed by a tour of dozens of hands-on exhibits — whether of sandlike microparticles that flow like liquid in a beaker, pictures that appear three-dimensional or concrete that floats.

Is it the latest science museum, or a new Disney attraction? No, it’s the “World of Innovation” showroom, a cornerstone of the 3M Company’s customer innovation center at its headquarters in St. Paul.

The first of the six common myths about venture capitalists is that VC will take over the business, says Pankaj Sahai in ‘Smooth Ride to Venture Capital: How to get VC funding for your business’ (www.visionbooksindia.com).

Running your business is not the VC’s job, Sahai clarifies. “The VC’s business is money management. They are financial managers interested in making a good return on their investment. VCs invest in about 5 to 10 companies per VC fund and are interested in ensuring that the businesses in which they invest, mature over time and provide them with a substantial return.”

On Christmas Eve, millions of children around the world are nestled in their beds while visions of Santa Claus dance in their heads.

But how did the jolly old elf become part of the holiday tradition?

While historians disagree on the particulars, most believe the familiar image of Santa as a fat, jolly gift-giver with a white beard, dressed in a red suit and driving a sleigh full of toys is an invention of 19th-century literary artists, but one which has ancient European roots.

As an entrepreneur, you often need to make do with less, go up against larger competitors, and take big risks. One of the most important tasks for you to complete is figuring out your raison d’être, or “reason to be”.

What I mean by “reason to be”, is you need to figure out why you are doing what you are doing in the first place, what your goals are, and why you are the right person at the right time to get it done.

In the late 1980’s Phil Stanton and 2 of his friends began giving free performances on the streets of New York City. “We had a character idea,” said Stanton of the group’s early days. “We added to each characters experience, and it –grew—it still continues to grow.” And indeed these three blue men did grow– into a wildly successful internationally recognized industry of their own. And did you hear they are even now opening The Blue School?!