For middle America, the 25 states that sit between the Rockies and the East Coast, easy access to venture capital has long been a dream just out of reach. Traditionally, venture capital funds have largely ignored this section of the country in favor of startups on the coasts. 

No more. According to a new report, “State of the Mighty Middle Report,” from Crunchbase and Dundee Venture Capital, over the past decade investments grew to $20 billion in 2019 from $5.8 billion, a 13% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR). Even with the COVID-19 economic lockdown in full swing, first quarter 2020 investment was $2.5 billion. As would be expected, this is down from the fourth-quarter of 2019 where investors poured $4.7B in early- and late-stage companies in

Someone once told me that a year’s subscription to the The Wall Street Journal was a little bit like earning an MBA part-time. That may be so and I tried it and found it painfully dry.

Replace dry with quick-witted and funny, replace the MBA with human nature, venture capital, and computer science, and you have the recipe for HBO’s Silicon Valley. The show also adds a few fart jokes and a lot more vulgarity. Once you get past that, the touching story of a hero’s journey reminds me very much of my own three years at a Silicon Valley startup.

During the coronavirus pandemic

Length: 8:31 |
Apr 16, 2020

Why cell phones can hold the key to tracking future cases of COVID-19 with artificial intelligence.

Choosing a vendor to provide IT services for your company can be a challenging task. You may want to consider an older, established, legacy vendor that’s proved itself over the long haul. Or you may opt for a startup vendor that can offer newer and more innovative ideas and approaches. 

Selecting a startup vendor can carry some risks but choosing one that’s survived and thrived to generate hefty revenue offers certain benefits, according to Synergy Research Group.

SEE: Launching and building a startup: A founder’s guide

As the old saying implies, most of us can’t help but occasionally wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side. I’ve spoken with countless colleagues in the consulting world that have entertained–and often moved forward with–dreams of trying their hands in an industry role; just as I’ve had similar chats with industry colleagues and clients that have considered making a move into consulting. Both are noble pursuits, and both are not without their flaws and unique benefits. If you’re a technology leader that’s thinking about a move to the “dark side” and trying consulting, here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider this type of move.

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