Recently, I received a copy of a colorful white paper by Rod Stevens, called "The New Urban Workplace".  It's looks at why major corporations are moving back to the city, and should be interesting reading for anyone interested in the battle for brainpower and the importance of place.

Click here to download a free PDF copy

Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham today offered an overview of how he has seen the angel and startup world evolve in the last year. Among other trends, he argued that the traditionally structured venture round is becoming irrelevant.

Speaking at AngelConf today, the angel investing event hosted at Y Combinator’s office in Mountain View, Calif., Graham compared the traditional venture model to the classic children’s book Are You My Mother? Startup entrepreneurs raising funding are like baby birds, asking every venture capitalist, “Are you my lead investor?”

Now, however, more venture rounds aren’t being led by a single investor, and they don’t have an official close date or amount, Graham said. There may be an official lead, but that’s in name only, and they don’t dominate the process like they used to. This benefits the startups because the lead investor has less power to screw them over. Even if the investor is well-intentioned, the startup isn’t held back if the lead isn’t moving fast enough to raise money. And rather than distracting itself with intense fundraising, a startup can keep raising money in the background as needed.

1) Dennis Crowley — CEO Foursquare

Foursquare is a location-based social networking website, involving an application for mobile devices and a game intended for registered users. Through mobile websites, text messaging, or device-specific applications, people are able to update their location and connect with friends, while earning rewards for their online activity. The company is “so hot right now” because it is in the process of adding on a new promotion. Barbie, the iconic fashion doll manufactured by Mattel (NYSE: MAT), will be used by Foursquare to advertise location-based scavenger hunts. Text, photo and video clues for the hunts will be provided by Barbie through the use of Twitter. This promotion, officially happening on July 20th, 2010 is an example of how Mattel has been able to expand into the digital and social media world of the 21st century.

How About We, a months-old dating service built around proposing and accepting specific date ideas, has been generating an impressive amount of buzz for such a young company, with major write-ups in mainstream media publications including The New York Times and Time Out.

Normally, we don't pay much attention to online dating startups. There is plenty of money to be made in online dating, but the market is incredibly saturated, with huge, post-IPO incumbents and, as a result, very high user-acquisition costs.

But we think How About We is a company you should actually pay attention to. Here's why:

• Differentiation. As crowded as the dating industry is, there hasn't been much innovation in the nature of the basic product. Companies compete by tweaking their matching algorithms or going after particular market segments (from the extremely popular Jdate to the ridiculous Cupidtino). How About We's focus on activities rather than online profiles is genuinely different, and so far it appears that people take an instant liking to it -- hence the mainstream media coverage.

Remember the first time you rode a rollercoaster? You waited in line with trepidation, smiling nervously to your family, friends or those around you, hoping that no one could sense the butterflies in your stomach. As you got in the car and strapped in for your ride, you wondered how secure the safety belt really was. You were scared and excited about what would come as the car slowly inched up the hill before the first big drop. You wondered if it was really such a good idea getting on this ride, and maybe even said a quick prayer. When the car started downhill and picked up speed, you let out your best Hollywood scream as you sped over bumps and turns and flipped head over heels. You alternated between feelings of delight and feelings of horror and everything in between. You felt more terrified and exhilarated than you ever had before in your life. By the time your car slowed down and stopped at the terminal, your cheeks were flushed by the rush of it all. You barely knew where you had been, but you were happy you did it and wished it weren’t over so quickly. As a business advisor, I know that the emotional rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship can be tough, but just like an actual rollercoaster, there are unexpected twists and turns, thrills and excitement to be gained from entrepreneurship that make it all worth the ride. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already established a business of your own, here are some things to keep in mind on your ride.

When the temperatures are climbing Mount Everest, and the heat becomes intolerable, all what people want is to cool down at a pool with an exotic cocktail in their hand. Even better if it's in a place worthy of their most extravagant dreams.

The real estate blog Zillow selected some of the best oasis-like swimming pools that you can find in luxury homes for sale all over the country. Here is their selection.

On my three year startup journey that lead to Yipit, I had over 30 other completely unrelated ideas.

Each time I got the idea, I would immediately start sweating profusely for three straight hours in a ridiculous state of unbridled excitement and optimism. Sounds great, right? Not really. Those new ideas and the emotional frenzy were a serious distraction.

To be clear, the “ideas” I’m referring to are the ones that have nothing to do with your current startup. Switching your startup’s focus to a related area based on what you’ve learned (i.e. pivoting) is a winning strategy and one that Yipit employed twice.  This post also assumes that you are and have been actively working on an idea.  If you haven’t started yet, experimenting with new ideas is a great way to start.

As a seed-stage investor, First Round Capital typically funds powerpoints.  Not only are the majority of our investments pre-revenue, but most of the time we are investing in pre-launch companies.  While these companies might have an alpha/beta version of their site, it's usually early enough that we can’t base our investment decision off of any market traction.  Instead, we typically make our investment decisions based on three key areas:  the size of the market, the strength of the team, and the product vision.   This is often made even more difficult by the fact that we know that many of the businesses we fund end up with (one or more) pivots -- since their business plan is always wrong. 

Graphic designers have to eat, too, so they often spend their time marching to the orders of corporate clients. Last year, seeing the need for a noncommercial creative outlet, Nick Hallam, a Melbourne-based designer, founded Positive Posters, an annual poster competition aimed at supporting graphic design that simply inspires and encourages people.

This year, the theme for the Positive Posters competition is "A Glass Half Full." The submissions will be narrowed down to 30 finalists before an international panel of judges selects the winner. The winner will get a pack of prizes and the winning poster will be printed, put up all over Melbourne, and shipped abroad as well.

What better way to celebrate summer than by taking a road trip? Nestled between Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Alcatraz Island and dozens of other destinations are these nostalgic, gaudy, run-down and kitschy locations. TIME takes a look (in alphabetical order) at 50 of the greatest.

The House Ways and Means Committee in Congress is considering a bill sponsored by Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland that would provide a 25% credit to investors in some types of technology.

The credit would apply to equity investors who invest in a company that has already qualified for a grant under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The Federal government provides grant funding under the SBIR program to support some high priority technology and biotech research. SBIR grants typically range from $100,000 to $750,000. The credit for investors would also be capped at 50% of the SBIR grant award in a particular company, and would also be limited to a total of $500 million in tax credits per year.

The bill, which was introduced on July 15, 2010 and co-sponsored by three other House members, is called the Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act. SBIR grants are directed toward small businesses, so the impact of this bill would be seen at the small business level.

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech Coast Angels (TCA), the largest angel investment network in the United States, today announced the Angel Capital Entrepreneurial Fund (ACE) 1, a unique fund giving both private and institutional investors the opportunity to access diversified, early-stage, game-changing entrepreneurial company investments that would otherwise be available only to experienced angel investors. According to Dave Berkus, Chairman Emeritus of Tech Coast Angels, "The ACE Fund opens a whole new world of exciting investment potential to investors in California. The Fund is designed from the investing members' point-of-view. It incorporates many features that give members a chance to benefit from the collective wisdom of TCA at a small investment rate and with liquidity provisions and planned earlier returns than are generally offered in comparable funds. Equally important, it allows investors to diversify their portfolios. Plus, it's beneficial to entrepreneurs as it simplifies their process of raising funds."

As a public research university, The University of Iowa has the responsibility to stimulate economic development and extend the benefits of our learning and discoveries to the citizens of our community, region, state, nation and the world. In 2005, in an effort to align research strengths and business opportunities, the University formed the IOWA Centers for Enterprise.

The IOWA Centers for Enterprise offers a comprehensive program that provides assistance to Iowa startups and existing Iowa businesses and communities, helps the state of Iowa develop a creative entrepreneurial workforce and optimizes the flow of intellectual property into opportunities for licensing, commercialization and business development.

Whether you are a member of the University faculty, staff or student body, or part of a start-up or existing business, the IOWA Centers for Enterprise can create connections and open doors to innovation, expertise, and entrepreneurship.

Observers have long pointed to the United States as a shining example of entrepreneurship and innovation. In 2006, the Economist magazine gushed, “No country has mastered innovation and entrepreneurship as effectively as America.”

Perhaps that was once true, but it’s not anymore.

In a speech introducing the President’s new National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said, “America’s innovation engine is not as efficient or as effective as it needs to be, and we are not creating as many jobs as we should.”

Recent data suggests that Secretary Locke is right. A study by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation looked at the progress at innovation that 40 countries made over the past decade. The U.S. came in dead last. That is, whether they were ahead or behind us at innovation in 1999, the 39 other countries examined gained ground on us over the past ten years.

[KAMPALA] Bio-fortified bananas that could reduce blindness, diarrhoea and anaemia are a step closer, according to the preliminary results of a joint research project between Ugandan and Australian scientists.

Genetically modified (GM) bananas containing genes to boost their vitamin A and iron content have been planted in Australia and Uganda over the past two years (2009–2010). The first harvest from Australia shows promising results, according to the researchers from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in Uganda and Australia's Queensland University of Technology.

But it may be another five years of research before the improved banana cultivars — Nakinyik matooke (for cooking) and Sukaali ndizi (sweet banana) — are ready for commercial planting, said the team.

In the run-up to the anticipated Clinton-Mezvinsky vows, we at Business Insider would like to remind you that while the event may be the rumored social event of the season with an iron-fisted security regimen (reportedly causing some tears before another bride's Big Day), it's not the only union out there worth noting this summer.

We've come up with our list of 15 dynamic duos who give Marc and Chelsea a run for their money. They may be political honchos who also happen to own 88% of the US's leading financial data aggregator, couples famed for their sartorial flair (and joint modeling contracts), or trust fund babies who have come into their own professionally. But one thing's for sure - these ladies and gents have withstood the test of time and continue to provoke, to mirror, and occasionally to disappoint our conception of the phrase "Power Couple".

A new professional consortium of business advisors has been created in North Carolina to help entrepreneurs commercialize new products and technology. The RTP Product Development Guild, Inc., was founded by Montie Roland, President of Montie Design, Inc. and Thomas Vass, President of The Private Capital Market, Inc.™

The RTP Product Development Guild (www.rtpproductguild.com) is a private organization of consultants who share a common interest in promoting technological product innovation in the RTP regional economy. The members of the Guild provide entrepreneurs, inventors or small engineering companies independent consulting advice and guidance on commercializing product ideas and technology. The initial consulting advice takes place under a structured format that applies to all projects for approximately 6 months. There is no charge of fee associated with the first 6 months of consulting services. After the free period of advice, members of the Guild agree to perform additional tasks at a reduced fee, under a payment format that includes both fee-for-service, and equity options in-lieu of fees.

"Many of us in the product design community have known that if we could cooperate among ourselves, we could be more effective in increasing the success rate of new product development," said Roland, who is President of the Carolina Chapter of the Product Development Management Association (PDMA). "Our challenge has been to find the right organizational structure to allow us to cooperate in an effective manner. Our new Guild, with its meeting facilities located in Morrisville, N. C., gives us a platform to deliver consulting advice to entrepreneurs and small companies."

In 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested on allegations of sabotage and other charges and sentenced to life in prison, where he spent 27 years before becoming South Africa’s first president elected in a fully democratic election. His story, among modern history’s most profoundly inspirational, is beautifully and poetically captured in Clint Eastwood’s 2009 gem, Invictus. But what Eastwood’s account leaves out are the events that preceded and led to Mandela’s arrest.

In May of 1961, a 42-year-old Mandela gave his first-ever interview to ITN reporter Brian Widlake as part of a longer ITN Roving Report program about Apartheid. At that point, the police are already hunting for Mandela, but Widlake pulls some strings and arranges to meet him in his hideout. When the reporter asks Mandela what Africans want, he promptly responds:

“The Africans require, want the franchise, the basis of One Man One Vote – they want political independence.”

Ron Conway, known as the as one of the most prolific and successful angel investors in Silicon Valley, has done surprisingly little analysis of all the companies in his portfolio.

Conway, who invested in more than 500 companies over the last 12 years, including Ask Jeeves Inc., Google Inc. and PayPal Inc., said he only recently began analyzing all his companies, their outcomes, and the factors that make them successful. Conway talked about his portfolio at a TechCrunch conference at Stanford University Friday.

In the past, Conway has said his portfolio’s performance was split one-third between companies going out of business, selling and returning just enough money to cover the investment, and generating big returns - “2x to Google-x returns.”

What should President Obama do after a new Commerce Department study finds that economic recovery has lost momentum?

The study shows gross domestic product slipping sharply, consumer spending and confidence remaining dim, private sector hiring staying anorexic. Still, government spending is ballooning.

Here’s a novel idea, Mr. President: to help America, learn from Israel in three areas.

Economy
Since 2007, Israel has experienced a mild recession, while America’s has been deep.

Unemployment in Israel is 7%. In the U.S. it’s 9.5%.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister (also Economic Strategy Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has pursued Reagan-like economic policies favoring free markets and supply-side tax cuts.