Three months have now passed since Title III of the JOBS Act legalized true equity crowdfunding where startups can raise up to $1 million in capital online to jumpstart and grow their companies. As an attorney whose practice centers around the JOBS Act and helping companies raise funds through crowdfunding, I am excited to see that Regulation CF’s first report card shows some very encouraging grades for entrepreneurs everywhere.

CLEVELAND, Sept. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland-based venture development organization, JumpStart Inc. has announced the first eight investments from its recently closed NEXT Fund. Collectively, these Ohio companies received $5 million from the $20 million fund through a combination of equity and convertible debt.

"This roster of portfolio companies represents some of the most exciting high-potential startups in Ohio," said JumpStart CEO Ray Leach. "The companies also range across a variety of sectors, from software and healthcare IT to medical device manufacturing and business services."

As kids return to school, debate is heating up once again over how they should spend their time after they leave the classroom for the day.

The no-homework policy of a second-grade teacher in Texas went viral last week, earning praise from parents across the country who lament the heavy workload often assigned to young students. Brandy Young told parents she would not formally assign any homework this year, asking students instead to eat dinner with their families, play outside and go to bed early.

Constance Freedman is the founder and managing partner of Moderne Ventures, an early-stage venture fund and accelerator investing in technology companies in real estate, mortgage, finance, insurance, and home services – all multi-trillion dollar industries that make up well over 20 percent of the US GDP and are ripe for innovation.

The organizers of the newest agricultural accelerator have grand ambitions for the Agricenter.

Learning to stretch outside your comfort zone is critical for learning and growing, advancing in your job and career, and achieving your personal and professional goals. But is it always the case that you need to step outside your comfort zone to be successful? Are there situations when it makes sense to stay right where you are?

Published annually since 2007, the Global Innovation Index (GII) is a leading benchmarking tool for business executives, policy makers and others seeking insight into the state of innovation around the world and innovation trends. Policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders use the GII to evaluate innovation progress.

The Global Innovation Index is developed by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). A.T. Kearney and its innovation-focused in-house startup IMP³rove Academy are knowledge partners for the GII.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today released the new report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining federal and state policies that support the industry.

Let’s face it, cells generally like having company, forming communities with other cell types to make complete tissues. However, quite often, researchers isolate cells from their 3-D environments, creating 2-D models that don’t always replicate complex biology.

But now, an entire industry is emerging to recapitulate various tissues more realistically. 3-D bioprinting has the capacity to layer different cell types, creating more biologically accurate liver, kidney, skin and even tumor tissues. The hope is that more lifelike tissues will produce better scientific results.

Image: http://medcitynews.com

How do companies such as LEGO, Chobani, Beats, Diageo, and Dollar Shave Club significantly outgrow their competition, and what can consumer companies learn from them?

Today, consumer-facing companies find themselves in a challenging predicament. They are investing billions of dollars in marketing and innovation to win the favor of consumers—but to seemingly little effect on market share. In fact, according to McKinsey & Company research, only 7 percent of corporate growth is driven by market-share gains, with the rest being driven by “where to play” choices: M&A and portfolio momentum. In the race to shift their momentum, many companies never quite catch up with the market, which remains a step ahead, while headwinds in their core categories hold them back.

Seed, Series A, B, C or beyond, startups have questions at each stage of their fundraising. With the ever changing landscape of raising money it leaves a wide range of alternative means to acquiring funding. But what are they? At Innovate! and Celebrate 2016, you’ll have a chance to ask some of the most notable names in tech that very question.

In 2015, venture capitalists invested over $58.8 billion in businesses, yet African-Americans only received one percent of venture capital funding. While opportunities to grow small businesses have been scarce in the past, large investors are beginning to dedicate more attention and inclusion to minority commerce that fosters growth and success. This leaves new opportunities for African-Americans to obtain the money they need to reach more customers.

The emotional and physical wear and tear that comes from being consumed by work is hitting a lot of younger employees and entrepreneurs at alarming rates.

Research finds that people are more stressed out than ever, and we are (potentially) losing years of our lives because we do not want to change our bad habits.

Personally, I found myself in this conundrum. Hopeless, wandering around, wanting to change for the better. I then found the inspiration to fix up my "flow" and get my stuff together to be a healthier and more productive individual.

Entrepreneurs are known for their obsession with working hard to reach success. However, just because you’re a hard worker, it doesn’t success will automatically follow. In fact, you might be working too hard — to the point that you’re overworked and burning out.

Many entrepreneurs brag about how much they work, wearing their 80-hour workweeks like badges. However, the reality is that working more than 55 hours a week might be bad for you.

Immigrants have a long history of starting successful businesses in the U.S.; more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Yet despite this, we’ve been hearing a lot of talk about building walls and completely shutting some people out.

Immigrants make up about 13% of the U.S. population—and yet immigrants, or their children, make up a disproportionately large percentage of entrepreneurs in the country.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - A state environmental board will let the public weigh in on rules that would do away with the de facto ban on metallic mineral mining and exploration.

J.D. Irving mining subsidiary Aroostook Resources says that Maine’s mining regulations are so mismatched they’ve effectively shut down an industry that could employ thousands of people. The subsidiary has reported nearly $150,000 in lobbying expenses since 2011.

The Iowa State University College of Business is the first state university to offer an undergraduate major in entrepreneurship.

Final approval of a new undergraduate degree was given by the Iowa Board of Regents on Monday, July 18.  This decision comes just months after the college also received approval to launch a Ph.D. in entrepreneurship. The college also offers a minor in entrepreneurship.

Starting a new job can come with a lot of unknowns, like how long it will take to adjust to a new team, or whether this year you’ll finally understand your benefits package.

Regardless of your title or position, however, you can probably expect that a few things will stay the same: You’ll be encouraged to stay hush-hush about your salary, will probably be up for a raise at your yearly review, and, odds are good, you will not be eligible for overtime.

The just-concluded IBM India Labs Engage 2016’ summit in Bengaluru put the spotlight on the significance of ‘Co-innovation in building a Digital India’, IBM hosted. The two-day annual event included keynote addresses by Rob Thomas, VP, Product Development, IBM Analytics, and Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, EkStep and former Chairman, UIDAI, Vanitha Narayanan, MD, IBM India, and Ravi Gururaj Founder & CEO of QikPod.

Many first-time entrepreneurs don’t have access to capital markets and will need to seek outside funding in the form of venture capital, a source of finance provided by wealthy investors who see a lot of potential in the business idea. 

It’s a scenario akin to that which we see on Dragon’s Den, although without the made-for-TV bickering between investors.

This infographic from All Finance Tax outlines how the venture capital process works, the qualities that a VC-seeking entrepreneur should demonstrate and the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when approaching venture capitalists.