I am super excited to announce that today is a day of lots of new things for my partners & me: A new fund, a new office and a new brand.Let’s start with the fund.

We have previously raised funds in 1996 ($200 million), 2000 ($400 million) and 2008/9 ($200 million).

This month we closed our 4th fund of $200 million. If you’ve been following the press about VC funds you’ll know this is no small feat. Second, we are announcing officially that we are moving our offices from Century City to Santa Monica. We have long wanted to move but wanted to wait for the perfect space.

Startups and entrepreneurs are drowning in the information overload, where the volume of data created is like a new Library of Congress every 15 minutes. That creates a huge gap between data and meaning, and makes quick decisions and action ever more difficult. We all need to take a little more time to think.

On the other end of the spectrum, some people “over-think” things to the point of inaction. Acting without thinking, and thinking without action, are both deadly to a startup. The challenge is to find the right balance, and to make the thinking deep and reflective thinking.

While many people believe that process and structure stifle creativity – the center of gravity for sourcing and inspiring innovation – this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, planning ahead streamlines the process and surfaces any potential bottlenecks ahead of time, resulting in a program that is more apt to produce meaningful outcomes and return on investment for organizations.

So we’ve run out of surface area and going all multi-core has only helped so much. What now? One way to go is up. Skyscraper chips Think of it this way: when humans had taken up too much of the “ground floor” they started making skyscrapers. A similar effect is envisioned for chips and storage – going “3D” – so to speak. The only problem at the moment is that these new chips can only be written on once – making the oft used capability of rewriting your flash storage obsolete.

How do I start and build a website? This is one of the more commonly searched questions by small business owners. Thanks to Google and various government statistics we know that about 50 percent of businesses do not have a website. I find this astounding. When it is such an easy thing to do, why isn’t that number closer to 100 percent? If you have been looking for how to build a free or low-cost website, this post is for you.

Some of the more popular ones I profiled here in 2010: DoodleKit, ezWeb123, Google Sites, Jimdo, Wix, and Weebly, to name just a few. Since that time, I have been studying the topic, partly because I used to build websites for new businesses and also because I review technology tools to help you stay productive and profitable. Earlier this year I finished my first book (which I will email you for free): Website Design You Can Do Yourself: 30+ Free and Affordable Tools To Build and Market Your Own Website. This post is drawn from this new book.

Known for co-founding Netscape and the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Marc Andreessen recently made his thoughts clear on what seems to be a harsh skeptical outlook on international startup ecosystems. Reported by TechCrunch, he highlights the notion that acceleration programmes and the like should stick to geographic regions they know best. Beijing’s attempts to replicate Silicon Valley, he says, won’t work because each region has its own particularities. Pointing at the political environment, he says that although China is heading on par with the US economically, it’s still lacking the required transparency and fundamental laws for protecting workers. This, he notes, and “issues with IP integrity” makes him skeptical in seeing efforts succeed trying to replicate Silicon Valley. Although we might have seen promising Chinese startups being spawned like Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu, the system cannot sustain itself in the long-term.

There is a guy called Daniel Isenberg — I don’t really know him but he is a big deal and writes and talks a fair bit about entrepreneurship. He’s written a book that I feel touches on some interesting points about entrepreneurship. Brad Feld, co-founder of Techstars, likes it so there must be something to it. The book, Worthless, Impossible and Stupid, is broken into four parts and in the next few weeks I will be publishing some insights from each part. The book takes the reader on a fascinating journey around the globe with some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Their successes are explained in conversation with Isenberg, each laced with key lessons for budding entrepreneurs.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting public comments on the establishment of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) related to integrated cybersecurity tools and technologies. Comments should address how the FFRDC would perform its three primary responsibilities: research, development, engineering and technical support; program/project management; and, facilities management. A Request for Proposals (RFP) from organizations to establish and operate the proposed FFRDC will be released later this summer.

NIST also is accepting public comments on the creation of several new Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs). These centers will provide technical and business services to small- and medium-sized U.S. manufactures as they engage in technology transition and commercialization activities. The anticipated M-TACs RFP is scheduled for release in 2014. Public comments for both announcements are due July 22.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Bill Corr announced today that the Department is seeking innovators and entrepreneurs to apply for the HHSentrepreneurs Program.  Launched last year, HHSentrepreneurs connects private sector innovators and entrepreneurs with teams of federal employees working on projects that address some of the biggest challenges in health, health care and human services.

The first individuals hired last October through HHSentrepreneurs are working on critical projects including the Affordable Care Act, health resilience technology, and the nation’s organ transplant system.

“By bringing the best in the public and private sectors together, HHSentrepreneurs is creating an environment in HHS that fosters innovative solutions to new and old challenges,” Deputy Secretary Corr said.

As people progress, things are bound to change. We live in a fast technology-based world, where you don’t have to meet a client to fulfill a contract. Yet, some things are irreplaceable. My father is the quintessential example of an entrepreneur. He worked at a dead-end job, and one day he decided to take his life into his own hands. He is one of those people that never made any business cards and when people asked for his information, he’d tare a piece of paper and write his number down. Nevertheless, he always seemed to gain new clients. Over the years of watching my father conduct business, I have learned seven irreplaceable lessons on running a business.

I hate passwords. I hate it when I’m asked for eight to 12 characters. I hate when I need to use a capital letter, a number and, especially, a symbol. I hate when I have to set stupid security questions. I know we need passwords in our modern, tech-dependent lives — but I still hate them.

I have a confession: I use the same password, in various combinations of capital letters, numbers and a special character, depending on the requirements. And that comes out to about seven variations. I know it’s stupid and everyone tells me not to do it, but give me a break — I have more than 20 other passwords to remember.

It's always exciting to hire someone who's talented and a good culture fit. But in my experience, it's easy to conflate that exciting person person's skill (and, importantly, passion) in planning and strategizing with his or her ability to execute an established mission. Especially from just a resume.

Odesk CEO Gary Swart says that's because most (employable) people fall into two groups: Hill Takers and Hill Finders, or "figure-outers." Both are essential to a growing enterprise, but under different circumstances and in varying quantities. You'll find both kinds of people in almost every job function from finance to creative, marketing to operations and beyond.

Community leaders often ask ICF if we think their community could be a serious contender for our Intelligent Community Awards program. It is a smart question. Unless their community has a reasonable chance of success, they do not want to invest precious time and resources in completing the nomination form.

ICF is now making available a quick self-assessment test to help communities make that important decision. Provide "yes" or "no" answers to just 15 questions, and the self-assessment test will provide you with a score and advice on how to interpret it. Click on the button below to start your self-test.

Startups seeking angel funding shouldn’t be so afraid of the word “no.”

In fact, “no” is usually the next best word — after “yes” — you want to hear. Get to “no” as fast as you can.

It’s not easy. Angel investors and VCs have little incentive to say no. After all, something about the situation may change, and the investor might want another shot at the deal. Why close doors and foreclose that possibility?

Of course, all this means is that founders are victims of the “slow no.”

The concept of ride sharing with strangers has been around for decades. Frédéric Mazzella, founder of Parisian ride sharing startup Blablacar, dreamed up the company while he was a student at Stanford. He likens the concept to the one that drove hitch hiking hippies of the 70′s, but one that now includes a layer of trust, planning, and payments created by the internet. Using Blablacar, drivers that are going on trips averaging around 200 miles are finding it an attractive proposition to pick up passengers to help cover the costs of gas and tolls, and perhaps socialize along the way.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites interested parties to comment on NIST's planning for a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), anticipated in fiscal year 2014 (FY14), subject to the availability of appropriated funding. The anticipated 2014 FFO will competitively fund a select number of new Manufacturing Technology Acceleration Centers (M-TACs). The M-TACs will focus on addressing the technical and business challenges encountered by small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers as they attempt to integrate, adopt, transition, and commercialize both existing and emerging product and process technologies into their operations to help them grow and compete within manufacturing supply chains as innovative, value-adding components of our nation's economy. U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are a critical segment of our economy, comprising over 90% of all manufacturing establishments and approximately 45% of employment.1 U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers are also playing a growing role in technology innovation, including product and process technologies.2 The emphasis of these future M-TACs will be to conduct technology transition and commercialization activities with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to foster their readiness to adopt and/or adapt advanced technologies into their manufacturing processes and products.

I am pleased to transmit this 5-Year Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Strategic Plan in response to the requirements of the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010. Prepared by the Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) of the National Science and Technology Council, it follows up the interim report that CoSTEM provided to you in February 2012 under the title Coordinating Federal STEM-Education Investments: Progress Report.

The health and longevity of our Nation’s, citizenry, economy and environmental resources depend in large part on the acceleration of scientific and technological innovations, such as those that improve health care, inspire new industries, protect the environment, and safeguard us from harm. Maintaining America’s historical preeminence in the STEM fields will require a concerted and inclusive effort to ensure that the STEM workforce is equipped with the skills and training needed to excel in these fields.

Johnson & Johnson has officially set up shop in Kendall Square.

Today is the day that Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) cuts the ribbon on its Boston Innovation Center, the latest step in a broad initiative by the New Brunswick, NJ-based drug giant to help drive biotech innovation in certain life sciences hotspots around the globe—and strike deals to fatten up its pipeline.

Within the past three months, J&J has opened similar innovation centers in London and Menlo Park, CA, and plans to christen a fourth in Shanghai, China, as well.

If the Philadelphia technology and entrepreneurship communities want to continue to flex their standing, the collective group needs to take to City Hall.

In November 2015, residents will elect a new mayor of the City of Philadelphia. With Mayor Nutter midway through his second and final term, the conversation about who will succeed him has already begun.

Though Nutter has some lasting combatants and self-inflicted wounds, he has remained fairly popular and, amid one of the worst economic declines in our country’s history, protected some wage tax rollback gains and rolled out the StartupPHL investment-matching program. So the expectation is that if the excitement in Philadelphia should continue, a mayor who can inspire, attract and motivate the city is paramount to many other issues.

Some of my favorite VC posts are ones that say what the VC posts that say what the VC thinks about how it all works. And – importantly – how it impacts the entrepreneur, his choices, and the dynamics between the entrepreneur and the VC.

Fred Wilson does this regularly. For example, see his post today on Valuation vs. Ownership.

My partner Jason Mendelson does the same. See his recent post The “VC Bargain”. Of course, Jason and I aspired to do the ultimate version of this in our book Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist.