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I had a great conversation today with Kendall Kunz about using Profits Interest instead of Stock Options plans for startups. Well, the topic was broader then just startups. Tub the idea is that a Profits Interest functions similarly to an option agreement. It can also take advantage of the LLC corporate model vs. C Corp (if you

  David Cohen will be in town with Brad Feld on Friday October 15th. They’re promoting their new book, Do More Faster, with a 15 city book tour. As part of this, there are several events going on we’d like you to know about. 1pm – Pitch More Faster – at TechStars Seattle – Brad and several other VCs

Great Article from Perkins Coie For investments in qualified small business stock made after December 31, 2010, only 50% of the capital gains generally will be excluded from gross income.  However, in most situations, these capital gains will be taxed at an effective rate equal to the 20% expected long-term capital gains rate as a result of

The Founder Institute is a technology startup accelerator and entrepreneur training program currently on pace to launch over 500 companies per year in over 13 cities worldwide. The program identifies high-potential entrepreneurs using predictive social science testing, and then guides them through weekly company-building sessions featuring a network of over 250 CEO Mentors. All program

I’ll be facilitating the Winter Semester of the Founder Institute in Seattle. More info to follow http://www.founderinstitute.com/apply/27

Still working out the fine print I’m sure… but here’s an excerpt from TaxProfBlog that represents an opportunity for Angel Investors… Zero Taxes on Capital Gains from Key Small Business Investments: Under the Recovery Act, 75 percent of capital gains on key small business investments this year were excluded from taxes. The Small Business Jobs

TechCrunch announced yesterday that Amazon is planning on launching an app store for Android devices… a direct competitor for Google. http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/27/amazon-android-app-store/ Blackberry announced the “pre-release” of it’s Playbook tablet. It will be built on their new QNX platform, not Blackberry 6.0. No pricing yet and it won’t be out until Q2 2011…  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-27/rim-unveils-tablet-computer-as-blackberry-manufacturer-chases-apple-s-ipad.html

Great John Cook interview with Boston VC, Jeff Bussgang… http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/09/boston_vc_jeff_bussgang_on_blogging_super_angels_and_more.html On the ’emotional IQ’ of the entrepreneur: “One of the frameworks we talk about now in our partnership is the emotional IQ of the entrepreneur…. Self-honesty and knowledge and thoughtfulness. You always think about the IQ of the entrepreneur and you always think about the

Interesting ranking by Henry Blodget (and team at Business Insider) on they top 100 private tech companies. Facebook, Zynga, at the top of the list LinkedIn rounds out number 10. http://www.businessinsider.com/digital-100

Chris O’Brien wrote a great artcile today on SiliconValley.com on http://www.siliconvalley.com/opinion/ci_16085562?nclick_check=1 “I am constantly impressed by the crazy amount of energy entrepreneurs spend hatching innovative services, so I have never understood why they seem to spend so little time figuring out their business models.” The article covers three models, Deal, Virtual Goods and Apps