The Expert Edge

Repost from SmartPlanet: 4 solid ways to engage a venture capitalist

This insightful article is recommended by PATCA member Bandit Gangwere, of Topdown Design Associates. Bandit is a systems engineer whose specialty is creating mission-critical embedded systems, and bringing products to market. (Thanks, bandit!)

*****

By Vince Thompson | Sep 15, 2009

"Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes” said Napoleon Hill.

“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all” said Oscar Wilde.

Is your idea big enough to create a fortune? Is your idea dangerous in the way it disrupts the competition? If so…you may be thinking big in the way that Venture Capitalists do. But how do you gain access? What’s the right approach? How do enter the old boy’s club without looking like a uncoordinated 400 pound ballet dancer on “So You Think you Can Dance”?

That’s exactly what we wanted to know from Mark Suster. Mark Suster is a general partner in GRP Partners, a leading venture firm specializing in startup and early stage companies.

Read the entire article here, on SmartPlanet.com.

Tax Strategies for the Self-Employed Professional Consultant

Save the date: PATCA Dinner Meeting on October 8, 2009

Wait! Read on! This is not just another boring presentation on the tax code. The 2008 Economic Stimulus Package promises real benefits for independent consultants, and many still miss tried-and-true methods for managing what is often their single largest business expense.

PATCA's October dinner meeting will feature Kelly Clark, of Bradford and Company, Inc. Clark, a lively and entertaining professional speaker, will offer a content-rich overview of key elements of their nationally acclaimed tax strategies course.

Get more information or to register online.

PATCA Member Spotlight - Mac Marshall

Mac Marshall runs his company, Metatechnic Systems, from a home office in the Santa Cruz mountains where he designs firmware and develops embedded products for microcontroller systems. While many consultants work from home, Mac's situation is unique because his home, located at the end of a four-mile dirt road, has no utilities. Keeping home and office running smoothly while off the grid is one of Mac's hobbies, and thanks to a battery-operated generator, propane and a cell phone signal, Mac manages to keep things humming.

 

With a Ph.D in particle physics, Mac has had a lifelong interest in figuring out how things work, and he enjoys getting to the heart of a problem. Mac's typical clients are small companies and fledgling startups, and he thrives on challenging projects with undefined or open-ended requirements. For example, he is currently developing firmware for a medical device that interacts with an external computer, a project that involves working with multiple engineers and an entrepreneurial project manager.

 

Mac's background has been a valuable asset to PATCA's website committee, which he joined recently as a volunteer. He's the go-to person when there's a technical problem with the site, often troubleshooting and resolving complex problems himself. A member of PATCA for nearly three years, he previously worked for a number of Silicon Valley companies. He joined PATCA on the advice of a friend, and has learned through osmosis by listening to other member consultants describe their own lessons learned. Mac is also a member of the IEEE Consultants Network of Silicon Valley.

Deal Effectively with Important, but Difficult Clients

A client relationship suddenly takes a turn for the worse. The project is stimulating and challenging. The account is important and profitable. But, personal interactions have become difficult or volatile. What's a consultant to do? PATCA's September dinner meeting will feature Rogene Baxter, of Bridgewater Group LLC. Baxter will examine the six elements of the consultant-client model, and help members to develop a "people strategy" for working successfully with others. In this session, Baxter will cover: Working with clients who think or work differently. Understanding why people do what they do. Recognizing and responding to different communication styles. Mastering the art of the turnaround, and safeguarding important relationships. More info and reservations: Register online by 5:00 pm September 7. You can also call or email the PATCA office for reservations: 800-747-2822 or info@patca.org.