Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/6/2014

How to harness spare time for business growth

Capturing small bits of otherwise spare moments in your day. Have you ever thought of that as a growth strategy? Turns out, it can be. In fact, it’s one of the things small business owners seem to be looking for. More at Small Business Trends.

Sales and Marketing Advice for Florida Business
Using speed as a competitive weapon

Once upon a time the big ate the small and won. Now, the fast eat the slow, big or small. Speed matters more than ever. How agile is your business? Assuming that your company doesn’t have the resources of AT&T, Wal-Mart, or General Electric you’ll need to do more with less and do it faster. More from Ron Stein.

To nurture a tech ecosystem, bring on the money

Business Profile
Vyper Ballistic

Mac Verdi loved the Army and hoped to make a career of military service. But after two tours in Iraq, combat injuries to his legs forced him to leave in 2008. Now he's facing a different kind of risk — as an entrepreneur.

It took New York venture capitalist Brad Harrison only two days in South Florida to validate his belief Miami was the right place to open his fund’s first office outside of the Big Apple. Scout Ventures, which invests in early stage companies and has a track record of success, is already beginning to look at local companies. More at the Miami Herald.

Grooveshark weighs in on copyright infringement court ruling, plans appeal

A three-year legal dispute involving Gainesville-based music streaming website Grooveshark resolved Monday when a U.S. District Court in Manhattan issued a summary judgment. The Business Report reached out to Grooveshark for a local perspective on how the company affects the community and how the lawsuit will affect the company. More at the Gainesville Business Report.

Small Business Advice
Using the 'Rotary Four-Way Test' will make your business stronger

The Test is composed of four powerful statements -- Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? -- and these are wonderful guiding principles for businesses and individuals, alike. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

Startup Roundup
Young companies, big ideas

For every hundred startups that fail, there’s a fledgling company that’s creating an original and useful product or tackling a difficult real-world problem. Take a look at 10 emerging companies whose products have the potential to transform industries, help the planet’s less fortunate or become a handy part of our lives.