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137. Planning is What Separates Economic Development from Runaway Growth

A community can prepare for development — rather than just reacting to growth — by training the people who play important roles in planning and directing the community’s economic development. That training can be found in a one-week economic development “boot camp” hosted by Western New Mexico University each year since 1993 in Silver City.

136. Patents Aim to Protect an Innovator’s Ideas

Inventors with ideas and concepts that lead to the invention of marketable new designs, devices and methods of doing something should consider protection with a patent. Inventors and innovators can take some steps to decide if patent protection is warranted.

135. Nineteen Startup Tech Companies to Pitch Ideas to Investors

Technology Ventures Corporation’s Equity Capital Symposium, held annually in May, gives startup companies a chance to present their business plans to investors. Presenters, who apply in December of the preceeding year, spend several months working with TVC experts to refine their plan. Since 1993, one in three presenters have received funding.

134. Open Coffee Club: Where Old School Networking Meets Cyber Socializing

More than 80 Open Coffee Clubs have sprung up around the world, all of which are based on the original London model: to encourage entrepreneurs, developers and investors to organize real-world informal meetings to chat, network and grow. New Mexico has three established Open Coffee Clubs — one each in Albuquerque, Los Alamos and Santa Fe.

133. Certification Can Help Small Businesses Win Lucrative Contracts

The federal government, state governments and local municipalities offer various categories of business certifications to make it easier for small businesses to win government contracts. Business certification offers the small-business owner new marketing opportunities with corporate and government buyers.

132. Retention Marketing Matters Now More Than Ever

Online social networks provide forums that can spread both facts and rumors to many people at cyber speeds. Bad customer service today can cost a business not just one customer but potentially hundreds or thousands more who decide not to try a product or service based on one customer’s negative experience. Learn how to make your customers happy so that you will retain them.

131. Knowing Marketplace Needs Crucial to Writing Business Plan

Research into the needs of the marketplace is essential to crafting a business plan. TVC, which sponsors the annual Equity Capital Symposium to match business ideas to investors, provides tips based on their experience evaluating thousands of business plans.

130. Financial Education Summit Aims to Empower New Mexicans

Each year in April the one-day Lieutenant Governor’s Summit on Financial Education provides sessions on managing debt, avoiding victimization by con artists, resources for starting a business, and other financial issues to assist New Mexicans in becoming better stewards of their money.

129. Lending More Than a Hand: New Mexico’s Alternative Lenders

The New Mexico Small Business Investment Corp. was formed in 2001 to provide capital to the state’s small businesses through several alternative loan funds. Learn how to access these funds.

128. Protective Impulses Should Apply to Original Works, Trade Secrets

Learn the difference between copyrights and trade secrets, why you might need one, and how to obtain it.

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