Getting to the Bag: SBA Puts $20 Million Up for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently launched its 2026 Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, putting up to $20 million in non-dilutive funding to U.S. small businesses. The initiative targets businesses positioned to strengthen critical supply chains and level up domestic production. With only four to six winners expected to make the cut and individual awards potentially reaching $6 million, the stakes—and the opportunity—are high.

Planning for Success(ion)

My wife and I had our first child late last year. As any new parent quickly discovers, having a baby comes with an impressive list of things to worry about. Some are immediate and often. Is he eating enough and when did he last eat? Why won’t he sleep? Why is he crying? Does he like me? Is having the TV on really that bad for him? 

Others are considerably less immediate, but much more uncomfortable. What happens to him if something happens to me?

The California Non-Compete Myth: What Startup Founders Should Focus on Instead

California's Longstanding Skepticism of Non-Competes

California has long taken a different approach to employee mobility than many other states. As a general rule, agreements that prevent employees from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business after leaving employment are unenforceable. For startup founders, this often comes as a surprise.

The 4th of July and the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Lessons from the Fireworks Stand

I recently crossed the border from Minnesota into South Dakota and didn’t need a road sign to know it. Every year, small-town sidewalks, empty parking lots, and even highway roadside corners transform into temporary centers of commerce – the fireworks stands. They seem to appear overnight: simple structures selling sparklers, rockets, and Roman candles, but behind them is a surprisingly familiar story to anyone in business.

The Fourth of July is more than a celebration of independence.

What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from the World Cup

Over the past few weeks, I’ve become World Cup obsessed (and, no, it isn’t about ranch dressing like some foreign fans…). As a fan and a former player, everything about this World Cup is interesting, and the splash of certain teams and fans have made it hard to stop engaging. I’ve watched the matches and social media posts. But, what is particularly interesting, is that some of the most talked-about teams are not necessarily the teams that will likely be lifting up the trophy in the championship game. Fans are drawn to teams (and their fans) that play (and root) with heart,

You May Want to Keep Some Secrets From the Robots

Let’s talk about Large Language Models (LLMs)—you know, those remarkably helpful AI tools that can draft your emails, refine your pitch deck, (maybe even help you write a blog post…) and, in certain cases, have the unintended consequence of undermining your patent strategy.  A true multitasker.

If you’re working on a new invention or idea, you’ve probably considered pasting your idea into an AI tool to “see what it thinks.” Maybe you wanted help sharpening the concept, drafting a description, or stress-testing your thinking. If nothing else, your friendly AI bot is bound to tell you what a great idea you’ve got so that you’ll like it even more!

Shark Tank Deals That Fell Apart: The Importance of Due Diligence After the Handshake

Longtime entreVIEW readers will know that my colleague and fellow author, Dan Tenenbaum, has been an avid fan of “Shark Tank” since at least 2014 when he wrote this post. Fans of the show have seen it dozens (or even hundreds) of times: the entrepreneur and the shark shake hands and agree to a deal on national television. Deal done, right…not even close. 

Reportedly, roughly 40-50% of Shark Tank deals made on camera never actually close. A 2016 Forbes analysis found that 73% of deals from the show’s first seven seasons either fell apart or were renegotiated after filming—only 27% closed on the original terms.