Specifically, Zuckerberg noted how people were interested in having more control over how they share their data with the world. The truth is, as he admitted, some people are afraid of the big blue button that lets you login to apps with Facebook. It’s the most common piece of feedback he receives at Facebook, and the reality of the situation is that if you’re using an app you don’t completely trust you’re not going to give it permissions....

“Any good tech company needs to have the technology that solves a simple problem,” said Patzer. Mint.com was built to help people manage their finances. “I wanted to add value to the world, that is what Mint is about,” explained Patzer. He went on to describe the negotiations as a tug of war between investors and Intuit. “Valuation is a bullshit art, at least in Silicon Valley. If you say the wrong thing, there goes 10 million dollars,” he explained....

Jen Lee Koss is a cofounder of BRIKA, an ecommerce site that is focused on building a community and place where people can express themselves, inspire others, and offer a product visitors can’t get anywhere else. BRIKA is “a unique online shopping destination that offers a curated selection of special pieces that are destined to become heirlooms and celebrates the makers behind them,” reads an excerpt on their site....

At Seattle Startup Week powered by Chase for Business, eco-friendly startups are looking for clean energy solutions to help lower the human carbon footprint. We found ten green companies in Seattle that are helping out Mother Earth in a big way. Microenergy Credits Microenergy Credits is a clean energy distribution company that makes it easy for financial institutions to lend for clean energy. The company raised $1.3M in a Series B and have reached 3 million people with clean energy....

If you are planning to hire a dedicated WordPress developer who can create a simple yet professional-looking site for the success of your online business, you need to know what you’re getting. From maintenance fees post-development to proper site testing, here are a few important questions that you should ask a developer prior to making any decision: What files and data do you need to provide the developer? Being a business owner, you should provide sufficient data to the contracted developer to ensure that your project goes smoothly from the very beginning to finish....

The calendars are starting to get packed way too fast. Often dozens of tasks are behind schedule. And then, when a string of sleepless nights comes to collect is debt (in the form a sound mind), losing control starts to kick in. On top of that, the failures occur, and the ups start being followed by many downs. And it’s a make-or-break crossroad. To gather thoughts and insights of people who have survived their first years successfully, we approached some great entrepreneurs and asked them to share their experiences....

Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode. Fortunately, the Startup of the Year program aims to make it easier for founders to connect with resources. In 2006, a passion to help startups grew into Tech Cocktail, a company whose mission was to showcased burgeoning companies in bars around the country....

To better prepare you and your startup for what’s to come in the year ahead, we’ve asked a baker’s dozen business mavens to share what lies inside their crystal balls for 2013. “Crowdfunding Closes for Lack of Money” Sure, you come from large family but does the $350 bucks you raised for your start-up during your Mom’s Thanksgiving dinner really count as crowdfunding? Even that homeless man on Market Street knows he’s not going to get rich looking for handouts from the thousands of strangers that march by his corner daily....

Nay Games got some great coverage this past week on ABC news in the video below.

HR “Hire relatives. With genes like yours, what could go wrong?” – Jens Hinrichsen, VP marketing of Versafe “The more random and nonsensical the job title (i.e. Pet Happiness Ninja Hacker), the better. Unique titles show how creative and hip you are.” – Gabriel Mays, founder of Just Add Content “Inspire employee competition in the form of bi-weekly beer pong tournaments.” – Wes Gard, president of G4 Advisors Legal “Don’t bother with corporate structure, or partnership agreements....

For example, consider yourself very lucky if you have the opportunity to set up shop in 150 N Riverside – one of Chicago’s newest and most innovative commercial real estate developments. This building is also the first development in the city to be awarded WiredScore Pre-Certified Platinum, according to a report produced by the firm. WiredScore assesses building connectivity based on the quality and diversity of high-speed service providers, underlying tech infrastructure, and readiness to improve in the future....

You are worried about whether or not you have prepared for this interview enough. Across from you, your interviewer – pretty, with a nose slightly pinched by her angular glasses – listens as you respond animatedly to some iteration of “what was a problem you faced at your previous employment, and how did you overcome it?” Perhaps you are speaking a trifle too quickly, but you’re enthusiastic, peppering your responses with anecdotes and ideas that make your speech bubble like an exquisite champagne....

Intro Photography Gadgets & Gear Pick Your DSLR A refurbished DSLR body with a “nifty 50” lens is all you need if you’re just figuring out what you like to shoot. The Canon Rebel is a solid choice, as is the Nikon D3100, but they’ll need to be paired with a decent lens. With both, I’d recommend getting a 50mm f1.8 lens. Called the “nifty 50,” these ‘prime’ lenses (meaning they don’t zoom) are affordable, sharp as a tack, and a great way to take the look of your photos to a pro level without breaking the bank....

The Scribe The Scribe is diligent and methodical; her code is clean and organized; she can describe each line’s purpose with perfect clarity; she has read the manual from cover to cover. Scribes have a tendency towards detailed research and won’t implement anything until they are confident they understand the code they are about to write. Imagine a historian in a library of primary sources saying, “I only need 20 more corroborating primary sources to be confident that Arthur was King of the Britons....

But if this sounds like a fun experience to you, then you’re in the right place! Let’s take a closer look at 3 key components you’ll need to have ready-to-go before hitting the VC circuit: A Strong, Comprehensive Business Plan I’ve read a few posts where other founders recommend a simplified, 10-part business plan. While that’s a great starting point, I created our plan around 7 core points, and then expanded in-depth on each point....

But there’s a new one out, and it offers three major takeaways for anyone in the mobile AR business as well as everyone other entrepreneur currently pretending their startup is doing fine. Focus on Retention David Hyman of Blin.gy has penned a look behind the scenes of the rise and fall of his mobile AR platform, and it’s up on Medium. But the story starts with a pivot from his previous startup due to the need to focus intensely on one thing: Retention....

When we focus too much on the pain we feel from failing, it prevents us from attacking the situation in an objective way. Our energy disappears and we keep thinking about what we wanted to happen. But to make the most out of failure, we need to approach these situations with a different train of thought. Below, I’ll share 3 ways to analyze failure using real life examples. I hope you can apply these stories to help you come back ten times stronger whenever you fail....

We asked four entrepreneurs what one thing they do to motivate their employees without raises or promotions. Check out what they had to say and get your employees working harder than ever: Make Them Care This one’s easy – give them ownership of their job. Give them a reason beyond a paycheck why they should care about the work they do. And if they aren’t passionate about their job, talk to them and find out how you can help them be passionate....

With the holiday season in full swing, drones are flying off the shelf in record numbers, it’s important to understand what you’re buying before you commit. Fortunately, these tips will make it as easy as possible to make the right decision. Flight Time The reason you’re buying a drone is because you want it to fly, right? Well, while this feature is rarely considered when purchasing, flight time is one of the most essential features when it comes to your decision....

Internet access is increasing steadily across the world, and in the U.S., more and more adults are turning to mobile technologies to read the news, share opinions, visit government websites, and engage in civic debate. In fact, more than half of Americans — 56 percent — now own a smartphone, and those numbers are only expected to rise exponentially. As Web access and mobile device ownership increases, so too does our access to politicians and engagement in civic issues....