What can buy-to-let landlords do if their tenants default?

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There is a compensation scheme available to landlords should tenants stop paying their rent.

Read more here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/8253626/What-can-buy-to-let-landlords-do-if-their-tenants-default.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d2dd589e96309af%2C0

Facebook's death: Greatly exaggerated

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Beware the Ides of March! It seems hard to even fathom that anybody would believe this, but the internet has been buzzing with stories alleging that on 15 March Mark Zuckerberg is going to give it all up and shut down Facebook.

Read more here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/maggieshiels/2011/01/facebooks_death_-_greatly_exag.html

As an entrepreneur, what does the term ‘active participation’ really mean in a practical sense?

Active participation is crucial. Without this, the meeting is useless and both time and money are wasted. I’d class that as a feeble meeting. Avoid feebleness at all costs. Otherwise the memory will be so negative that the potential investor will be reluctant to attend in future. Moreover if obliged to attend, they will be as uncommunicative as previously. Possibly even more so. All in all, negative reinforcement.

So does this mean that a business meeting needs to be entertaining in order to succeed?

Certainly not! Effective participation means that both the entrepreneur and potential investor felt valued. This is demonstrated by their contributions being appreciated by each other. Sounds good on paper, but what about the practical reality?

The most effective, and fortunately uncomplicated, way is through your actions The most important being that the potential investor’s opinions are not met with derision. This is easily achieved by listening patiently. Note patiently, not endlessly!

10 tips to consider before starting up a new business

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Here are some tips from the Bytestart team for anyone who is thinking about setting up a new business.

Read more here
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/24/24_6/starting-up-a-new-business-tips.shtml

Angels, Dragons & Vultures: How to tame your investors... and not lose your company, by Simon Acland

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With a title that sounds like a Dan Brown novel, it's only right that Simon Acland here seeks to burst a few myths. Despite - or maybe because of - his successful career in venture capital, Acland is particularly harsh on the dangers posed to entrepreneurs by that breed of investor (characterised here as the vultures of the title).

Read more here
http://www.director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2010/10_November/books-angels-dragons-vultures_64_03.html