Timing is Everything

Cloud visions, unified communications, SOA plus master data, predicting the unpredictable, and more software news of the week.

What will be the next big change in the software world? Whatever it is, timing will undoubtedly be a big factor in its success.

It might be the unified communications Microsoft is working on to reshape business communications Chairman Gates himself thinks the next big thing may be cloud computing. But perhaps not; he noted this week that Vista's built-in capacity to control PCs through voice - and Vista itself - has not enjoyed an enthusiastic first year in the marketplace and the Tablet PC remains a niche product. Not a problem, though. The mind-set of Microsoft's founder is that it's OK to be too early but not OK to be too late.

Your Chance to be on Startup City TV

InformationWeek is launching Startup City TV – an open forum where up-and-coming companies have the opportunity to present their solutions to be broadcast on InformationWeek.com. InformationWeek wants your startup company to be a part of it.

Here's your chance to tell InformationWeek's senior technology audience about yourself, what your company offers and why it matters in business. On Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007, video taping sessions will be held at the InformationWeek San Francisco, CA and Manhasset, NY studios. You've got one chance to give your elevator pitch – so be ready!
There are 2 format options: 1) 1 minute elevator pitch, or 2) you can have 2 minutes if you bring a customer with you and we'll wrap-up with: 3 minutes for a Q&A session with one of the InformationWeek editors.

To sign up, contact Ellen Asuncion at easuncion@cmp.com to obtain available taping times in San Francisco, CA or Manhasset, NY, and to complete a submission form.

SANDHILL.COM BLOG POST OF THE WEEK:

Trends in Private Equity Investment in India

Alok Aggarwal Many traditional Venture Capital firms based in the United States and Europe are already investing US$ 10 million or more today in India, and hence, the separation between venture capital and private equity investment in India has become very blurred. This analysis considers the combined investment made by these two groups from 1996-2006.

Risk Capital Foundation seems to be the first VC-PE firm to start operations in India in 1975. During 1976-1995, domestic financial institutions like Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI), and Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI Bank) were some of the few private organizations that provided any Venture Capital or Private Equity capital, and the actual investment made by them was also negligible. During the period 1996-2000, several international and domestic VC and PE firms raised capital internationally and started investing tiny amounts in India. For example, the total investment in India made by these firms was only US $20 million in 1996 and US $80 million in 1997.