MANSUETO VENTURES PRESS RELEASES
TUESDAY, October 02, 2007Featured in the October 2007 Issue of Inc. Magazine
Cover Story: Pandora's Long Strange Trip, pg. 100.
Internet radio company Pandora introduced a cool concept: custom-deigned Internet radio for the masses. Now, forced to battle with the music industry over steep hikes in royalty rates, CEO Tim Westergren is using his enlisted 8 million customers to fight the war, and seems to be winning. Inc. Senior Writer Stephanie Clifford is available to discuss how Pandora is using its customers to force change in the music industry.
National Boss Day (October 16) Special:
National Boss Day is October 16. The day honors "superiors for being kind and fair throughout the year." To help celebrate, Inc. magazine's Senior Editor Rod Kurtz is available to discuss any of the following topics:
Best and Worst Habits of Bosses
What are the best and worst qualities that distinguish a boss as being bad or great? From remembering their employees hobbies, family names, and quirky traits to making unforced, appreciative references to recent accomplishments, Inc. Senior Editor Rod Kurtz is available to discuss the five habits of highly successful bosses.
What Kind of Boss Do You Have?
From the "Control Freak Boss" to the "Touchy-Feely Boss," Inc. Senior Editor Rod Kurtz is available to offer advice on spotting - and combating - some of the most annoying office personalities.
Tips on Turning A Business Blunder Into An Opportunity
These days, missteps by business leaders can become big news - witness the fate of Boeing's ex-CEO, who resigned after an affair with an employee, and RadioShack's ex CEO, who lied on his résumé. To err is human - but for the boss, confessing mistakes can be excruciating. Handled skillfully, however, admitting a mistake can bolster a leader's stature. Inc. Senior Editor Rod Kurtz is available to provide tips how to save face and increase employee loyalty by taking responsibility for a misstep.
Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Business Advice to Get Netflix Back on Track, pg. 32.
When it launched in 1998, Netflix threatened to make the video store obsolete. Boasting quick turnaround and no late fees, the DVD-rental-by-mail company zoomed to nearly a billion dollars in revenue. Now, however the company finds itself losing market share to a resurgent Blockbuster, which began offering a cheaper DVD-by-mail service last year. In a bid to keep up, Netflix matched Blockbuster's lower pricing this summer, only to see its stock price drop. The October issue of Inc. asked entrepreneurs how they would fight back against Blockbuster. From offering a higher quality service to adding a movie download option, Inc.'s Max Chafkin is available to discuss how the onetime matinee idol can find its way back into the limelight.
Wealth after Death: How to Use Life Insurance as an Estate Planning Tool, pg. 47.
For most people, life insurance isn't a great investment; if your primary goal is to get a good return, you'd almost certainly do better in a low-fee mutual fund. But it can be a valuable part of an estate plan, especially useful in helping your heirs pay estate taxes without liquidating the business they've built. Inc.'s Hannah Clark is available to discuss how to use life insurance as an estate planning tool, touching on topics such as how to pick a policy, whether you need a trust, how much to buy, and how to find the best deal.
The Next Big Thing: An Investor's Guide to The 2007 Inc. 500, pg. 34.
Which companies on Inc. magazine's 2007 list of the top 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. are poised to hit it big? The October issue of Inc. asked two venture capitalists and a private equity investor which companies caught their eye. Among the most promising: Bill Me Later (No. 6 Timonium, MD), M Space Holdings (No. 8 NY, NY), Massage Envy (No. 82 Scottsdale, AZ), Trio Clinical Research (No. 164 Durham, NC), Iconoculture (No. 170 Minneapolis, MN), TMG Health (No. 307 King of Prussia, PA), Midwest Electric (No. 356 Groveport, OH), Enjoy Life Foods (No. 361 Schiller Park, IL), and Vocera (No. 462 Cupertino, CA). Inc.'s Ryan McCarthy is available to discuss the top entrepreneurial companies set to hit it big.
