Welcome to another riveting edition of ye olde mailbag. Earlier today, I received an email from a struggling entrepreneur trying to get “over the hump” of initial financing. A great idea, some early positive signs, yet endlessly “stuck” trying to raise some money.

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Today was a very cool day. This morning I spent a couple of hours with the Kettering Executive Network, a group of around 500 C-level/VP-level executives here in the Atlanta area. I got a chance to network with some old friends, meet some kind new faces, and best of all, show off HiddenMarket as a platform for B2B social networking and market intelligence.

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Welcome to the first installment of “Georgia Startup Profiles“, a new series here at The Pothole that will focus on providing snapshot profiles of technology startups and emerging companies in Georgia. First up? A bootstrapping success story like none other … MFG.com!

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I have decided to launch a new section here at The Pothole. I am borrowing the concept from fellow entrepreneur and investor, Alex “Semper Fi” Muse, at Spur, who runs the Texas VC blog. This new section will contain profiles of local technology startup companies.

There will be a small twist on Alex’ theme, though. There will be short interviews with the founders, with a focus on the entrepreneurial aspects of their business. I have modeled these short interviews after the questions asked originally by French talk show host Bernard Pivot, and popularized by James Lipton on Bravo’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio.” Fun!

Additionally, at the end of each profile, I will also include a short blurb on the company, its product or service, and what entrepreneurs can learn by studying them.

Stay tuned! I hope to get the first post out later this week.

Cheers.

What is better? Sweat equity or having “skin in the game?” How much of an investment do you need to be considered as having “skin in the game?” Inquiring minds want to know. I received the following email from a technology entrepreneur building his business:

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As a small boy, my parents used to say “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” Normally, I would agree. However, there eventually comes a time where something needs to be said, for the sake of others. Welcome to the first installment of “Down to the Mat.”

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One of the groups I’m involved with in Atlanta is the Business & Technology Alliance of the Technology Association of Georgia. The current chairman of B&TA is Dr. Doug Griest, a good guy and a good friend. Doug recently did some research around the personality traits of entrepreneurs, and specifically, what makes them successful. With his kind permission, I am able to present his findings to you here at the Pothole.

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