Link-O-Rama for 8/5/11

•    In some ways, this video isn’t too far off from the truth on today’s tech start ups – obviously I am generalizing – please don’t send me a bunch of hate mail on how your start up is different. 
•    Looking for a way to manage social media?  Check out the Roost. 
•    Who doesn’t love a good freebie now and again (or in my case, all the time)?  And if you are going to the trouble of using a promo item for your small business, read this first for a few tips.
•    This one doesn’t have a ton of great stuff in it, but I mention it based on the sheer power of all things Harry Potter. 
•    If you are constantly hearing “no” as you look for a lending source for your start up, don’t overlook the credit union industry as a source.  Chad Lyons has a good piece here about CU’s as a viable source for business loans.
•    Not really sure if I am a Mark Cuban fan or not, but he has some good advice for those looking to pitch a VC
•    Iowa’s new economic development arm, IPEP, is taking some pretty big hits to their operating budget.  Over the last several years they have trimmed it from over $30 Million to just $8.55 Million for fiscal 2012.  It will be interesting to see how this meshes with the Governor’s plan to create 200,000 jobs. 
•    Chris Yeh wrote a nice piece for Mashable this week on firm valuations, and why seed stage investments are getting out of whack.  He has some insightful metrics to back things up.
•    Looking for ways to connect with entrepreneurs all over the globe?  Here are a ton of places to connect, share ideas, get info, and maybe find some VC – all online.
•    Start Up Weekends have been around for a little while, but have really gained steam of late and have also broadened their audience beyond the “hacker” community.   Anyone interested in putting one on in the Cedar Valley?

This blog is a repost from MyEntre.Net, read the original post here.