February 18, 2012 | Minneapolis Star Tribune

State officials said Friday that its tax credit program aimed at spurring investors to fund Minnesota start-ups raised $63.1 million last year for local companies, more than double the amount invested in 2010. Incentives from the Minnesota Angel Tax Credit Program led to funding for 113 budding firms.

February 16, 2012 | Crain's New York

In a world in which companies can flame out in mere weeks or months, the second boom's venture capitalists are just about married to their entrepreneurs. Call it attached at the app. “We're in an entrepreneurial service business,” said Rick Heitzmann. “Our job is not only to deploy capital but to provide a range of services for entrepreneurs. We work incredibly aggressively with them.”

February 17, 2012 | Des Moines Register

Iowa business leaders say high-level Chinese visits this week could lead to more open discussions about trade. A whirlwind of meetings this week between business leaders and Vice President Xi Jinping and Hebei province officials is already creating business for the state. Chinese leaders signed agreements to buy $4.3 billion in U.S. soybeans, and Pioneer Hi-Bred announced that it will build a seed technology hub in Beijing this year.

February 15, 2012 | Huffington Post

Tech innovators and web entrepreneurs are the new rock stars. Their stories from garage start-ups to wired stardom are fueling a sub-culture of entrepreneurial-obsessed students that see start-ups as exciting alternatives to traditional employment.