Steve Parks

Here's the next in my continuing occaisional series on what it takes to survive and even thrive in a recession.

It's an article from Wired about how Tom Siebel built his eponymous software company off the back of the early 90's recession.

The tech veteran picked up some inexpensive, underworked software engineers, secured office space in run-down East Palo Alto—at 11 cents a square foot—and bought office equipment at auctions held by the companies failing all around him. His own desk was a folding table. By the time he had his first release ready in 1995, he had spent less than $1 million on overhead and had an offering that none of the other major software companies could challenge. Investors made Siebel's June 1996 IPO—debuting just as the stock market was picking up steam—one of the year's top performers. Tom Siebel soon became one of the richest people in the US. "It was a great way to start a company," he says.

He became a multi-multi-millionaire when he sold it and has had a couple of years of fun. But now he's decided that the time is ripe for another startup. He's rented office space and started recruiting. It'll be fascinating to see what he comes up with.

I heard a presentation today by Karan Bilimoria - the founder of Cobra Beer. He is an extremely intelligent and personable guy, with a very clear and measured presentation style.  read more »

A small, entrepreneurial publishing company is celebrating after one of its titles won Book of the Year in the Costa (formerly Whitbread) Book Awards.

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney is now expected to power its way up the best-seller lists - and power its publisher into profit.  read more »