Iowa’s state government funds a local Venture Capital Deal

Sort of a deja vu vis a vis SWIB’s initiatives:

The money for the Acuity Ventures agreement will come from the Grow Iowa Values Fund, the economic development program that’s limping along with about $16 million of $100 million still available.
Lawmakers are expected to consider early next year finding a permanent source for the $503 million premier economic development program.

I generally think the state should just get out of the way and focus on reducing costs and paperwork. In other words, spend time on things that make it easier to create business and hire people in Wisconsin.

…”The Vigor of Antibodies”

How to Change the World: Social Entrepeneurs and the Power of New Ideas, by David Bornstein revolves around Bill Drayton:

James O’Toole, an expert in management and leadership, observes that great thinkers throughout the world agree that “groups resist change with all the vigor of antibodies attacking an intruding virus.” O’Toole examines a number of cases in which a potentially beneficial institutional change was resisted and finds that the resistance occurs when a group perceives that a change in question will challenge its “power, prestige, and satisfaction with who they are, what they believe, and what they cherish.” He asserts: “The major factor in our resistance to change is the desire not to have the will of others forced on us.”

Interesting and useful, via Jon Udell.