Cloudy but clear – Software firm Eucalyptus raises $5.5 million
He just sealed a $5.5 million round of venture capital, but last fall, Rich Wolski wasn’t even sure he wanted to start a business. Wolski is a computer scientist who helped create cloud computing software called Eucalyptus. Widely popularized by Amazon, cloud computing means linking many computers over the Internet to handle tough tasks cheaply. Read More →
On the cutting edge of data – Sabrient Systems analyzes stock performance
It’s hard to imagine that anyone could be successful while remaining agnostic toward the stock market — especially now. But 9-year-old Sabrient Systems has built a reputation for itself by doing just that. The Santa Barbara-based equity research firm specializes in quantitative modeling and analysis of stocks, with a successful 2008 that saw its best Read More →
Rise of Kinko
It’s not easy tracking down Paul Orfalea. The man who made Kinko’s synonymous with American-style entrepreneurship has been speaking out about dyslexia, leading seminars at University of California, Santa Barbara, and making a few appearances in the Tri-Counties. But mainly he keeps a low profile and spends a lot of time managing his investments and Read More →
Willing to risk it? Small businesses take leap of faith in uncertain times
Risk has always been a big part of the equation in small business — and it weighs on the minds of entrepreneurs in today’s economic environment. Eric Sanabia of Signature Woodworks in Goleta took a big risk when he started his business three years ago, and now he is contemplating another sizable one. David R. Read More →
The big business blend – Entrepreneurs combine multiple niches into one
Tough times call on entrepreneurs to get inventive and do something a little different to win customers’ dollars. And two tri-county businesses are doing just that. In Santa Barbara, Live Culture plans to serve up a combination of wine, frozen yogurt and live music. SLO County Sitters in San Luis Obispo has connected parents with Read More →
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Online news start-ups in the Tri-Counties are looking for donations from loyal readers as well as community support to keep them operating through the next year. With signs pointing to a weak start to 2009, it could be an important survival strategy for small online publications that are trying to build brand loyalty on shoestring Read More →
Is your IT disaster-proof?
When hundreds of homes burned in Montecito, the flames neared a cluster of financial advisers and other businesses that depend on data for their livelihood. Though none of those firms burned, the fire spurred companies to re-evaluate their IT disaster preparation plans. John Hunt, head of Santa Barbara-based IT firm CompuVision, said he’s spoken Read More →
