Small Business Skim: 5 Things That Happened in Tech This Week

Did you catch these five things that happened in technology news this past week? Here’s how they could affect your business:

Coffee Shop or Coworking Space: Where Should You Run Your Small Business?

Coworking spaces are having a serious moment. If you’re ready to scale up (off your couch or out of your local coffee shop), this trend may be the answer for your growing business.

It’s easy to see why coworking appeals to so many small business owners: it takes the hassle out of scaling your business. Everything is provided, from furniture to Internet access — and many spaces even include complimentary coffee, printing, and mail services.

Of course, not all coworking memberships are the same. If you’re considering a shared space for your business, there are a few things to keep in mind

You’re Not Too Old to Be an Entrepreneur

The media is packed with stories of young entrepreneurs who’ve made it big, but that narrative is a bit misleading. According to researchers from MIT and Northwestern University, the average age of an entrepreneur who started a business between 2007-2014 was 42. And the entrepreneurs with the highest-growth businesses were even older — 45 on average.  

If you’ve been dreaming of launching a startup, you’re not over the entrepreneurial hill just yet. Capitalize on these three advantages of older founders to get your business idea off the ground…

How ‘Uber for Tractors’ Became a Thing

“Manuel farm work sucks,” says Jehiel Oliver, founder of Hello Tractor. “Imagine being in 100-degree heat, with a little hand tool with a short handle, digging through hard, stony soil for hours every day for 30 to 40 days straight.”

When Oliver realized that access to the right tools could help poor farmers complete a month’s worth of manual work in a single day, he planted his entrepreneurial seed and Hello Tractor took root.