VCs poured significantly more money into deals in 2011, according to a recently released MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association, based on data from Thomson Reuters. Venture capitalists invested $28.4 billion in 3,673 deals in 2011, an increase of 22 percent in dollars and a 4 percent rise in deals over the prior year. The amount of venture dollars invested in 2011 represents the third highest annual investment total in the past ten years.

In terms of the fourth quarter, investments in the quarter totaled $6.6 billion in 844 deals, which is actually a 10 percent decrease in terms of dollar amount and an 11 percent decrease in deals from the third quarter of 2011 when $7.3 billion went into 953 deals.

Double-digit increases in investment dollars in 2011 were spread across a number of industries, including the Clean Technology and Internet sectors. Investment dollars also increased across every stage of investment categories, with the exception of a 48 percent decrease in seed stage investments. First-time financings rose in 2011 compared to the prior year, however, fourth quarter investing did show a decline in both first-time dollars and deals when compared to Q3 2011.

Finally, quit following political favorite and start investing for tomorrow. Keep reading this interesting article at Tech Crunch.

A new small business lending program at the University at Albany has created a new generation of entrepreneurs in the Capital Region who have $35,000 for their dreams and a great deal of confidence.

On Wednesday, UAlbany introduced the first class — 11 people — to complete its new Small Enterprise Economic Development, or SEED, program. Participants such as Patricia Greenwood, who runs a vintage shop in Schenectady called Patricia’s Room, said the program, anchored by a $2.5 million revolving loan fund established by SEFCU, has made led to vast improvements.

“It renewed my life,”Greenwoodsaid during a presentation at UAlbany’sSchoolofBusiness. “I didn’t know where I was going when I entered into the program.”

With the help of a loan from SEFCU,Greenwoodhas been able to move into new space on162 Jay St. She lost her previous location inTroywhen the building where she rented space went into foreclosure.

“I’m now in a space that is beautiful,”Greenwoodsaid. “It is the space of my dreams.”

We need more programs like this that combine financing and knowledge to use it properly. Check out this article at Loan Safe.

Chase said its small business loans rose to $17 billion in 2011, up 52 percent from 2010.

Citi said it lent $7.9 billion to small companies last year, an increase of more than 30 percent from the prior year and exceeding its previous commitment of $7 billion. Since the start of the economic downturn in late 2008, many small businesses have been struggling to get loans, lines of credit and other financing.

But a monthly poll of small business sentiment released Jan. 10 by the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade group, said small businesses’ access to credit ranked at the bottom of respondents’ concerns, with only 4 percent of owners reporting financing as their primary business problem.

But, overall lending is down to small businesses last year.  Don’t expect increases this year – to politically charged. Keep on reading this article at Huffington Post.

Business Credit Cards

A small business credit card or corporate credit card can help you keep your company’s expenses on track and obtain the buying power you need to operate your business. Some business credit cards also reward you for all your business purchases in the form of cash back or airline miles.

Compare the business credit card offers below and apply for the card that’s right for you

In need of quick but flexible working capital?  This might be your best and only option in this economy. Check out these business cards at Business Money Today.

If you’re looking to renovate your franchise business and funding is a little tight, it may be necessary to apply for financing in the form of a remodel loan. You’ll find numerous sources for these loans, ranging from the federal government to your local bank, and it’s essential to choose the one that best suits your individual purposes.

SBA loans ideal for franchise renovation
Business owners looking to finance the renovation and remodeling of their existing facilities may want to consider lenders providing loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For this situation, the agency’s 7(a) loan program, which is known for having the widest variety of applications, would likely be the most appropriate.

The uses of 7(a) loans include (but are by no means limited to) financing the expansion or renovation of existing facilities, as well as purchasing the equipment, machinery, materials, land and inventory you will need to finish the job properly. Since the 7(a) is considered the most prominent SBA loan, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a lender in your area who provides this financing.

Franchise need money too – SBAs are great for these. To find out more keep reading at Boefly.

And that’s too bad for the former banking service provider of the Hunts Point fish market vendor because according to AmericanBanker.com, it’s exactly small businesses like these that are driving the recovering commercial/business loan market. In fact, two of the smaller commercial lenders inNew York, Sterling Bancorp and Signature Bank, reported a significant uptick in loans from businesses that jumped ship from a larger bank.

The opportunities of letting clients jump ship have not been lost on the larger banks: Michael Fusco of Chase Manhattan, one of the largest banks in theNew Yorkarea, told American Banker that “we’ve made a concerted effort to grow our state’s economy by drastically increasing our small-business lending.”

Small businesses have learned to get by on less. Keep on reading at Peerform.

Most entrepreneurs are in the dream business—but Max Marty is actually in the business of other people’s dreams.

The 28-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, Marty founded Blueseed LLC, a high-tech startup incubator set to open on an ocean vessel off the coast ofCalifornia. The enterprise is designed to sidestepU.S.immigration restrictions, yet still be close enough to host impromptu meetings withSilicon Valleyexecutives.

“The American Dream has shifted,” Marty told Portfolio.com. “It used to be you follow your dreams, then it switched to climbing the corporate ladder, and now it’s switching again—back to the self-made person.”

Foreigners tend to start more businesses here then Americans. Keep on reading this interesting article at Portfolio.

Raising capital for a startup venture during these difficult economic times has been a major obstacle for many aspiring entrepreneurs. But it’s not impossible.

There are several steps budding business owners can take to get in front of prospective investors and to help make sure they pony over the cash you need, says Asheesh Advani, author and co-founder of CircleLending, a peer-to-peer lending service that was acquired by Virgin Money USAin 2007. He now serves as CEO of asset management services company Covestor. Advani was a speaker at Entrepreneur‘s Growth Conference here on Jan. 11, 2012.

Here are Advani’s best tips for landing the money you’ll need to get your business off the ground:

Its all about planning – can’t plan here – can’t win in business. Keep reading this article at Entrepreneur.

Each year business owners get a little giddy about the upcoming year. And, who can really blame them – each new year seems to bring with it a sense of new opportunities – opportunities that can take each of us one step closer to actually fulfilling our dreams.

However, this year seems to be a little different.

While there is still the normal new year noise in the market about a brighter economic outlook and talk of banks finally opening up their vaults to small businesses – I personally don’t see it happening this year.

There’s just no incentive for banks and other lenders to do anything different this year than they did last year – and last year was really flat when it came to new loans to small businesses.

What will this new year bring for small business lending? To find out keep on reading at Business Money Today.

It’s the first day of 2012 and my 1,000th post on CNET and I’d like to encourage my dear readers to go out and raise their entrepreneurial flags.

Let’s assume you have an idea and the desire to turn it into a commercial endeavor. Much is made of financings and investors but that all pales in relation to the fact that starting a company is hard. Keeping one going is even harder.

This should come as no surprise and yet a lot people still seem to believe the gushing reports of how easy it is to raise money (and eventually run out of money) for your blog-wiki-social game for hamsters, and many don’t quite realize just how difficult it is to get a company off the ground–not just an idea, but something that will eventually make money.

What will you do?  Is your job secure? No better time than now – why? Because you might have no other choice. Keep on reading this article at CNET.