Stimulus Package Reaches Venture Capital

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Business plans for venture capital
Business plans for stimulus package

There are lots of skeptics who think that the stimulus funds won't reach small business, that the money is going strictly to BigCo. Well, yes, a lot of it is going to BigCo, but if IBM is any example, small businesses will benefit tremendously too.

IBM loves the stimulus package, CEO Sam Palmisano told President Obama on Wednesday.

What IBM likes most about it is the $11 billion to modernize the nation's power grid with "smart grids" and "smart meters," which just happens to be one of IBM's bigger initiatives these days. It is also a central focus of IBM's Venture Capital Group in San Mateo, according to Drew Clark, the group's Director of Strategy. Working with local companies identified by the venture group, such as San Mateo's eMeter, IBM has already deployed several hundred thousand smart meters in Northern California. It is also working with Redwood City's Silver Springs Networks and others on developing smart grids.

So watch where the money is going. Then step in and see if your business can provide anything -- anything -- to either BigCo or its smaller contractors. Your piece of the pie may be there waiting for you.