Helloo viewers, my name is ankush muley.Jabalpur is my home town (madhya pradesh).This small article is about The growing business of Emu farming.Emu farming was previously done in a few areas of the southern part of our country.Whenthis business was started the businessmen and farmers had a great risk on their financial positions5, and fortunately they got very good results of this new business.Many of the poultry farmers nd other live stock breeders such as piggery fisheries mushroom farmers nd goatries they all slowly started migrating to Emu farming.Now since d last 3 years we A1 Emu farms have brought emu farming to jabalpur madhya pradesh now.We have started aour farm with 40 top line breeding stock of Emu we have supplied Emu Birds to many of the farmers across the state.cities like bhopal indore jabalpur and villages like katni sagar mandla and many more have started emu farming with 10-50 pairs of Emu.

In India, chicken is the most popular of the poultry species Followed by ducks & quails. Of late, with some popularization through Newspaper write ups, television coverage & Exhibitions, about 250-300 Progressive farmers of Maharastra state have started Emu farming with 25 to 200 pairs in Pune, Thane, Nasik, Akola, Ahmed Nagar, Beed, Kolhapur districts and many more are coming up for guidance and Inquiring about the availability of bank loan for establishment of A new farm or expansion of existing farms. At present more than 10,000 pairs of Emu reared by the farmers in the state. For large scale production of meat oil And skin there is a long term potential for breeding and rearing of more than 75000 Emus. To promote such innovative project activity in the state this can accelerate capital Formation in the rural area. NABARD, MRO, Pune has taken a decision to formulate a Model project for rearing of Emu as there is a increasing demand for such unit in coming Years.

Diversification is the key to success in any enterprisE

We need to Diversify to other species of poultry in order to reap more profits. Considering this let us Discuss about Emu,
breed of bird which attains upto 65 Kg.wt. & 5.6 ft. hight on Maturity.Emu belong to Ratite family of birds & is the third biggest bird species after Ostrich & Cassowary. The birds have small wings & are in capable of Flying. Australia is the place of Origin for the birds.

Emu is a social bird with dark whitish complexion. The birds live in groups & Can thrive under varying climatic conditions ranging 0 degree C. to 52 degree C. These Birds are Omnivorous and eat leaves, vegetables, fruits, insects, worms. They can be feed Modified poultry feed.

It is clarified by the Chief Conservator of forest, GOM, Pune that Emu is an exotic bird and it has not been included in any of the schedules of wildlife (protection) Act, 1972. The provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and rules made there under are not applicable for these birds. As such no permission from forest Department is necessary For rearing, farming and selling of these birds.

Present Status

Recognizing the economic importance. Australian Government in 1975 Started domesticating these birds living in Jungles by establishing big farms. This Activity spread to America. France and other European countries in the early eighties. It is reported that there are about 90,000 Emu farms in America and an Emu Association Was established in 1993. The activity has also spread to China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea.

One Emu farm by name Vijaya Ratite Farm (Pvt.) Ltd. Was established by Shri P. Satyanarayana IN Andhra Pradesh in 1996 on small scale. Similarly in Maharastra state Shri.Ganesh Kale& Group introduced 20 pairs of Emu during 2001 &in Baramati Shri. Sandip Taware has established first Emu Farm with 10 pairs in April 2002. He has also established Emu hatchery.

At present There are Four Emu Association in India. One is at Hydra Bad name of INDIAN EMU ASSOCIATION” Mumbai “NATIONAL EMU ASSOCIATION” headed by Shri. Sami Tambatkar. This two association working all India level. And in Maharastra level at Baramati in the name of “Maha Emu Association” headed by Shri. Sandip Taware and another at Pune in the name “Emu Farmer Association”. Headed by Mrs. Chitralekha Mehta. The experience of the farmer has been encouraging.

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS of EMU Bird

The birds reach their full size by the end of 1st year. They grow up to 5.5 to 6 feet With a weight of 40to 70 kgs. Laying period in India starts after 18 to 24 months and Eggs are laid during September to February. Eggs are dark bluish green in colour with a weight of 450 to 700 gms . A bird can lay 20-60 eggs in a season. Incubation period is 50- 52 days and newly hatched bird will be of 6-7″in height. The lift span of the bird is 30-35 years. The productive economic life of the bird is 20.25 years.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE (SCOPE)

It is reported that the price of Rs.18, 000/- a pair of 3 months old Birds and the price of Rs.40, 000/- a pair of 15 months old Birds having live body weight each 40  to 50 kg. and the birds are used for table purpose.

MEAT:

Meat of Emu bird is reddish in colour, soft and with less of cholesterol 98% fat free. Emu meat is lower in fat than Chicken. Turkey, Pork & Beef It is the “Super Food of the New Millennium”. The price commands higher price than that of meat from Other birds/animal and is reported at Rs. 300-450 per Kg. The American Heart Association has included Emu meant in its listing of heart healthy meats.

EMU MEAT: 98% FAT FREE – 100% NATURAL

THE HEALTHY RED MEAT

EMU IS A VERY LEAN (98% FAT FREE) RED MEAT SIMILAR TO BEEF IN BOTH TASTE AND APPEARANCE. EMU ARE HIGHER IN PROTEIN, VITAMIN C AND IRON COMPARED TO BEEF; LOWER IN CHOLESTEROL COMPARED TO CHICKEN. EMU GIVES RED MEAT LOVERS WHAT THEY WANT AND HEALTH CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS WHAT THEY NEED. IN FACT, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES EMU MEAT AS A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO BEEF.

]]>

FEATHERS :

Feathers are soft non allergic / anti static, beautiful double quilled and are used  In hats, dresses, computer and car cleaning brushes and household decorative items. About  400 to 600 Gms of feathers would be available from a bird and each bird would Fetch about Rs. 200/- at present.

SKIN :

The skin is very thin, soft and strong. Price of good quality skin is reported Rs.700/- to Rs.1000/- per Sq ft. and 8-12 sq.ft of skin is available from a well matured bird. The skin is used in the preparations of shoes, bags, belts, purses, jerkins and seat covers for expensive cars. At present raw skin of a matured bird would fetch about Rs. 1000 1200/-.

EGG SHELLS AND NAILS :

The egg shell are used for painting and as decorative items due to deep Blue Colour. Nails are strong and decor able used in artificial ornaments and craft goods.

OIL :About 4-6 a litter of oil is available from a bird which is devoid of any colour taste and odor. At present market prices, the price of one litter refined Emu oil is Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- The oil is penetrating and is having moisturizing. Analgesic, ant allergic and antiseptic properties. The oil is used in analgesic ointments, beauty creams and lotions, soaps, hair oils, shampoos, perfumes and massage oils. The raw fat/crude oil of Emu fetches Rs.1000 per Kg.

A number of studies have been conducted and are currently being

conducted throughout the world on facts of the Emu oil, including its composition, benefits, applications in different industries and the resulting properties of compounds formulated with the oil.

Traditionally Emu oil has been used for treatment of muscle and joint pains.

Clinical experience with Emu oil has shown that it’s two major benefits are its anti- inflammatory properties and its ability to penetrate the skin. It also appears to provide some solar protection. The penetrating effect appears to be related to its non-phosphorous composition. “Our skin is phospho – lipid deficient. In other words, there is no phosphorous in our skin. If you put anything on your skin that has phosphorous in it, your skin is ‘programmed’ to keep it from penetrating. Anytime you put anything on your skin that is phospholipid deficent, or has no phosphorous, it penetrates right through “. Researchers who have analyzed the oil found that there is a compound in oil that they believe is the key to its effectiveness. This compound molecule is believed to be collagen. Collagen is  found in chickens and turkeys in a very diluted form. However, the test result on the Emu show this molecule to be present in an extremely concentrated form.

Research and development of Emu oil using in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals is rapidly expanding. Emu oil has been documented to exhibit the following properties and/or has been used for the following purposes.

Anti – Inflammatory Activity
Moisturising
Cholesterol Reducer
Bacteriostatic
Penetration Enhancer
Signficant epidermal proliferative activity
Non – Comedogenic
Significant wound healing agent
Significantly reduces recent keloid scarring
Appears to promote faster healing of burns with less pain and scarring
Anti – Arthritic Activity
Excellent Emulsifier

EYES :

The bird is able to see up to a distance of 10 meters and its eyes are being used To Replace damages corneas in human beings.

UTILITY :

15 months old Emu broiler weighing 40 Kg. slaughtered for oil, meat and skin etc. The utility is as under:-

Utility

Present market price of produce per unit

43% boneless meat Rs. 300/- to Rs. 450/ Kg.

14% bone meat Rs. 200/ Kg.

5% feather & skin Rs. 200 + Rs. 1000

22% fat Rs. 1000 / Kg (raw oil)

3% leg skin Rs. 500/-

4% neck usable but not saleable at present.

3% blood usable but not saleable at present.

4% waste usable but not saleable at present.

About 96% useable bird

Refined oil  Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- Per Liter.

OUR OBJECTIVES TO HELP ESTABLISH EMU FARMING IN INDIA

To provide financial assistance for establishing of Emu breeding farms.

To provide part time employment or to utilize family labour to earn some livelihood.

To provide employment to educated un employed youths of rural area.

To produce more Emus for meat,oil & skin production in future and alternately to export the produce.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE :
Loan from banks with refinance facility from NABARD is available for establishing Emu farm. For obtaining bank loan, the farmer should apply to the nearest branch of a Commercial or Co- operative or Regional Rural Banks in their area in the prescribed forms which is available in the branches of financing banks. The project report should be attached/ enclosed with loan farm. For Emu farming schemes with very large outlays, detailed reports will have to be prepared. The technical officers attached to or the Branch Manager of the bank can help / give guidance to the farmers in preparing the project report to obtain bank loan. A scheme can also be prepared by the beneficiary after consulting local technical
experts or private commercial Emu hatcheries. Consultancy Services of NABARD would also be available for large commercial projects.
BENEFICIARY :
A good practical training for a week and experience on a Emu farm will be highly desirable before starting a farm. If possible, they should visit the progressive Emu farms/ Hatcheries in the area and discuss the technical ability and profitability of farming.
BACKWARD LINKAGES
CLIMATE :
Emu is a social bird and can thrive under varying climatic conditions ranging 0° F. to 100° F. The climate suitable for poultry farms is also suitable for Emu farming.
AVAILABILITY OF EMU. PAIRS :
In Maharashtra there are private Emu hatcheries supplying the Emu pairs of different age groups i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 15 months old. The detail addresses of hatcheries are as below:-
AVAILABILITY OF FEED :
Poultry feed (layer) can also be fed to Emu. In addition to poultry feed mineral mixture and shell/ stone grit can be given. Sprouted desi Chana and Methi can also be fed during layer season. During summer season chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrot, beetroot, etc. can also be fed.
AVAILABILITY OF VETERINARY AID :
Like poultry chlorinated water should be given to Emu birds like Poultry. Deforming should be done twice in a year at an interval 6 months.
TRAINING &EXPERIENCE :
Training on Emu farming is given on above farms for 3-5 days. During training these farms supply all technical information in the form of books/CDs/booklet/palplet etc.
AVAILABILITY OF SHED,BREEDING PENS AND RUN-OFF AREA :
The detail specification along with cost proposed is given EMU FARM PROJECT broacher Low cost shed and building material locally available can also be used to lower the cost of housing.
AVAILABILITY OF EQUIPMENT :
Water, feeders & egg trays are required. Low cost equipment locally available can also be used.
FORWARD LINKAGE:
SALE OF EGGS :
At present both the hatcheries mentioned above are purchasing eggs @ Rs.1000/-to 1200/- each or on the basis of chick borne @ Rs.1200/- per chick.
SALE OF MANURE AND EMPTY FEED BAGS :
Manure can be applied on own farm or can be locally sold to other farms. Like poultry manure, Emu manure is also good for fruits and vegetable gardens. Empty feed bags are sold in local market @ Rs. 4-5/- each.
LENDING TERMS – GENERAL :
PROJECT COST :
One model of 50 pairs Emu have been formulated. The total project cost including fixed cost and recurring cost up to the income generating stage (21 months) has been worked out to Rs. 24.78 lakh.
MARGIN MONEY AND BANK LOAN :
Minimum 15 % of down payment has been considered to be collected from the beneficiaries and maximum 85 % of total financial outlay is considered as bank loan.
TFO : Rs. 24.78 lakh.
Margin Money : 15 %
Bank Loan : 85 %
WORKING CAPITAL :
If required by the farmer, financing bank may asses the same and sanction accordingly. It may require for commercial ventures only. Here in this case we have already capitalized 21 months recurring expenses and so there may not be a need for further W.C.
INTEREST RATE :
The rate of interest shall be decided / fixed by the concerned financing bank to the ultimate beneficiary. In this case for calculation of cash flow and repayment we have assumed an interest rate @ 12% per annum.
SECURITY :
a) Will be as per RBI guidelines issued from time to time.
b) Insurance: Bank may ensure that the borrower takes insurance of assets created out of
a bank loan including insurance of Emu birds.
REPAYMENT OF LOAN :
The repayment period depend upon the gross surplus generated in the project. The loan will be repaid within 7 years including first year as grace / moratorium/gestation period in  suitable monthly installments (6/year) during October to march only.
CONCLUSION :
Emu farming offers great scope & potential because of its supplementary income additional employment & simplicity in operation .Efficient emu development can be Achieved by promotion of small units in villages through a gamut of functions like Dissemination of information & technology, making various inputs & organizing training Sessions for farmers on this subject.
After going through the forgoing paragraphs and from subsequent annexure it is Concluded that the captioned proposal is found to be technically feasible and financially Viable.
Biosecurity measures to be taken in Emu Farming / breeding as suggested by
Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, Maharastra State
a) The farm should be ideally placed and away from the population and is blosecured
b) The housing should be proper will adequate brooding facilities.
c) There should be a separate workers team, who should not be allowed to get mixed with other workers.
d) There should be separate dress code for the workers.
e) Proper dis-infection procedures / foot dips etc., should be maintained.
f) The quarantine sheds should be separate and away from other sheds.
g) The other birds (parent, commercial or pure line etc.) and pets should not be reared/allowed to enter the same farm.
h) The brooding space should be optimum.
i) There should be provision of showers, change over and dips.
j) Proper records should maintained.
k) There should be scientific facility for disposing off / destroying the bedding / dead Birds etc.
l) The equipment are proper, properly disinfected and separate
m) The farm should have a water sanitation system.
n) Water source should be tested for mineral , bacterial , chemical , contamination and pathogen load.
o) Proper storage of feed to prevent contamination should be made. The water quality should be checked periodically  and  if contamination is seen it should be treated with any sanitizer.
p) Routine disease monitoring procedures like postmortem examination of dead birds and periodic sera antibody assay is recommended.

More Venture Capital Education Australia Articles

The rising Business is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Giraffe Manor-”The beautifully manicured lawns of Giraffe Manor are home to the resident herd of inquisitive and friendly giraffe…”

Giraffe Manor is Nairobi’s most iconic historical building, dating back to the 1930s, and is reminiscent of the early days of Europeans in East Africa. Whilst the building itself resonates with the past, very much present is the herd of eleven resident Rothschild giraffe who tend to visit the Manor in the mornings and evenings to greet guests and sniff out some snacks before venturing out into their sanctuary of 140 acres. From 1974, Giraffe Manor was the home of Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville, whose lifelong ambition became the preservation of this beautiful and threatened species of giraffe.

]]>

Giraffe Manor has 6 luxury rooms, all ensuite, one of which is the Karen Blixen Room; suitable for wheelchair users and families. Children of all ages are welcome at Giraffe Manor.

Accomodates 14 people, with the option of extra beds in rooms.With just six bedrooms, Giraffe Manor is an exclusive boutique hotel catering for the discerning traveler to Nairobi. Attentive, experienced managers cater for every guest’s need, arranging sightseeing vehicles for forays around Nairobi or special excursions to find Jock, the big old male giraffe that is responsible for many Rothschild Giraffe offspring! Giraffe Manor interiors are stylish, yet in keeping with its original design that was so influenced by the fever of the day. An original Art Deco bathroom is a feature of the house that never fails to amaze. To find all this in the suburbs of an African city makes it all the more captivating.

Located in the suburbs of Nairobi in a unique area of preserved wilderness, Giraffe Manor offers an exceptional and unique experience, and an elegant retreat from the excitement of the capital city.

Nairobi is a hub for dynamic and innovative artists, journalists, entrepreneurs and business people, and the city is constantly changing. Whilst many travelers stay just one night in Nairobi, a two night stay will leave the traveler with a true taste of one of Africa’s most vibrant cities.

Giraffe Manor-”The beautifully manicured lawns of Giraffe Manor are home to the resident herd of inquisitive and friendly giraffe…” is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

The small business will become a new level of growth in digital game industry and signify the orientation of foreseeable future growth. It will receive substantially attention from investing organizations through 2008-2009 and large-scale venture capital would pour in.

2003-2007, the start-up stage in Britain, 2008-2010, the quick creating stage, 2011 and the subsequent decades will see a mature sector.

The quick development of pc on the net video games and the wave of wireless worth-additional providers gave birth to mobile cellular phone on the internet games. Mobile mobile phone private game businesses began to build on the net games. Throughout 2005 to 2007, far more enterprises stepped into the area. Nonetheless, due to the restrict of operating natural environment and subscriber recognition, its acquiring action was not that intense, nor was the levels of competition. As a end result, on the internet video games could generate adequate funds to support its running, so most corporations didn’t have to make investments huge funds for sustaining operation.

2008 has brought along the period of the 3rd Generation, which more brought along upsurge of merger amid mobile mobile phone game enterprises. A competitors pattern has taken first form. Meanwhile the industry as a total has drawn very much attention from traders, and investment has poured in. Following 2011, the industry will turn into mature in Britain, and authorities will attach good supervision more than cellular telephone on the net games. At that time, there will be a new funds integration, and a new current market pattern will come into getting. Then the second investment peak will be welcomed and the upsurge fades at previous.

]]>

A gentleman-built process that replicates as very well as types the idea of piloting an aircraft in an ultra reasonable fashion is acknowledged as a flight simulator. Kinds of sims can range involving the most up-to-date video clip game to accurate cockpit replication, positioned on a hydraulic actuator, managed by way of cutting-edge pc technological know-how.

Utilisation of flight emulation modules made use of in the aircraft instruction and handling sector has develop into varied – by way of educating pilots and also airline flight workers to construction and creation in equally Armed Companies and commercial airliners. Aerospace suppliers also employ engineering versions to make and investigate flying parts, apps and even aircraft technological innovation.

For the most part a flight simulator is normally applied for educating aircraft pilots. The aspect endeavor trainer is a seriously expense-helpful coaching remedy which enables pilots and / or repairs and servicing staff to familiarise by themselves with a specific airliner or weapon program without having the need to have to helps make use of the full-mission simulator or real aeroplanes. Cockpit technique trainers are chosen to operate by means of fundamental cockpit techniques, for instance emergency checklists, and also for cockpit familiarisation. The sophisticated Full Flight Simulators (FFS) equipped with motion systems have the ability to move all-around in each and every of the six degrees-of-flexibility (six-DoF) along with complex and realistic building graphic engineering, to observe the exterior planet.

All these sophisticated emulators have a Command Loading Procedure which replicates an comprehending relating to true forces on pilot controls, to pupil pilots. More games related resources can be found here Jogos – what does it stands for?, Jogos – What is it?, Jogos – What is it?.

Initial of all, you can simply just include things like your merchandise into a game, and let the gamers interact with them.

Related Venture Capital Gaming Articles

Mobile Cellphone On the internet Video games Coming into the Rapid Establishing Flight Simulator Online Video games And Flight Education Emulators is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

LED lighting market will enter a fast-pace of more active layout TSMC is expected to LED lighting R & D center and production plant for the ground-breaking ceremony on the 25th, do not rule out the chairman Morris Chang and Tsai, general manager of new business will attend all chair. In addition, TSMC has also joined the lighting Commission (CIE) as one of the Executive Committee, TSMC will first cut into the LED future BEOL, the optical, electrical, heat integration on a silicon substrate to provide the necessary lighting components, will open B2B corporate client applications.

    TSMC continues to grow in pursuit of future business, start a new career in 2009 the layout, by the former chief executive officer Rick Tsai as the general manager of new business, responsible for new business development planning. Today the company has progressed to a new business arrangement, decided to park in the Hsinchu Science Park and the construction of LED lighting technology R & D Center and production plant, and held a groundbreaking ceremony at 25. TSMC considerable attention as a new business, do not rule out ground-breaking ceremony in the day, the chairman Morris Chang and Tsai should be moving in unison to attend.

    TSMC set up the first time in 22 years, branched out into non-semiconductor business, where the main flow of LED technology from the semiconductor production process of the extension, TSMC recently large capacity, advanced technology, capital and other advantages of massive invasions of the existing LED industry, TSMC appears fast.

    LED lighting is responsible for new business TSMC Director Chen Jianan 24, attended the inaugural meeting of the lighting committee, he said that TSMC will use the silicon wafer substrate production advantages, the initial process from the LED back-cut into, from the light treatment, electric drive to the cooling module will be integrated with the silicon wafer substrate. The LED front-end process, Chen Jianan said that the future will not only do LED supply chain of a product, TSMC will focus on different stages of development goals, planning for cut into the schedule.

    Chen Jianan said silicon wafer substrate has the advantage to standardized mass production of ceramic substrate and heat is 3 times optical lens are ground into a Si substrate, high accuracy, combined with high temperature silicon wafer substrates, reliable letter also greatly improved.

    Unlike TSMC self capacity, UMC is the leading crystal grains with LED power cooperation, establishment of joint ventures in China’s Shandong plant crown LED epitaxy Civil optical company, funded by both the 50% of electricity would be responsible for epitaxial crystallization and process, UMC will dwell in downstream applications development. Crystal Electric Board has spent 8 million U.S. dollars by about 260 million yuan investment when NT crown Quan (Shandong) optical, and also the crown Civil UMC’s LED lamp manufacturers following the Po Lin set up factories in Shandong after the LED lighting industry the new layout.

More Venture Capital Ceramics Articles

TSMC to accelerate LED lighting market in a new plant layout ground breaking is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

It was a revelation for me to come to the conclusion that not all marketers online are my competition. It was a 180 degree shift in thinking which prompted me to join up with another marketer and work together to improve both of our profits.
Joint venture was one of the big buzzwords (phrases) of 2005, and since I tried it for myself, I can now understand why. Previous to doing my first Joint venture (or JV as us marketers like to call them) I looked at anyone who was selling anything online as competition, someone to beat to the sale.
It was a few months ago, for more details visit to www.joint-ventures-secret.com Joe Hebert asked me to work with him on a project, and when we got talking, his idea was one which I had already started but put on the backburner, namely a membership site.
Joe had a lot of resources which I’d needed, including a great web hosting deal, and loads of information products to put into a membership site. I had a domain name and all the site layout, and graphics ready to go. The reason I hadn’t gone further is because I didn’t have the capital to add what I thought would be enough products to the site, which my new partner did. I also didn’t have the time to upload all the products, my new Joint venture partner did.
My JV partner didn’t have an email list to promote a new venture to, and didn’t have the knowledge to get the scripts running to make the site automated. I had those skills, and resources, so we teamed up.
In just a few days we had a new membership site, up and running and taking orders. Joe took care of the hosting and products, I took care of the design and promoting to a warm prospect list. Together we are making it work, where singly we had both struggled.
Now look at your own marketing, and online activities and see if you have some way in which a joint venture with someone could benefit your business. Maybe you need someone who can setup a script, for more details visit to www.joint-venture-guide.com or website, or you have some ideas which need a particular talent you don’t have, you can barter with someone else who has what you need to make a profitable partnership which works for both of you without paying out hard cash for it.
Don’t make the mistake I made, see everyone as a potential partner in profit, instead of an opponent to defeat. Start doing some joint ventures, you won’t necessarily halve your profits, and you may well make more by sharing the work with someone.

What You Need to Make a Profitable Partnership? is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Many business owners try to finance their growing businesses by going to venture capital or angel funding groups. Although both financing options provide a great way to finance a business, they are usually hard to qualify for. And furthermore, they all require that you give up some business equity in exchange for funds. That, needless to say, can be a very steep price to pay.

There are some business financing alternatives that can allow you to finance your business, almost as effectively, without having to give up any equity. As opposed to venture funding or angel funding, these options are easy to qualify for and do not require the endless documentation and due diligence that venture money requires..

However, these can only help you if you meet the following criteria:

1. Your business is established and has commercial (not consumer) clients

2. Your business invoices between K and 0K per month

]]>

These alternatives will help you if:

1. You need money to meet payroll, pay rent or pay supplier

2. Your customers pay you in 15 to 60 days

3. You need (or wish) your customers to pay you sooner

Your first option is called factoring (also known as invoice factoring). Factoring is ideal for businesses that cannot afford to wait 15 to 60 days to get paid by their clients. Factoring provides you with financing that is tied to your invoicing. Basically, the more your company invoices, the more financing you qualify for. This enables you to grow your company – many times exponentially – without having to give up equity.

Your second option is called purchase order financing. It works well for re-sellers, distributors, traders and wholesalers. Purchase order financing is ideal for business owners that have a large purchase order in hand, and who cannot afford to pay their suppliers to deliver the product. PO financing enables you to get a letter of credit, backed by the financing company, to pay your suppliers. This allows you to deliver on the purchase order and effectively make the sale. Usually, very little – if any – of your money is required for the transaction.

Both alternatives are easy to qualify for, take days (or a couple of weeks at most) to set up, and when used correctly allow you to grow your company exponentially.

Find More Venture Capital Established Business Articles

Can’t get Venture Capital Financing. Look at These Options is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Astra Mining Ltd, an Australian diversified mining company, has opened its India office in
Bhubaneswar, Orissa through its local subsidiary. This is part of the company’s growth plan
to secure and operate high quality iron ore mines that are operationally ready for export.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – 31 January 2011: Astra Mining Ltd have opened their first Indian office, a vital part of their growth plan incorporating the acquisition of iron ore mines with a special focus on the existing mining hub of Orissa. The office was opened by ceremony according to traditional custom.

Orissa is known for its rich mineral deposits holding 16.92% of the total mineral reserves of the country. India’s richest and biggest deposits are mostly confined to Banded Iron Formations (BIF) of Precambrian age. The Iron Ore Group covers the Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jajpur districts of Orissa and exhibit the major and high grade deposits of Eastern India.

]]>

The Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jajpur districts from Orissa bear the major high grade (+60% Fe) hematitic deposits from these belts and contribute to the 60% of total Indian iron ore. As per the information available from Director of Geology and Director of Mines, Orissa, the state has 5306 MT of iroore deposits. Keonjhar being the leading district with a resource base of around 3574 Mt.

“Astra Mining has identified a mining cluster of 10 iron ore mines in the Keonjhar district of Orissa, India adding up to an estimated 500 million tonnes of high grade hematite reserves. All mines identified are operative and ready for expansion. Each has mine has resources of high FE (+63%) content with close proximity to the rail link to Paradip port for export”., said Dr Jaydeep Biswas, Chief Executive Officer of Astra Mining. Alternatively, steel production in India is expected to expand exponentially, thus providing a local market for high grade iron ore. Astra Mining is in the process of acquiring the first of two mines on a cash plus share basis. The high quality iron ore reduces or eliminates the need for beneficiation of products.

The office in Bhubaneswar, Orissa is strategically positioned to be a base for the Astra Mining execution team in India. “Because of the abundant mineral resource base, its strategic proximity to major iron ore consumers in the world market, Orissa offers an excellent investment opportunity for us as we target steel manufacturers both in India and China growth markets.” said Silvana De Cianni, Managing Director of Astra Mining Limited.

“The mining scenario in Orissa compares very favourably with the Western Australian mining industry. The low cost of operation and infrastructure costs enable mines in Orissa to operate very profitably, even at low production rates. Close seaports and ready infrastruct

Find More Venture Capital Raising Australia Articles

Astra Mining Ltd Open Office in Mining Hub of Orissa, India is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

“He who has a thing to sell, and whispers it into a well, is not as apt to make a dollar, than he who climbs a tree and hollers.”

This information is based on my experience over many years of doing business successfully in Africa, Canada and the United Sates, using the leverage of Joint Ventures, incorporating the Mastermind, Strategic Alliances and Barter to do business and create value and wealth with no money and no risk. Tried and tested, proven in the field with thousands of business owners, these principles work on one condition: You can only succeed in Joint Ventures with people who are honest, professional, smart and disciplined. Once you have found people like that, JV’s can open the doors to unlimited wealth and success for you.

Joint Ventures work when people realize that we don’t have to own skills, money, employees, inventory or other resources in order to do business, create value and make money. And it can be done VERY FAST if we use existing resources.

Your business can skyrocket to new levels of performance and profitability using Joint Ventures. The purpose of Joint Ventures is to access new markets, grow your business and access new competencies, while leveraging your hidden assets and business partnering to optimize sales and profits. Don’t create competencies; borrow them. Don’t compete; partner. Two companies essentially spawn a new company. One plus one equals three through synergistic and exponential growth. Joint Ventures inject new energy, excitement, commitment, loyalty, purpose, optimism, enthusiasm, creativity and fun into businesses. This increases value and thus profits. From Proctor and Gamble, Wal-Mart and Pfizer, to Sony, Tom’s Corner Cafe and Bert’s Dog Grooming, business owners are discovering the magic of Joint Ventures. In fact, you don’t even need a business, a product or a service to make money from Joint Ventures.

If I was to add Bob’s dog grooming services to Alan’s Animal Hospital and everyone (me, included) got a piece of the action, I could literally start earning money immediately. The distribution channel is already in place. The overhead is already paid for. This is incremental business with the corresponding high profit margin. All Alan has to do is offer each of his clients the option to use Bob’s dog grooming services. He could hand them a discount voucher or merely a flyer. That is additional business for Bob, with no cost of sales (acquisition cost) at all. Bob has already paid salaries, rent and other overhead, so it’s found money for him. He pays you and Alan a commission on all the business thus generated. Everyone wins. This money is 100% profit in Alan’s hands. And at no risk, because you set it all up.

Joint Ventures can be very simple or more involved, but they usually cost very little to set in place, because most of the infrastructure already exists. If I sell landscaping, I can piggy-back my service on a realtor’s services. Or I can TRIANGULATE that deal I don’t have to own the landscaping service or be a realtor to make money from that JV.

“Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass” Paul. J. Meyer.

Napoleon Hill educated millions on the power of the Mastermind. He said: “The ‘Master Mind’ may be defined as: ‘Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.’ No individual may have great power without availing himself of the ‘Master Mind.’”

“We do not conquer mountains, nor tame elements. The true conquest lies in penetrating the mental barriers; those self-imposed limitations that we carry in our minds.” -Sharon Wood (First North American woman to the summit of Mt. Everest)

Together, we can do amazing things.

Tap into other peoples’ goodwill, database, capital, time, distribution channels, sales efforts, everything. Upsell existing customers on a new, additional product or service. The sky’s the limit.

Do you have or control anything that other JV partners would want?

The KEY is finding Good, Honest, Smart people. Start with people you know and trust: NEER: Naturally Existing Economic Relationships.

Talk in the other person’s interests, not your own:

When we understand that people are basically self-interested and that they don’t care about what you want, but rather about what they want, we should change our approach. Instead of thrusting your business card at someone and telling them how great you are and begging for their money, smart operators think about what THEY want.

Imagine your response if someone was to approach you with the following pitch:

“What can I do to help you achieve your goals? How can I use my resources and the resources and hidden assets of my network of associates, friends, family, customers and vendors, to help you? How can I utilize my distribution channels, relationships, underutilized assets, salespeople, personnel and equipment, to generate more business for you?” I’m sure very few people, if any, have approached you in that way, right?

]]>

By the same token, you could approach someone with this offer: “If I bring you access to markets, prospects, buyers, customers, advertising, that you never had and I turnkey it all, can I have 50% of the profit?”

You’re offering Found money incremental profits and no upfront costs or risk.

If you want to open the door to JV’s with successful people, you have to differentiate your approach. They’re being hit on multiple times every day, but few if any are using this approach. Do your homework; study their websites, Google them, do your research and due diligence and be well prepared for your meeting. Forget about what you want and concentrate on looking for ways to benefit them. You will definitely get their attention. That’s why my website is called, DollarMakers.com

Let’s look at some FREE options for promoting and selling services and products:

Remember, you don’t even have to own a business to make money from JV’s, but it does help to have one.

1. Use your own, or others’, E Newsletters (e-zines). The two e-zines that I write (Eagle Attitude and Entrepreneur Newsletter) each reach over 6,000 people internationally every week. My cost to have an e-zine sent out every week is only per month! Regular information that is actually READ, ids a powerful communication and selling tool. Use others’ e-zines I write for someone else’s e-zine that reaches 20,000 people per week. That’s great free exposure for me. Other people use my articles free of charge, in exchange for displaying my contact information and giving me credit for the writing.

2. Use a BLOG mine works well for me, and I use my e-zine articles on it. It’s FREE!

3. Use a website. www.jvwisdom.com has made me hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales.

4. Give away free reports and e books like this one free advertising and you get to create massive credibility. (Given that you know what you’re talking about.)

5. Give away or sell audio CD’s, or have them available free of charge in audio streaming on your website.

6. Give away free CD’s and charge for Shipping and Handling to cover your costs and even make a profit. Team up with others who already have CD’s made. Use my CD’s to market your business. I can show you how to do that. Use other peoples’ skills, competencies and resources.

7. Offer to convert other people’s inactive customers into active customers for an on-going piece of the action. This idea, alone, can be worth a fortune to you, when you consider the amount of customer attrition going on.

8. Piggy-back your product or someone else’s product, on to existing sales streams and have someone else’s sales team sell your products and services as an add-on to their existing sales.

9. Convert unconverted leads or triangulate the deal. Switch leads between two realtors and take a piece of the action.

10. Find people who have products they can’t move, get the products on consignment and sell them through other people distribution channels on consignment! No risk.

11. Create multiple add-on sales options wedding planners, lube centers, webmasters, courier services and home improvement services are great for this.

12. Buy and resell advertising space and / or services.

13. Offer Free Seminars either you do them or have someone else present them.

14. Sell Bill’s CD’s on consignment through Jack’s gas stations.

15. Free Conference Calls are very powerful selling tools. Interview experts and they will help you sell. You don’t need any skills or money use other peoples’ skills time, energy and money. Bundle your products with someone else’s every time they sell a course, they can include your CD’s!

16. Join forces with your competitors together you can accomplish a lot more.

17. Share advertising space, mailings, seminars, radio and TV time and database communication.

18. Use Gift Vouchers give away samples of other peoples’ services and take a piece of the resulting, ongoing business. Carpet cleaning, accounting, consulting, car services,

Always ask yourself, “What does the other party REALLY, REALLY want? What is his or her HOT BUTTON? And always ask them, “What will it take?”

Simple Examples:

1. I gave a restaurant owner 400 free paper placemats, each including some nice graphics and interesting information, PLUS a pitch for my business broking services and my contact information. I also gave him a gumball machine full of gum, with an advertisement for my business services right on top of it. He will get paid a generous commission on any resulting sales.

2. With my friend, Antonio, we created an amazing marketing package for small businesses including 11 CD’s, a powerful marketing program worth 0, plus six months of conference calls and a two day convention in Vegas, all of which sells for just 5.

3. I’m not a realtor, but I recently earned a few thousand dollars on a simple referral to realtor. I do the same with websites, cars, you name it. I don’t need an office or employees and I can work form anywhere in the world where I have access to a telephone and the internet.

I have been arranging JV deals since I was at high school. I was seldom at risk and my business has been thriving for 18 years because of this simple, yet highly effective mindset.

If you qualify, I can show you how to create a joint venture with me, using your existing resources, in one hour. It’s easy to do and it works well, with virtually no cost or risk. It’s a true Win/win deal.

BARTER is a form of Joint Venture.

Leverage and barter underutilized goods, resources, services, capacity, raw materials, storage space, a sales team, personnel, intangible assets like distribution capabilities, etc.

In the 1970’s, Chrysler had 10,000 small cars they couldn’t sell. They exchanged those cars for radio & TV credits all over the country, to be used over a five year period, and traded the cars at full retail. (Window sticker) Their money was tied up in the cars. They weren’t spending cash on the advertising. The radio stations were selling unsold, future time and getting the cars right away.

Chrysler took the advertising credits to the bank and got money on them to pay for the manufacture of more cars that were sold with the advertising, so the bank financed the whole program! The radio and TV credits appreciated in value over the five years! That’s leverage.

Restaurants a meal costs around . The restaurant can barter that for meal for worth of radio advertising or whatever, so they’re saving 70%! Plus there are incremental sales people buy drinks, tip waiters, new customers are generated that continue to spend money. The gift certificates are called SCRIP in the Barter business. The advertising they bought brings in more customers. A lot of the meal vouchers are never cashed in this is called BREAKAGE. Remember, the overhead is already covered electricity, server salaries, uniforms, telephone, etc., is already paid for, so the profit is high.

A commercial printing business has staff and machines on hand but not is fully utilized. His only cost is the paper and ink. The rent and payroll is already paid. So he can produce printing very cheaply and trade it for things he needs now, without using cash.

Soft dollars and hard dollars: Trade TV sets that cost 0 at ,000 retail, for hotel rooms that cost and retail at 0. Both win. Soft Dollars are Barter Dollars and Hard Dollars is cash. Conserve your cash by setting up barter deals.

HOTEL EXAMPLE trade room for 0, cost is only .

If the average person spends in other services that the hotel has, and your cost is only , you’ve made extra cash right away, plus many gift certificates never got utilized! AND you got 100% retail value in barter! And you can sell bartered goods and services for CASH.

A Beverley Hills hotel was bought out of Chapter 11 and immediately issued million worth of rooms, food and drink credits to be used over a five year period. Scrip brokers bought it up for .5 million in cash. They cash converted future rooms.

Cash converting means trading for goods or services and then immediately selling those goods / services for cash.

Advertisers of a Shopping Mall set up a deal to pay people back the money they spent in the mall. “Prove you spent 00 in the mall and we’ll give you ,000 in cash!” This creates what we call THE FLOW it’s ongoing, resulting business from barter. Store owners in the mall happily paid for advertising because they knew that, this way, it was much cheaper they only paid for the cost of goods sold (They reimbursed the retail price) so this was cheap advertising it forced people to buy in the mall.

Dentists and doctors, chiropractors and consultants, couriers, web masters, writers and such trade or barter services. I know a dentist who traded dental work for radio advertising.

Instead of using cash and time, spend more time thinking about value and JV’s!

You can exchange apartments for services and pay your employees and vendors with barter and apartments,

Barter SCRIP is like printing money. It can be transferred and assigned – it’s legal tender.

Scrip Expiration dates the further out, the better there are many permutations. BREAKAGE is the barter credits which aren’t used up to 40%!

SET up a barter deal and take a piece of the action/ savings in cash or in scrip that you can convert to cash.

Remember: The key to successful JV’s is the people who are involved. Integrity, Professionalism, Punctuality, Accountability and Passion and Generosity are essential ingredients. JV’s is the way business is being done by smart people. Join us and take advantage of this wonderful tool.

More Venture Capital Blogs Articles

Joint Ventures – your Unlimited Opportunity? is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

The financial status of a business or organization is extremely important to their success. Students can step into corporate finance schools and degree programs to exclusively study how to work with businesses in this capacity. Educational training program options for corporate financing are available at several levels.

The financial activities of a corporation have to be monitored and managed in order to keep a concise record of all monetary funds. Training teaches students to properly work with finances to ensure stability and minimize any risks associated with spending and investing money. Educational programs are widely available at the bachelor’s, masters, and doctorate’s level of education. Programs at the bachelor’s degree level offer training specifically for corporate financing. Students that desire to pursue an advanced degree at the graduate level need to enroll in a finance program with a concentration in this field.

International marketing, accounting, financial reporting, and organizational psychology courses are some main topics studied in a bachelor’s degree program. Students will find that most programs award Bachelor of Science degrees that take approximately four-years. In this introductory program, common courses may include:

*Intro to Corporate Finance

Students study the roles of professionals, which include management and investment decisions. Students learn how businesses raise money for different investments and what risks are involved within that process. Subjects such as valuation, financial strategy, venture capital, and dividend return are all explored through a course like this.

]]>

*International Corporate Finance

Financing is explored for businesses that have international work. Students study the procedures for global investment and finance. The management of finances inside today’s high global competitiveness is examined as students learn about multi-national budgeting, debt service, and interest rates. The finance practices of America are contrasted with Europe and Asia.

*Financial Strategy

The evaluation and prospects of a finance strategy are extremely important to ensure success. Students will work through topics that explore how major investments are made. The calculation of risk and the chance for monetary growth are main areas studied within this type of course. The ability to create and implement a financial strategy that is competitive is also learned.

Several career opportunities are open to students that complete a bachelor’s degree program. Students can step into positions as stockbrokers, fraud investigators, investment bankers, and financial reporters. Each of these career options train students to work directly with corporate financing.

Further education at the graduate level provides students with advanced skills and knowledge that helps them obtain executive careers. Many areas such as real estate, risk analysis, valuation, and record keeping are looked at to prepare students for the field. Different markets and global organizations are also discussed. These finance areas are typically explored through different concentrations. Major curriculum areas can include revenue optimization, financial engineering, and international monetary policy. Becoming a bureaucrat, auditor, or a professor are all career options for students that finish graduate training.

Corporate financing schools and colleges open up many opportunities for students. Educational training is available at many accredited schools so students should choose programs that prepare them for the industry. Accreditation is awarded by agencies like the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to programs that meet all of the criteria and supply a quality education.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 – All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Notice to Publishers: You may use this article on Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active. Failure to retain links is expressly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted extensively by law.

Corporate Financing – Educational Training Program Options is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

One place you can easily succeed with a small business startup is on the internet. Some people think that the internet is meant for the already established companies, but that is not the case. Today, average people are making it big with great business ideas. To top it all up they are doing so from the comfort of their home. The big question you may ask is, how and what do I need to launch a small business startup online?

Research is very crucial if you are to succeed doing business online. Whether you have cash or not, choosing a niche to venture into will determine your success. The internet is all about content; it would be advisable to go for a niche that is not so competitive. Once you have decided which field you will venture in, then you can start working on having a website and if you do not have cash then you can launch a blog.

]]>

Many think making money online is about having a huge capital, but you can have a small business startup without investing a single dime. With a site like Blogger.com you can create a free blog and then post content that is helpful to your market niche. Learn for the experts how to optimize your blog so that search engines can rank you high. Once you have content you can then monetize your blog.

Monetizing your blog is easy and free; there are great sites like ClickBank and PayDotCom where you can pick affiliate products to sell on your blog. You can also include Google Adsense links and make money as people click on these advertisement links. Amazon is also a site where you can load products that are related to your content. All these are free to enroll and install thus making small business startup online very easy.

Though you will not require money to invest in such an online business, there will sure be a price to pay. You will need to invest time in learning free online marketing strategies. Hence working hard and possessing a strong determination to make money online is paramount.

Follow the links below to harness more insightful tips on online small business startup.

CleanTechTV™ is launching at the Cleantech Forum 2010. Watch this interview where leading AustralianGreen Business Reporter, Giles Parkinson, interviews Chuck McDermott of Rockport Capital who will be speaking at the Cleantech Forum www.cleantechforum.com About CleanTechTV™ CleanTechTV™ tells the world about Australias cleantech in a way that attracts investment, deals, partnering and licensing to drive the growth of the sector – Australias next wave of innovation. Australian Cleantech news reporters Brad Howarth and Giles Parkinson interview leaders about their companies and new deals, developments and products on a quarterly basis or when they have announcements. These interviews are distributed to decision makers via this site, and our content platform partners that include Venture Beat, CEBIT, Clean Energy Council, and more. They are also designed to be easily shared and posted on company blogs, websites and enews letters for powerful positioning and exposure. CTTV is a virtual TV service where all interviews are done online, so we can always talk to our cleantech leaders when ever or where ever they are making news. Do you want your cleantech news distributed around the globe? Contact us at CTTV to discuss your “Making News” Corporate Package. For more info and world-class web interviews, visit: www.cleantechnologytv.com
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Related Venture Capital Bloggers Articles

Online Small Business Startup Without Investing Cash is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

The name Virgin has gone beyond what had made it famous in the past with ventures in the music recording and airline business.  The Virgin Group, Ltd of British tycoon Sir Richard Branson now owns completely or partially more than 400 companies with a net worth of over ?5 Billion.

As a holding company, the Virgin Group makes no pretenses at having any business focus as the companies it holds are distinct and unrelated, encompassing the whole range of lifestyle products and services including travel and leisure, health management, information and media content, publication, healthcare, transportation and telecommunications.

It also has some radical business endeavors like a sperm bank in the Virgin Health Bank as well as Virgin Galactic which markets commercial space flight on spaceships designed by Scaled Composites. You also have Virgin Drinks that make colas and vodka, Virgin Flowers, an online florist, Virgin Comics, a comic book publisher and Virgin Energy, a UK power utility firm.

But the more famous ones like Virgin Atlantic have spawned other airlines like Virgin Blue, an Australian airline flying in the South Pacific islands as well as related travel and leisure services like hotels and cruises under Virgin Holidays and Virgin Limited Edition. It also operates the Virgin Radio with radio stations across many countries like the Europe 2 radio station in France.  It recently added Virgin racing as a new racing team in the 2010 Formula One season.

]]>

A Virtual Operator

And in the mobile phone industry, its Virgin Mobile stands out as the first virtual mobile phone operator with a presence in 7 countries to date with expansion plans afoot.  Being virtual is just a new information age term to describe a subcontractor who buys wholesale and resells directly to consumers at a mark-up.  In the case of mobile telephony, unlike Vodafone, Orange or T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile buys bandwidth allocation from a major telco such as T-Mobile and rebrands it at competitive prices to its markets.

The idea simplifies the mobile telephony business so that the operator doesn’t need to worry about recovering capital costs in putting up the necessary 2G/3G networks.  Telcos are more than willing to sell bandwidth at discounted wholesale prices that allow virtual operators like Virgin to thrive.

A Short History

The business model prompted the Virgin Group and then GMS operator One2One to form a joint venture company called Virgin Mobile in 1999.  One2One eventually became T-Mobile with new owner Deutsche Telekom giving up its 50% share in the joint venture to Virgin Group which again created a joint venture with NLT-Telewest to become the first quadruple player in the media business under the Virgin Media company which now has interest in television broadcasting, standards fixed line telephony, mobile telephony and broadband internet.

The rest as they say is history, with Virgin Mobile landing in Australia using the Optus network as its bandwidth provider, the US with Sprint-Nextel, Canada with Bell, France with Orange, India with Tata Indicom and South Africa with Cell C. Pakistan is the next country it plans to operate.

The Virgin Name Is Everywhere is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

FACEBOOK HAS raised 0 million from Goldman Sachs and Russian investment firm Digital Sky Technologies, in a deal that values the world’s No.1 Internet social networking company at billion, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The firms also plan to raise at least billion in additional funding for Facebook, the person said speaking on condition of anonymity.

The funding, which gives Facebook a richer valuation than established Internet giants such as Yahoo Inc and eBay Inc, underscores the high hopes investors have riding on the new breed of private Web companies.

And it comes as the Securities and Exchange Commission has begun to look into the trading of shares in private companies such as Facebook and Zynga according to media reports.

Facebook, whose online service counts more than a half a billion users worldwide, has shown little interest in floating shares to the public, even as investors clamor to get a piece of the company that many believe could become the next Google.

By raising money from private investors, Facebook can reap many of the benefits that traditionally require undertaking an initial public offering without facing the added scrutiny of the public markets, said Jeremy Liew, managing director at venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, which is not a Facebook investor.

]]>

“I don’t think it’s a replacement for a public offering, I just think it’s a mechanism for delaying it,” said Liew.

Among the key benefits of raising money privately is the ability for early employees to cash out some of their stock holdings.

Last week, online-coupon site Groupon disclosed in a regulatory filing it was raising 0 million, with plans to use the bulk of the funds to repurchase shares from existing shareholders.

And Facebook arranged for DST to purchase at least 0 million of common shares from its employees in the summer of 2009, following a separate investment in which DST bought 0 million of Facebook preferred shares at a billion valuation.

Wedbush Securities analyst Lou Kerner said regulation like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act had made it very expensive and onerous to be a public company. “As a result a lot fewer companies are going public,” he said.

However, as more private investors acquire stakes in Facebook, the company risks hitting the 500 shareholder threshold, at which point it would be required to start filing as a public company with the SEC.

Facebook board member Peter Thiel told Reuters in September that Facebook would not likely undertake an IPO until sometime after late 2012.

Facebook and Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the deal. Digital Sky Technologies could not be reached for comment.

In Facebook’s latest investment round, which was first reported by the New York Times, Goldman Sachs will invest 0 million in the company, while DST will invest million, according to the source.

Goldman is planning to create a special purpose vehicle to allow its high-net worth clients to invest in Facebook, the paper reported.

It has the right to sell a part of its stake, up to million, to Digital Sky Technologies, the paper said.

Facebook is among the new crop of Internet social networking companies, including Groupon, Zynga and Twitter, that have become increasingly popular among Web surfers.

In 2010, Facebook overtook Google to become the most visited website in the United States, according to online analytics firm Experian Hitwise.

Find More Venture Capital Raising Regulations Articles

Facebook raises $500 million from Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Ireland

Snap-Apple Night by Daniel Maclise portrays a Halloween party in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The young children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play “Snap-Apple,” which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string. The couples at left play divination games.

Halloween is a significant cultural event in Ireland; it is widely celebrated. It is known in Irish as Oche Shamhna (Irish pronunciation: [ih haun] ee-hah how-nah), literally “Samhain Night.” In the Irish language, Samhain is the name for the month of November. Pre-Christian Celts had an autumn festival, Samhain (Irish pronunciation: [saun], from the Old Irish samain), “End of Summer,” a pastoral and agricultural “fire festival” or feast, when the dead revisited the mortal world and large communal bonfires would hence be lit to ward off evil spirits. Costumes and masks being worn at Halloween goes back to the Celtic traditions of attempting to copy the evil spirits or placate them. Samhnag Candle lanterns carved from turnips, were part of the traditional festival. Large turnips were hollowed out, carved with faces and placed in windows, also used to ward off harmful spirits.

History

Pope Gregory IV standardized the date of All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day, on November 1 in the name of the entire Western Church in 837. As the Church day began at sunset, the holiday coincided exactly with Samhain. It is claimed that the choice of date was consistent with the common practice of leaving pagan festivals and buildings intact (e.g., the Pantheon) while overlaying a Christian meaning, however no reliable documentation indicates such a motivation in this case. While the Celts might have been content to move All Saints’ Day from their own previous date of April 20, the rest of the world celebrating it on May 13, it is speculated without evidence that they were unwilling to give up their preexisting autumn festival of the dead and continued to celebrate Samhain.

Traditions

On Halloween night, adults and children dress up as creatures from the underworld (e.g., ghosts, ghouls, zombies, witches, and goblins), light bonfires, and enjoy spectacular fireworks displays  in particular, the city of Derry is home to the largest organized Halloween celebration on the island, in the form of a street carnival and fireworks display. It is also common for fireworks to be set off for the entire month preceding Halloween as well as a few days after. Halloween was perceived as the night during which the division between the world of the living and the otherworld was blurred so that spirits of the dead and inhabitants from the underworld were able to walk free on the earth. It was believed necessary to dress as a spirit or otherworldly creature when venturing outdoors to blend in, and this is where dressing in such a manner for Halloween comes from. This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating, because children would knock on their neighbours’ doors in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival. Salt was once sprinkled in the hair of the children to protect against evil spirits.[citation needed]

Typical Halloween scene in Dublin, Ireland.

Houses are frequently adorned with pumpkins, or traditional turnip carved into scary faces; lights or candles are sometimes placed inside the carvings, resulting in an eerie effect. The traditional Halloween cake in Ireland is the barmbrack, which is a fruit bread. The Halloween Brack traditionally contained various objects baked into the bread and was used as a fortune-telling game. In the barmbrack were a pea, a stick, a piece of cloth, a small coin (originally a silver sixpence), and a ring. Each item, when received in the slice, was supposed to carry a meaning to the person concerned: the pea, the person would not marry that year; the stick, “to beat one’s wife with,” would have an unhappy marriage or continually be in disputes; the cloth or rag, would have bad luck or be poor; the coin, would enjoy good fortune or be rich; and the ring, would be married within the year. Commercially produced barmbracks for the Halloween market still include a toy ring.[citation needed]

Games are often played, such as bobbing for apples, in which apples, peanuts, and other nuts and fruit and some small coins are placed in a basin of water. The apples and nuts float, but the coins, which sink, are harder to catch. Everyone takes turns catching as many items possible using only their mouths. In some households, the coins are embedded in the fruit for the children to “earn” as they catch each apple. Another common game involves the hands-free eating of an apple hung on a string attached to the ceiling. Games of divination are also played at Halloween, but are becoming less popular.

Lunchtime (the midday meal, sometimes called “dinner” in Ireland), on Halloween is called Colcannon.Babou

France

Halloween celebration in France began in 1997 on behalf of selling companies but hasn’t caught up. Popularity peaked in 2000, but declined after that. In 2006, many French newspapers wrote on the death of Halloween. It was purely commercial, and overlapped with the Toussaint day (Catholic festival) that takes place November 1st.

Scotland

Scotland, having a shared Gaelic culture with Ireland, has celebrated the festival of Samhain (pronounced Sow-win) robustly for many centuries. The autumn festival is pre-Christian Celtic in origin, and is known in Scottish Gaelic as Oidhche Shamhna, the “Summer’s night.” During the fire festival, souls of the dead wander the Earth and are free to return to the mortal world until dawn. Traditionally, bonfires and lanterns (samhnag in Scottish Gaelic) would be lit to ward off the phantoms and evil spirits that emerge at midnight. The term Samhainn or Samhuinn is used for the harvest feast, and an t-Samhain is used for the entire month of November.

History

As in Ireland, the exact customs involved with celebrating Halloween from ancient times to pre-industrialised Scotland are lost and lack primary documentation to distinguish the ancient customs from the modern counterpart. The Witchcraft Act of 1735 was repealed in the 1950s. The name Halloween is first attested in the 16th century as a Scottish shortening of the fuller All-Hallows-Even, that is, the night before All Hallows Day. Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, portrayed some of the customs in his poem “Hallowe’en” (1785).

Halloween was seen as the time when the division between the world of the living and the otherworld was blurred. Many of the traditional customs derive from ancient divination practices and ways of trying to predict the future. By the 18th century, most of the customs were methods for young people to search for their future husbands or wives. As Samhainn was originally a harvest festival, many of these practices are connected with food or the harvest and fertility. One old custom associated with the Western Isles was to put two large nuts in the hearth of a peat fire to represent the person and his or her intended spouse. If the nuts curled together when they warmed up, it was deemed to be a good omen; but if they jumped apart, then it was time to look for another sweetheart.[citation needed] Islanders from Lewis traditionally poured ale into the sea as a libation to a marine God called “Seonaidh,” or “Shoney,” on Celtic Samhain or Halloween so that he would send seaweed to the shore to fertilise the fields for the coming year. Seonadh in Scottish Gaelic means sorcery, augury, or Druidism, and it is possible that the custom of Shonaidh is the direct link to an ancient form of Celtic god worship that has been Christianised.[citation needed] As “Seonaidh,” which is Gaelic “Johnny,” it may also be a reference to one of St. John and an invocation of him.

Fire rituals were also important. Great bonfires were lit in villages or by individual families, with the resultant ashes being used to form a circle. One stone for each member of the household was kept inside this circle near the circumference. If any stone were displaced or seemed broken by next morning, the person to whom that stone belonged was believed to be destined to die within a year.[citation needed] A similar rite in northern Wales includes a great bonfire called Coel Coeth, built for each family on Halloween; later, the members of the household threw a white stone marked in their name into the ashes. Upon the next morning, all the stones were searched for, and if any stone was missing, the person who threw that stone was believed to be destined to die before next Halloween.[citation needed] In particular, the village of Fortingall, in Perthshire, held festivities on Crn na Marbh, “Mound of the Dead.” This was the focal point of a Samhain festival. A great fire, or “Samhnag,” was lit atop it each year. The whole community took hands when it was blazing and danced around the mound, both sunwise and antisunwise. As the fire began to wane, some of the younger boys took burning embers from the flames and ran throughout the field with them, finally throwing them into the air and dancing over them as they lay glowing on the ground. When the last embers were showing, the boys would have a leaping competition across the remains of the fire, reminiscent of the Beltane festival. When it was finished, the young people went home to duck for apples and practise divination. There was no Scottish tradition of “guising” here, the bonfire being the absolute centre of attention until it was consumed. The Samhain celebrations here apparently came to an end relatively early, in 1925.

Traditions

In Scotland, folklore, including that of Halloween, revolves around the ancient Celtic belief in faeries (Sidhe, or Sith, in modern Gaelic). Children who ventured out carried a traditional lantern (samhnag) with a devil face carved into it to frighten away the evil spirits. Such Halloween lanterns were made from a turnip, or “Neep” in Lowland Scots, with a candle lit in the hollow inside. In modern times, however, such lanterns use pumpkins, as in North American traditions, possibly because it is easier to carve a face into a pumpkin than into a turnip. Due to this, the practice of hollowing out pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns may have its roots in this practice.

Houses were also protected with the same candle lanterns. If the spirits got past the protection of the lanterns, the Scottish custom was to offer the spirits parcels of food to leave and spare the house another year. Children, too, were given the added protection by disguising them as such creatures in order to blend in with the spirits. If children approached the door of a house, they were also given offerings of food (Halloween being a harvest festival), which served to ward off the potential spirits that may lurk among them. This is where the origin of the practice of Scottish “guising” (a word that comes from “disguising”), arose, with the tradition of children going from door to door in costume. It is now a key feature of the tradition of trick-or-treating practised in North America.

In modern-day Scotland, this old tradition survives, chiefly in the form of children going door to door “guising” in this manner; that is, dressed in a disguise (often as a witch, ghost, monster, or another supernatural being) and offering entertainment of various sorts. If the entertainment is enjoyed, the children are rewarded with gifts of sweets, fruits, or money., There is no Scottish trick-or-treat tradition as in North America; on the contrary, trick or treating is an outgrowth of these Scottish guising customs.[citation needed]

Popular games played on the holiday include “dunking” for apples (i.e., retrieving an apple from a bucket of water using only one’s mouth). In some places, the game has been replaced (because of fears of contracting saliva-borne illnesses in the water) by standing over the bowl holding a fork in one’s mouth and releasing it in an attempt to skewer an apple using only gravity. Another popular game is attempting to eat, while blindfolded, a treacle- or jam-coated scone on a piece of string hanging from the ceiling. Sometimes the blindfold is left out, because it is already difficult to eat the scone. In all versions, however, the participants cannot use their hands.

In 2007, Halloween festival organisers in Perthshire said they wanted to move away from U.S.-style celebrations in favour of more culturally accurate traditions. Plans include abandoning the use of pumpkins and reinstating traditional activities, such as a turnip lantern competition and dooking (ducking) for apples.

Isle of Man

The Manx traditionally celebrate Hop-tu-Naa on October 31; this ancient Celtic tradition has parallels in Irish and Scottish traditions.

England

History

All Saints’ Day (All Hallows Day) became fixed on 1 November in 835, and All Souls’ Day on 2 November, circa 998. On All Souls’ Eve, families stayed up late, and little “soul cakes” were eaten by everyone. At the stroke of midnight, there was solemn silence among households, which had candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their earthly homes and a glass of wine on the table to refresh them. The tradition of giving soul cakes that originated in Britain and Ireland was known as souling, often seen as the origin of modern Trick or Treating in North America, and souling continued in areas of northern England as late as the 1930s, with children going from door to door singing songs and saying prayers for the dead in return for cakes or money. The English Reformation in the 16th century de-emphasised holidays like All Hallows Day or All Souls Day and their associated eves.

Traditions

A Halloween party in The United Kingdom

In parts of northern England, there is a traditional festival called Mischief Night, which falls on the 30th of October. During the celebration, children play a range of “tricks” (ranging from minor to more serious) on adults. One of the more serious tricks might include the unhinging of garden gates (which were often thrown into ponds or moved far away). In recent years, such acts have occasionally escalated to extreme vandalism, sometimes involving street fires.

Bobbing for apples is a well-established association with Halloween. In the game, attempts are made (using only one’s mouth) to catch an apple placed in a water-filled barrel. Once an apple is caught, it is sometimes peeled and tossed over the shoulder in the hope that the strips would fall into the shape of a letter, which would be the first initial of the participant’s true love.[citation needed]

Other traditions include making toffee apples and apple tarts. Apple tarts may be baked with a coin hidden inside, and nuts of all types are traditional Halloween fare.

There has been increasing concern about the potential for antisocial behaviour, particularly among older teenagers, on Halloween. Cases of houses being “egg-bombed” or having lit fireworks posted through the letterbox (especially when the occupants do not give money or gifts) have been reported, and the BBC reported that for Halloween 2006, police forces stepped up patrols to respond to such mischief.

]]>

Wales

In Welsh, Halloween is known as Nos Calan Gaeaf (the beginning of the new winter; see Calan Gaeaf). Spirits are said to walk around (as it is an Ysbrydnos, or “spirit night”), and a “white lady” ghost is sometimes said to appear. Bonfires are lit on hillsides to mark the night.

In many urban areas, principally South Wales, Welsh children Trick or Treat, as per the American custom. Halloween parties and events are common place.

Customs

Coelcerth: Families build a fire and place stones with their names on it. The person whose stone is missing the next morning would die within the year.

Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta: Legend has it that a fearsome spirit called Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta took the form of a tail-less black sow and roamed the countryside with a headless woman. Children would rush home early.

Eiddiorwg Dalen: A few leaves of ground ivy is thought to give you the power to see hags. For prophetic dreams a boy should cut ten ivy leaves, throw away one and put the rest under his head before he sleeps. A girl should take a wild rose grown into a hoop, creep through it three times, cut it in silence, and go to bed with it under her pillow.

Teiliwr: In Glamorgan tailors were associated with witchcraft. They supposedly possessed the power to ewitch anybody if they wished.

Canada and USA

History

Halloween is largely celebrated in the same manner between the two countries of Canada and the United States. In the United States, where lingering Puritan tradition restricted the observance of many holidays, Halloween did not become a holiday until the 19th century. American almanacs of the late 18th and early 19th centuries do not include Halloween in their lists of holidays. The transatlantic migration of nearly two million Irish following the Irish Potato Famine (18451849) finally brought the holiday to the United States. Scottish emigration, primarily to Canada before 1870 and to the United States thereafter, brought the Scottish version of the holiday to each country. At the time of substantial Irish and Scottish immigration to North America in the late 19th century, Halloween had a strong tradition of “guising” children in Ireland and Scotland disguised in costumes going from door to door requesting food or coins. The earliest known reference to ritual begging on Halloween in English speaking North America occurs in 1911, when a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported that it was normal for the smaller children to go street “guising” on Halloween between 6 and 7 p.m., visiting shops and neighbors to be rewarded with nuts and candies for their rhymes and songs.

American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts, wrote the first book length history of the holiday in the US; The Book of Hallowe’en (1919), and references souling in the chapter Hallowe’en in America; “All Hallowe’en customs in the United States are borrowed directly or adapted from those of other countries. The taste in Hallowe’en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burn’s poem Hallowe’en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe’en is out of fashion now”. The main event for children of modern Halloween in the United States and Canada is trick-or-treating, in which children disguise themselves in costumes and go door to door in their neighborhoods, ringing each doorbell and yelling “Trick or treat!” to solicit a gift of candy or similar items.

Irish-American and Scottish-American societies held dinners and balls that celebrated their heritages, with perhaps a recitation of Robert Burns’ poem “Halloween” or a telling of Irish legends, much as Columbus Day celebrations were more about Italian-American heritage than Columbus per se. Home parties centred on children’s activities, such as apple bobbing, and various divination games often concerning future romance. Not surprisingly, pranks and mischief were common as well.

At the turn of the 20th century, Halloween had turned into a night of vandalism, with destruction of property and cruelty to animals and people. Around 1912, the Boy Scouts, Boys Clubs, and other neighborhood organizations came together to encourage a safe celebration that would end the destruction that had become so common on this night. School posters during this time called for a “Sane Halloween.” Children began to go door to door, receiving treats, rather than playing tricks on their neighbors. This helped to reduce the mischief, and by the 1930s, “beggar’s nights” had become very popular. Trick-or-treating became widespread by the end of the 1930s.

Traditions

The commercialization of Halloween in the United States did not start until the 20th century, beginning perhaps with Halloween postcards (featuring hundreds of designs), which were most popular between 1905 and 1915. Dennison Manufacturing Company (which published its first Halloween catalog in 1909) and the Beistle Company were pioneers in commercially made Halloween decorations, particularly die-cut paper items. German manufacturers specialised in Halloween figurines that were exported to the United States in the period between the two World Wars.

Community Halloween party in Frazier Park, California.

Mass-produced Halloween costumes did not appear in stores until the 1930s, and trick-or-treating did not become a fixture of the holiday until the 1950s. In the 1990s, many manufacturers began producing a larger variety of Halloween yard decorations; before this, the majority of decorations were homemade. Some of the most popular yard decorations are jack-o’-lanterns, scarecrows, witches, orange string lights, inflatable decorations such as spiders, pumpkins, mummies and vampires, and animatronic window and door decorations. Other popular decorations are foam tombstones and gargoyles.

Halloween is now the United States’ second most popular holiday (after Christmas) for decorating; the sale of candy and costumes is also extremely common during the holiday, which is marketed to children and adults alike. According to the National Retail Federation, the most popular Halloween costume themes for adults are, in order: witch, pirate, vampire, cat, and clown. Each year, popular costumes are dictated by various current events and pop culture icons. On many college campuses, Halloween is a major celebration, with the Friday and Saturday nearest October 31 hosting many costume parties.

Four contestants in the Halloween Slick Chick beauty contest in Anaheim, California, 1947

The National Confectioners Association reported in 2005 that 80 percent of American adults planned to give out candy to trick-or-treaters, and that 93 percent of children planned to go trick-or-treating.

Madison, Wisconsin, home of the University of Wisconsinadison, hosts one of the more infamous annual Halloween celebrations. Due to the large influx of out-of-towners crowding the State Street area, riots have broken out in recent years, resulting in the use of mounted police and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Likewise, Chapel Hill, NC, site of the University of North Carolina, has a notorious downtown street party which in 2007 drew a crowd estimated at 80,000 on downtown Franklin Street, in a town with a population of just 54,000. In 2008, in an effort to curb the influx of out-of-towners, mayor Kevin Foy emplaced measures to make commuting downtown more difficult on Halloween.

Anoka, Minnesota, the self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World”, celebrates the holiday with a large civic parade and several other city-wide events. Salem, Massachusetts, also has laid claim to the “Halloween Capital” title, while trying to dissociate itself from its history of persecuting witchcraft. At the same time, however, the city does see a great deal of tourism surrounding the Salem witch trials, especially around Halloween. In the 1990s, the city added an official “Haunted Happenings” celebration to the October tourist season. Nearby Keene, New Hampshire, hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest each October which previously held the record for having the greatest number of lit jack-o’-lanterns at once. (Boston, Massachusetts holds the record as of October 2006). In Atlanta, Georgia, the Little Five Points neighborhood hosts the Little Five Points Halloween Parade on the weekend before October 31 each year.

Rutland, Vermont has hosted the annual Rutland Halloween Parade since 1960. Tom Fagan, a local comic book fan, is credited with having a hand in the parade’s early development and superhero theme. In the early 1970s, the Rutland Halloween Parade achieved a degree of fame when it was used as the setting of a number of superhero comic books, including Batman #237, Justice League of America #103, Amazing Adventures #16 and The Mighty Thor #207.

New York City hosts the United States’ largest Halloween celebration, known as The Village Halloween Parade. Started by Greenwich Village mask maker Ralph Lee in 1973, the evening parade now attracts over two million spectators and participants, as well as roughly four million television viewers annually. It is the largest participatory parade in the country if not the world, encouraging spectators to march in the parade as well. Barbara Ehrenreich, in her book on collective joy mentions this as an example of how Halloween is transitioning from a children’s holiday to an adult holiday and compares it to Mardi Gras.

In Detroit, Michigan, the night before Halloween is referred to as Devil’s Night, and for many years involved petty vandalism by children and teens, such as rubbing soap or wax on car windows or throwing eggs at houses. This activity perhaps started in the 1930s. In the 1970s, the minor vandalism gave way to serious acts of arson, and the city today mounts volunteer neighborhood patrols to prevent violence.

In many towns and cities, trick-or-treaters are welcomed by lit porch lights and jack-o’-lanterns. In some large and/or crime ridden areas, however, trick-or-treating is discouraged, or refocused to staged trick-or-treating events within nearby shopping malls, in order to prevent potential acts of violence against trick-or-treaters. Even where crime is not an issue, many American towns have designated specific hours for trick-or-treating, e.g., 57 pm or 58 pm, to discourage late-night trick-or-treating. After the September 11 terror attacks, trick-or-treating was discouraged in many areas. Some feared that terrorists would take the opportunity to attack trick-or-treaters, and others felt that celebrating Halloween so soon after the attacks seemed inappropriate. There were even fears of attacks on shopping malls after an anonymous email began circulating on the Internet that was allegedly written by a terrorist that alluded to planned attacks on shopping malls on October 31, 2001. This threat was revealed to be a hoax after an official FBI press release stating that the threat was deemed not credible.

Those living in the country may hold Halloween parties, often with bonfires, with the celebrants passing between them. The parties usually involve traditional games (like snipe hunting, bobbing for apples, or searching for candy in a similar manner to Easter egg hunting), haunted hayrides (often accompanied by scary stories, and costumed people hiding in the dark to jump out and scare the riders), and treats (usually a bag of candy and/or homemade treats). Scary movies may also be viewed. Normally, the children are picked up by their parents at predetermined times. However, it is not uncommon for such parties to include sleepovers.

Trick-or-treating may often end by early evening, but the nightlife thrives in many urban areas. Halloween costume parties provide an opportunity for adults to gather and socialize. Urban bars are frequented by people wearing Halloween masks and risqu costumes. Many bars and restaurants hold costume contests to attract customers to their establishments. Haunted houses are also popular in some areas.

In Western Canada, fireworks displays and a civic bonfire are part of the festivities. Fireworks are also held at Disneyland (as of 2009) and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom during an event at that park called Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party titled HalloWishes.

Mexico

Halloween piatas and other decorations for sale at the Jamaica Market in Mexico City.

In Mexico, Halloween has been celebrated since roughly 1960. There, celebrations have been influenced by the American traditions, such as the costuming of children who visit the houses of their neighborhood in search of candy. Though the “trick-or-treat” motif is used, tricks are not generally played on residents not providing candy. Older crowds of preteens, teenagers and adults will sometimes organize Halloween-themed parties, which might be scheduled on the nearest available weekend. Usually kids stop by at peoples’ houses, knock on their door or the ring the bell and say “Noche de Brujas, Halloween!” (‘Witches’ Night, Halloween!’) or “Queremos Haloween!” (We want Halloween!). The second phrase is more commonly used among children, the affirmation of “We want Halloween” means “We want candy”, similarly “Me da mi calaverita” means “I want my little skull”.

Halloween in Mexico begins three days of consecutive holidays, as it is followed by All Saints’ Day, which also marks the beginning of the two day celebration of the Day of the Dead or the Da de los Muertos. This might account for the initial explanations of the holiday having a traditional Mexican-Catholic slant.

Australia

Despite many American media influences (including television sit-coms and The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror and its sequels), Halloween is frowned upon by some due to its having little relevance to Australian culture. It is also considered an unwanted American influence and an online poll conducted by News Limited has suggested that 84% of Australians are opposed to the event as “an event on the calendar”.. In 2006, costume shops reported a rise in sales on Halloween-themed costumes, on October 31, 2006 and have reported a steady increase on October 31, 2007. On Halloween night, horror films and horror-themed TV episodes are traditionally aired, and currently, Halloween private parties are more commonly held than actual “trick-or-treating”, however both are still observed. Trick or treating is generally only done in the trick-or-treater’s neighbourhood.

The children of the largest town in Bonaire gather together on Halloween day.

The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, and Austria

Halloween has become increasingly popular in Belgium, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, and Austria since the early 1990s. From early October, stores are full of merchandise related to the popular Halloween themes. Students and little children dress up on Halloween for parties and small parades. Trick-or-treating is uncommon in these countries because children already engage in a similar practice to celebrate St. Martin’s Day, which takes place a few days after Halloween. On November 11, Dutch, Belgian, German, and Austrian children ring doorbells hoping to receive a small treat in return for singing a short song dedicated to St. Martin.

Romania

Halloween in Romania is celebrated around the myth of “Dracula” on October 31. In Transylvania and especially in the city of Sighioara, there are many costume parties, for teenagers and adults, that are created from the US model.[citation needed] Also the spirit of Dracula is believed to live there because the town was the site of many witch trials; these are recreated today by actors on the night of Halloween.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, Halloween is seen as being a pagan festival. After first becoming popular in 1999, Halloween is on the wane. People see it as an imported product from the United States, which has not recently enjoyed a good image in the country. Switzerland already has a “festival overload” and even though Swiss people like to dress up for any occasion, they do prefer a traditional element.

Ueli Mder, a professor of sociology at Basel University said that the Swiss adoption of Halloween about ten years ago  Swiss shops stocked Halloween costumes and masks for the first time in 1999  came from “a need for rituals”. “In a strongly commercialised world a need arises for meaningful experiences. I can imagine that a ritual like Halloween when it is celebrated in a simple genuine way can satisfy that need.” But he added: “It also took on an exaggerated or extreme form for a while which probably turned some people off. Perhaps is there is a need to bring Halloween back to a more simple level.”

Italy

In the traditional culture of some regions of Italy there were until the last century[citation needed] traditions very similar to Halloween, i.e. beliefs about nocturnal visiting and processions of dead people, preparation of special biscuits and carving jack-o’-lanterns[citation needed].

Particularly between 1630 and 1640 the Catholic Church carried on a campaign to suppress surviving pagan traditions connected to All Saints’ Day and its eve. These feasts vanished completely; until the mid-1970s the festivity was completely unknown by the people, in 1979 just 1 million of people on a population of 57 million declared celebrating[citation needed] Halloween.

Between the 20th and 21st centuries, however, Halloween was popularized principally by television and merchandising coming from United States, including sitcom episodes such as The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror (trick-or-treat’s translation as “Dolcetto o Scherzetto”, literally treat-or-joke, appeared first in dubbed sitcoms). As a result, in 1989 4 million declared celebrating it, in 1999 7 million and in 2009 10 million[citation needed], turning Halloween in Italy into a major[citation needed] festivity that outclasses the Catholic ones[citation needed] among Italian children.

Halloween traditions are mostly based on US tradition, but even then not completely  for example the story of Jack-o’-lantern is not widely known, and people talk simply of the “zucca di Halloween” (“Halloween pumpkin”). Some children trick-or-treat and they dress up as skeletons, zombies, devils etc., though most elderly people still do not understand the children’s request. Teens, instead, celebrate the festivity disguising themselves as horror characters, throwing away eggs, spraying foam and doing dirty tricks on each other.

Denmark

In Denmark children go trick-or-treating, even though they already collect candy from neighbors on Fastelavn, the Danish name for the Carnival which occurs before Lent.

Central and South America

In most parts of Central and South America, kids will pay a visit to their neighbors and yell “Dulce o Truco!” (‘Sweet or Trick!’) in order to get candy, while in Brazil kids yell “Doce ou Travessura!”. The Spanish name for Halloween is Noche de Brujas (Night of the Witches), and the Portuguese name is Dia das Bruxas.

Norway

In Norway Halloween has become very popular, and most toy stores etc. have big sales and massive campaigns. Children go trick-or-treating, but it is much more common to not perform a trick, only ringing the door bell and asking for candy.

Finland

Halloween has become increasingly popular among the new generation in Finland. Teenagers like to wear costums and have Halloween-themed parties.

Arab Christians (Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank/Gaza)

Arab Christians in Lebanon, Syria and West Bank celebrate Saint Barbara’s Day or Eid il-Burbara on December 4 in a style somewhat reminiscent of Halloween celebrations in other countries. Children wear costumes and go trick-or-treating whilst singing a song. The traditional food for the occasion is Burbara, a bowl of boiled barley, pomegranate seeds, raisins, anise and sugar offered to masquerading children. Lebanese Christians believe that Saint Barbara disguised herself as numerous characters to elude the Romans who were persecuting her.

Qarqe’an is a similar holiday celebrated in Kuwait and other Gulf states. The scary theme is not a part of the tradition: children dress in traiditional garb, form groups, carry baskets and sing outside of homes, receiving sweets and nuts for their effort.

Japan

Halloween has become popular only recently in Japan, mainly in the context of American pop culture. Western-style Halloween decorations such as jack-o’-lanterns can be seen in many locations, and places such as Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan put on special Halloween events. The wearing of costumes is mostly limited to private home parties, day care centers and kindergartens, as well as in larger cities at bars frequented or run by foreigners. On a national scale trick-or-treating is largely unpracticed.

Hong Kong

Halloween in Hong Kong has two traditions. The first involves the event called “Yue Lan” (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts). It is less of celebration, but rather an opportunity to give gifts to spirits of the dead to provide comfort and ward them off.

The second and more commericalized event is celebrated by expatriate Americans or Canadians. Disney Hong Kong and Ocean Park (Halloween Bash) host annual Halloween shows. Lan Kwai Fong bars will be decked out with Halloween decorations to lure expats and locals interest in Halloween.

While trick or treating is not celebrated in Hong Kong, there are events at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of the Stars that try to mimic the celebration.

India

Halloween has become very popular among the new generation only recently[citation needed] mainly in the context of American pop culture. There are western style decorations like jack-o’-lanterns, trick-or-treating and costume parties etc. Many people collect all the candy and donate it to the poor. In India, Halloween is considered as more of a social event.[citation needed]

Philippines

In the Philippines they celebrate a holiday called Undas or Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead) on November 1st or November 2nd. Recently the habit of trick or treating has become popular in urban areas, especially the Metro Manila area, but on a national scale, it is not largely practiced.

Saint Helena

In Saint Helena Halloween is actively celebrated, largely along the American model, with ghosts, skeletons, devils, vampires, witches and the like. Imitation pumpkins are used as the season is wrong for real ones. Trick-or-treating is widespread. Party venues provide entertainment for adults.

References

^ a b Rogers, Nicholas. (2002). “Coming Over: Halloween in North America” Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. pp.49-77. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516896-8.

^ Campbell, John Gregorson (1900, 1902, 2005). The Gaelic Otherworld. Black, Ronald (Ed.), pp.55962. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-207-7.

^ a b Arnold, Bettina (2001-10-31). “Bettina Arnold  Halloween Lecture: Halloween Customs in the Celtic World”. Halloween Inaugural Celebration. University of Wisconsinilwaukee: Center for Celtic Studies. http://www.uwm.edu/~barnold/lectures/holloween.html. Retrieved 2007-10-16. 

^ “BBC Religion & Ethicsallowe’en”. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/halloween.shtml. Retrieved 2007-03-14. 

^ Hutton, Ronald (1996). Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. New York: Oxford Paperbacks. ISBN 0-19-285448-8. 

^ “Halloween 2007″. Derrycity.gov.uk. http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween/. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 

^ de Leary, Kim. “Traditional Halloween Divination Games from Ireland” www.startpage.ie

^ Shack Lunch  Places to Eat  Athlone, dinner, irish pub food  Ireland Logue (March 24, 2007). “Culinary Confusion  Ireland Travel Guide”. Irelandlogue.com. http://www.irelandlogue.com/about-ireland/history/culinary-confusion.html. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 

^ Simpson, John; Weiner, Edmund (1989). Oxford English Dictionary (second ed.). London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861186-2. OCLC 17648714. 

^ “Celtic Attic: Celts facts and fiction  Feasts and Celebrations”. Celticattic.com. http://www.celticattic.com/contact_us/the_celts/feasts_and_celebrations.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 

^ a b Rogers, Nicholas. (2002) “Festive Rights:Halloween in the British Isles”. Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. p.48. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195146913

^ Bannatyne, Lesley Pratt (1998) Forerunners to HalloweenPelican Publishing Company. ISBN 1565543467 p.44

^ Pumpkins have been banned from a Halloween festival in favour of a more Scottish-style celebration accessed 27-10-2007

^ Roger, Nichola (2002). Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Oxford University Press. pp. 2830. ISBN 0-19-514691-3. 

^ “Mischief Night causes havoc across county”. BBC. 2002-11-05. http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/news/2002/11/05/fire.shtml. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ “Fines for Halloween troublemakers”. BBC News. 2006-11-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6093634.stm. Retrieved 2006-12-28. 

^ Rogers, p. 49.

^ Rogers, Nicholas. (2002) “Coming Over:Halloween in North America”. Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. p.76. Oxford University Press, 2002, ISBN 0195146913

^ Ruth Edna Kelley, The Book of Hallowe’en, Boston: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co., 1919, chapter 15, “Hallowe’en in America.”

^ The New York Institute for Special Education

^ Heddon. “deliriumsrealm.com A Brief History of Halloween in America” Deliriumsrealm.com. 10 September, 2007.

^ Anderson, Richard (2000). “Antique Halloween Postcards and E-cards”. shaktiweb.com. http://www.shaktiweb.com/postcards/. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ Dawn Kroma; Lou Kroma (n.d.). “Beistle: An American Halloween Giant”. Spookshows.com. http://www.spookshows.com/beistle/beistle.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ Ledenbach, Mark B. (n.d.). “A Brief History of Halloween Collectibles”. halloweencollector.com. http://www.halloweencollector.com/history/. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ 2006 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. Washington, DC: The National Retail Federation.

^ “Trick-or-treaters can expect Mom or Dad favorites in their bags this year”. National Confectioners Association. 2005. http://www.candyusa.org/Media/Seasonal/Halloween/pr_2005.asp. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ “Fun Facts: Halloween”. National Confectioners Association. 2005. http://www.candyusa.org/Classroom/Facts/default.asp?Fact=Halloween. Retrieved 2006-09-14. 

^ “Halloween revelers erupt in Madison”. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2002-11-04. http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/nov02/93044.asp. Retrieved 2007-12-18. 

^ “Chapel Hill to goblins: stay away”. The News & Observer. 2008-10-31. http://www.newsobserver.com/264/story/1276364.html. Retrieved 2008-10-31. 

^ “FBI Response to E-mail Rumor”. FBI National Press Office. 2001-10-15. http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/101501.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 

^ a b http://www.news.com.au/poll/display/1,23628,5042028-421-1,00.html

^ http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26283533-421,00.html

^ http://www.smh.com.au/national/hell-of-a-row-as-kids-buy-into-imported-halloween-rituals-20091031-hqpn.html

^ http://www.ourbrisbane.com/lifestyle/parenting-and-families/halloween-for-kids

^ http://www.news.com.au/comments/0,23600,26283533-421,00.html

^ Halloween fever hits Australia at Daily Telegraph; accessed October 31, 2007.

^ Halloween in Transylvania, Romania

^ Halloween retailers get a shock

^ Particularly in Friuli, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Liguria but also in some southern localities as in Tuscany, Northern Latium, Campania, Molise and specifically Sardinia.

^ Boland, Rory (October 6, 2009). “Trick or Treat  Halloween in Hong Kong”. About.com. http://gohongkong.about.com/b/2009/10/06/halloween-in-hong-kong.htm. Retrieved 31 October, 2009. 

^ Boland, Rory (October 30, 2009). “Events and Celebrations for Halloween in Hong Kong”. About.com. http://gohongkong.about.com/od/hongkongfestivals/a/halloweeninhk.htm. Retrieved 31 October, 2009. 

^ “Entertainment & Events” (PDF 4.1 MB). St Helena Independent. Saint FM. 30 October, 2009. Retrieved 30 October, 2009.

v  d  e

Halloween

Main

History  Symbols  Trick-or-treating  Activities  Around the world  Religious perspectives

Traditions

Apple bobbing  Food  Ghost tours  Costumes  Jack-o’-lantern  Trick-or-treating

Events

Bonfire  Brooke Hills Spooktacular  HalloWishes  Halloween Horror Nights (Hollywood)  Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando)  Halloween Spooktacular (Orlando)  Halloween Spooktacular (San Diego)  Halloween in the Castro  Haunted Mansion Holiday  Haunted attraction  Headless Horseman Hayride  Howl-O-Scream (San Antonio)  Howl-O-Scream (Tampa Bay)  Howl-O-Scream (Williamsburg)  Knott’s Halloween Haunt  Mickey’s Trick-Or-Treat Party  Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party  New York’s Village Halloween Parade  Pumpkin Fest  Pumpkin queen  Rutland Halloween Parade  Shocktoberfest  Spinning tunnel

  State Street Halloween Party (Madison)  Terror Behind the Walls  The Great Pumpkin

Media

Television  Films  Books  Music: Albums  Songs

Related Days and times

All Saints  Allantide  Beggars Night  Day of the Dead  Devil’s Night  Eid il-Burbara  Hop-tu-Naa  Koroksun  Mischief night  Samhain

Categories: Halloween | Halloween events | October observancesHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from November 2008 | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2008 | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2009

Domenic Carosa floated his company, Destra, when he was 25, becoming Australia’s youngest publicly listed CEO in Australian history. Domenic built Destra to annual revenues north of 0m, with Lachlan Murdoch as a shareholder. Today, Domenic runs an investment fund focused on high growth internet companies and has invested in more than 14 internet up-starts over the last 18 months. In this interview, Domenic covers what he looks for in investments and entrepreneurs.

Halloween around the world is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Managing Partner AJ Discala Explains Broadsmoore’s Merchant Banking Opportunities for Small Cap Businesses

The global economic crisis that began in 2008 has left an environment where there is very little growth capital available to viable companies. Abraxas J. Discala founded The Broadsmoore Group to make sure that often overlooked quality companies are provided with the financial resources they need to achieve sustainable and lasting success.

Access to previous avenues for acquiring capital is either no longer available to small cap businesses, or it is only available at unsavory terms. Despite the Fed keeping interest rates at historic lows, the banks are not rushing to make new loans.  Private Equity Funds, which may have some funds available, are allocating to their existing portfolio companies, rather than making new investments.  Venture Capital, which once came at “Vulture Capital” prices when capital was flowing in the system, has also dried up. The Broadsmoore Group offers a unique, efficient and sustainable solution.

The Broadsmoore Group operates on the belief that the most important ingredient to success is to facilitate a safe and clear investment from the very beginning by providing in-depth due diligence and full clarity to all parties in every transaction. Each potential transaction and participant undergoes not only a thorough market and financial analysis, including a fraud analysis by a team of elite cyber intelligence experts.

When a socially responsible and economically profitable opportunity is identified, Broadsmoore invests the firm’s capital alongside its partners’, as well as a broad network of capital, to quickly execute a unique solution where benefits are shared by all parties.  In addition to linking companies with the growth capital they need, Broadsmoore also educates and empowers business leaders and investors with the common sense, analytical approach behind the financial engine and investment opportunity that is an Alternative Public Offering, or APO. An APO is simply an alternative means to bringing a private company public.

With The Broadsmoore Group, each transaction receives the dedication of a hand-selected group of seasoned professionals with proven track records and the common goal to help every partner company succeed.  This focused and accessible network of specialists possess a broad range of expertise in addition to traditional finance and merchant banking; The Broadsmoore Group teams include experts in operations, infrastructure and management systems, real estate, marketing and cyber security.

The Broadsmoore Group Offers New Lending Solutions For Businesses To Receive Much Needed Capital is a post from: Venture Capital Tools

Starting a new business venture is not difficult if you have money in your pocket. It does not matter what kind of business plan and idea you have. In business, money matters a lot. Every single person needs capital whether he/she wants to start a small or big venture. You can not ignore the importance of finance. In order to provide strong and suitable financial aid to entrepreneurs, many lenders offer business start up loans. This loan service is taken by most of business owners so that they can run smooth business without any trouble. Lenders provide you necessary funds immediately without concerning about the nature of business. While approving the loan application, lenders are only concerned with the repayment.

To prove the repayment capability, entrepreneurs can show the future prospective of business. Please make sure that you should have blue print of your business with good future planning. If the foundation or planning is strong, the entire process of business will be strong. It is important for every entrepreneur to win the trust of loan provider and convince them for cash. Business start up loans provides the required amount to needy business owners in two forms, secured and unsecured loans.

Secured loan – This commercial loan has been designed for those entrepreneurs who got the risk taking ability and have tangible assets to pledge as collateral. Tangible asset can be anything, like property, real estate, home, expensive vehicle etc. Here, you can expect low interest rate and APR. The finance amount you get under this category ranging from £25000-£500000.

Unsecured business loans – Without taking any risk of home, property or vehicle, individual can easily avail the amount in the range of £5000-£75000. It contains more risk for loan providers. As a result, borrowers have to pay slightly expensive APR and interest rate.

Business start up loans can be used for various purposes, like to purchase machinery, land, factory, office premises, equipments, tools, machinery, new technology, raw material, employee’s salary, etc. With the help of funds, any UK resident can start his/her own business but you should have good plan and business idea. These loans can be used to tackle initial finances like purchasing a land, construction, machinery, furniture, or raw material, hiring employees, etc to start new business.

Technology Vision Group LLC (TVG) announced at the 17th Annual BioPartnering Europe (BPE) conference in London, the launch of a new worldwide network of BioPartnering conferences that will span the globe. BPE, Europe`s longest running life science networking event was a great success with 525 companies attending from over 31 countries. The global nature of BPE has been reflected in an extensive living network of worldwide conferences spanning six countries with established events in the UK, Canada and the United States, and new conferences in China, India and Latin America. Once again, BPE was a great success with over 946 delegates attending the London conference, scheduling well over 4100 meetings via TVG`s unique biopartering.com software. Highlights of the conference included five leadership sessions covering topics such as leveraging unpartnered assets and planning for the economic resurgence. Presentations were also given by nine of the top global pharmaceutical companies, giving insight into future strategy and partnering insights. The ever popular Bioforecaster – Fall 2009 session provided a review of the sector over the last year and the panel`s predictions for the coming year. Attendance to next year`s session is a must to see whether the panel`s predictions were right! Robert Lee Kilpatrick, Partner at TVG commented, “This year`s BPE was a fantastic success and we are proud to be here to help so many biotechnology companies grow. TVG is moving in new directions …

Find More Venture Capital Business Plan In Uk Articles

Business Start up Loans: Instant financial support for streamlining your business is a post from: Venture Capital Tools