TECHTOWN  

Erik Sherman


3D Printing Has a Bright Future With Dark Problems

DIY gunsmithing is just one potential issue 3D printer companies must decide how to handle. But there are many more risks on the horizon.  Read story

Don't Make This Common Year-End Mistake

The world may seem to slow between Christmas and New Year's, but it doesn't stop. And neither should your business.  Read story

4 Tips to Expand Your Niche Business

The potential opportunities might be much bigger and broader than you think. Think outside your niche with these tips.  Read story

Rise of the Microserver

Go ahead and keep your data in-house. Thanks to some of the macro names in computing, servers are going micro and getting more efficient.  Read story

Get More Out of Windows 8 or RT: 4 Tips

Ease a transition to a Windows 8 or Windows RT device with a little advance preparation.  Read story

Why Didn't Fred Wilson (& Other VCs) Invest in 2012?

A handful of prominent tech VCs didn't make any early-stage start-up investments in 2012. Is it time for founders to worry?  Read story

5 Trends to Ignore in 2013

Amid all the forecasts for what next year will bring, here are five business trends you'd be wise to pass up.  Read story

Why Money Can Hurt Your Marketing

The size of your advertising spend has little to do with your success. In fact, sometimes too much cash can be a very bad thing.  Read story

4 Business-Friendly Tools From Pinterest

From best practices to marketing buttons and widgets, here are some Pinterest resources to help you get more out of the platform.  Read story

Dude, What Happened to Your Marketing Emails?

Turns out, a significant portion of your emails might be going directly into a black hole. Here's what you're doing wrong.  Read story

Can Introverts Be Great Entrepreneurs?

Conventional wisdom suggests you must be bold and outgoing to be successful. Here's why the stereotype doesn't hold up.  Read story

The Next Big Thing in Ads

With the help of NFC-enabled smartphones, ads are getting even more interactive. But are they right for your company?  Read story

Windows 8: The Next Frontier for App Developers

Pundits are skeptical about the future of Microsoft's operating system, but there are three reasons why it's a big deal for software entrepreneurs.  Read story

The Case Against Holiday Sales

This time of year, your competitors slash prices to reel in the holiday shoppers. Here's why that's not a game you should play.  Read story

4 Decision-Making Mistakes to Avoid

Every day, you must make decisions large and small. Here's what's keeping you from making them more confidently.  Read story

Does Sex Sell, or Just Make Customers Impatient?

Researchers delve into the finer points of advertising: Do sexy ads have the right effect on consumers? Maybe not.  Read story

Is Your Start-up Built to Survive?

During and in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a certain kind of start-up thrived. Here's why--and what you should learn from it.  Read story

3 Critical Mobile Marketing Insights from Mary Meeker

Former analyst and now VC Mary Meeker gave an unexpected mid-year update on Internet trends. Here are three you can't afford to ignore.  Read story

4 Lessons From Nate Silver's Election Predictions

Why do big election predictions matter? They offer key lessons about how to be smart with 'big' data.  Read story

It's Coming: Tech Industry to Slow Down

Read between the lines of the leading tech companies' earnings and you'll find grim takeaways for any business in the industry.  Read story

Are Online Ads Getting Too Expensive?

A recent report suggests the days of cheap online advertising are dwindling. But a look at the numbers reveals a more complicated picture.  Read story

6 Reasons Layoffs Are Really Dumb

It seems like smart just-in-time staffing: You hire for big projects and then let people go when they wrap up. But here's why it hurts more than it helps.  Read story

The Doomsday Prediction You Should Heed

Whether it's right or wrong, there are good reasons to pay attention to this grim economic prediction.  Read story

What the Drive-Through Window Can Teach You

Don't run a fast-food business? It doesn't matter. Any company could stand to improve the efficiency of its operations.  Read story

TV Ads: The Secret to Taking a Tech Start-up Mainstream?

Tech start-ups are launching old-school TV campaigns. A return to the dot bomb era? Not quite--but think twice before stealing this strategy.  Read story

Going Mobile? Make It More Than a Marketing Strategy

Smartphones and tablets are becoming an important tool for satisfying your customers' needs, not just for trying to sell to them. Are you ready?  Read story

How 3D Printing Helped This Company Get Off the Ground

How do you get from idea to a thousand products--without the costly manufacturing mistakes? A 3D printer became this company's secret weapon.  Read story

Want Loyal Customers? Let Them Customize

It used to be, only big businesses could afford to let customers customize their products. But here's how one small operation makes it work.  Read story

How to Choose the Best Platform for Your App

Do you develop on Apple iOS, Google Android, or Windows? Or all of the above? Check out the pros and cons for the major platforms.  Read story

Luxury Brands Losing Next Generation of Customers

A marketing study warns that traditional luxury branding strategies fail to woo Millennial shoppers.  Read story

Inventor's Dilemma

A 3D printer knew its technology would let customers' imaginations run wild. But it never anticipated anyone would come up with this.  Read story

Entrepreneurs Behaving Badly

Sometimes customers do things that make you want to take extreme actions. But there's no good excuse for going this far.  Read story

Beware the VC Fad Factor

An annual ranking of top start-ups suggests VC funding and success go hand in hand. That's one huge mistake you don't want to make.  Read story

The Next Big Thing Beyond Great Design

A well-designed product used to be all you needed to get noticed. But good design has gone mainstream, so it's time to up the ante.  Read story

Where Did All the Solar Start-ups Go?

First it was hot, then after Solyndra's collapse... it was not. But solar is still a growth industry--if you know what you're getting into.  Read story

Quick! Get Apple a New Map--for Smart Crisis Control

A buggy product launch? That's familiar territory for most tech founders... but not for Apple. Here's how the company could have minimized the damage.  Read story

Starting a Business: The New 'Safe' Career?

Is it really that big a gamble to start your own business? Compared with other options, maybe not.  Read story

Go Back to School This Fall--For Free

Want to get an edge? Tap into the free business and tech classes online taught by some of country's top universities.  Read story

Who Took the Disruption Out of TechCrunch Disrupt?

The much-hyped start-up competition is supposed to feature dangerously innovative companies. So why does the winner look like a me-too entry?  Read story

Most Important Rule in VC Negotiations

Negotiating with potential investors is never easy. Here's one option you never want to take off the table.  Read story