In 1996 I spent much of my first year on the internet moderating a discussion on how some of america's biggest corporations viewed ORGANISING CREATIVITY. 16 years later I still don't know if any of America's biggest decision-makers get hubs but look forward to reports of GE's latest initiative chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk Advanced Manufacturing Tech & Innovation Global Competitiveness Jobs & Skills Transportation Energy Healthcare Aviation Middle Market Welcome Welcome to the first edition of Ideas Lab Weekly Digest. We hope these digests will enable you to stay connected to our posts and perspectives with greater ease. Beginning Monday, you will be able to subscribe to our Daily Brief. Ideas Lab provides insights and stimulates discussion by convening opinions from subject matter experts and dissecting complicated issues. Please let us know how Ideas Lab is doing by writing us at editor@ideaslaboratory.com. Best, Ideas Lab Staff TOP CHATTER Industrial Internet Buzz And Energy Policy Pitch You might have seen:MIT Principal Research Scientist Andrew McAfee spoke to Ideas Lab on how the industrial internet will be the latest revolution in the world of things and humans and how we use things. While he acknowledges the challenges that will come from more machines doing people’s work, he stresses humans will always be needed. “That human spark," he says, is something that’s not going to go away. But you might have missed: The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Energy Project and its heavyweight lineup of former officials, long used to working both sides of the aisle. On Tuesday the quartet, including former U.S. Senate Majority leader Trent Lott and retired Gen. James L. Jones, outlined bipartisan recommendations for making energy policy and discussed key challenges influencing energy supply and the economy. BPC tweeted: “No single entity is in a position to implement, coordinate and assess energy-related activities and iniativies,” and @MatthewStepp tweeted: “Some quick thoughts on @BPC_Bipartisan energy proposal: (1) Why not recommend E-Branch consolidation vs. a new council on top of agencies?”

TRENDS TO WATCH GE's White Paper On Industrial Internet Shines Light On Future The spotlight shone this week on GE’s white paper on the Industrial Internet and how Internet-connected machines can bring about exponential gains in efficiency. Preceded by an article in The New York Times, and bookended by the Minds and Machines conference in San Francisco this week, GE’s focus on Industrial Internet as part of a long-term strategy for the company set the trend for the week. @CustomTrains tweeted “I am excited about the Industrial Internet and the Minds + Machines 2012 Conference in San Francisco. Networking links us.” The Wall Street Journal picked up on it, as did Mashable, and @Murph_CJ tweeted that GE’s report “says we’ll need a new kind of hybrid talent: ‘digital-mechanical engineers.’” In a post for Ideas Lab today, the chief intellectual property counsel for GE argues that patent protection provides a crucial incentive to innovate. Natalia Oberti Noguera: Women entrepreneurs: Step up to the plate By Natalia Oberti NogueraNovember 8, 2012 The head of an angel investing bootcamp for women philanthropists urges women to get their business ideas out into the open. Women entrepreneurs don’t pitch as often as their male peers. I encourage women to step up to the plate, whether it’s asking for capital to fund their startup, or asking for a raise at work. In 2011, only 12 percent of startups pitching to angels in the U.S. were women-led, according to the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. Out of that 12 percent, 26 percent secured funding. Benefits of pitching Feedback Pitching your startup is a way that you can receive advice and suggestions from potential investors that can help your business model get closer to meeting market needs. Connections Don’t view pitching as a zero-sum game where you either get funding, or you don’t. Instead, view pitching as an opportunity for you to meet key influencers. While a potential investor may not be interested in investing in your startup, she/he may know someone who might want to learn more and, by pitching, you increase your network, as well as you chances of securing a relevant introduction. And yes, capital. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you want money, as for feedback” (and we come full circle…). Pitching is an opportunity for you to share your startup, engage people, and secure funding. Whether someone wants to invest on the spot, or you receive a referral to a potential investor, remember that putting yourself out there can get you closer to raising capital. Need a pep talk before venturing out to pitch? Check out the Pipeline Fellowship Blog, which features candid interviews with members of our community, as well as an Entrepreneur Prep section. Natalia Oberti Noguera is the founder and CEO of Pipeline Fellowship, an angel investing bootcamp for women philanthropists.