With emerging companies I am often asked about equity and stock options for employees. That process is often complicated and costly. Usually the reason I hear favoring the equity / options approach is that employers want their employees to "feel like they are a part of something." An admirable goal ineed but are equity /options necessary to achieve this goal?

Mike Colwell of the BIZ recently referenced on his blog a post by Jason Fried of 37 Signals. I highly recommend you read Fried’s post on "An Alternative to Employee Options / Stock Grants." 

The BIZ also ended its Dream Big Grow Here regional contest for Central Iowa this past week. The big winner was Real Estate Fan Pages and its owner, Matthew Smith.