Michael Burtov

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a startup push an NDA in my face. I get it – most startup founders are protective of their ideas. They believe that their unique invention or revolutionary business model will be stolen by anyone who learns about it. While…

Earlier this week, I was speaking with a founder from South Africa who recently launched an innovative alternative-banking app in the U.S. It’s a really cool idea, and the founder seems highly capable. During our meeting, he shared the challenges he faced in educating Americans about this particular approach…

Recently, there has been a surge in high-quality, relatively low-valuation startups moving into innovation centers across the U.S. Most of these companies are coming from Eastern Europe. This brain-drain is lowering valuations and opportunities for startups across the board. But is this a bad thing?  Here’s the one thing…

Roughly two weeks ago I was working on my laptop at a Panera in North Miami Beach where the self-service kiosk allows customers to order food and drinks. The cups right behind it are simply stacked and not secured. After grabbing a cup, customers can fill it with a…