The celebration of IBM's 100th birthday last month focused the spotlight squarely on Big Blue. In an industry where companies fail all the time, IBM's ability to stay relevant is impressive. So how does a company like IBM manage to stick around for so long? One piece of the answer is their active M&A activity.

http://thebln.com/2011/07/ma-behemoth-ibms-shopping-list/

Business model brain food. Three videos from Hermann Hauser, Ilja Laurs and Alex Osterwalder that might change the way you think about your business model.

http://thebln.com/2011/07/business-model-brain-food/

PACE was a reasonably successful technology company in 2006 but was probably only number 10 in the markets it operated in. It needed to become more meaningful on a global scale and embarked on a programme to grow. As a by product, revenue grew ten fold in 5 years. Neil Gaydon, CEO talks about turning a large technology business around.

http://thebln.com/2011/07/neil-gaydon-ceo-pace-plc-turning-a-technology-business-around/

Warren East, CEO, ARM Holdings plc questions whether ARM is ‘Big’ at the recent BLN Growth Forum.

http://thebln.com/2011/07/warren-east-ceo-arm-holdings-plc-questions-whether-arm-is-big/

Charles Dunstone, Theodore Roosevelt & a message for entrepreneurs

http://thebln.com/2011/07/charles-dunstone-theodore-roosevelt-and-a-message-for-entrepreneurs/

People – we don’t need infrastructure, we need people people, people. A plea to shut up twining about what we don't have in terms of infrastructure and start using the assets we do have. Ran in Business Weekly.

http://thebln.com/2011/06/people-we-dont-need-infrastructure-we-need-people-people-people/

In my mind there is no question that to help build a pipeline of grown ups, finish ups and speed ups, there needs to be a healthy pipeline of ambitious, healthy, well-connected startups. Can ’startup factories’ help provide that pipeline of businesses that will be taking the stage at the BLN Growth Forum’s of the future?

http://thebln.com/2011/06/do-we-need-startup-factories-notes-on-nestas-round-table-on-european-acceleration-programmes/

Great interview with Warren East, CEO of ARM Holdings with our media partner Business Weekly in advance of this year’s BLN Growth Forum. Warren will be talking about what, ‘BIG’ actually means. Really delighted he was able to spend some time sharing some of his thoughts in advance.

http://thebln.com/2011/06/warren-east-ceo-of-arm-holdings-talks-big/

Is Mimecast heading for an IPO? Private companies often start reporting results publicly even when there is no requirement to do so and Mimecast’s announcement today looks like a classic reporting of great results to the market even though the market can’t invest – how frustrating for them but I bet it piques the interest of the brokers and buyers.

http://thebln.com/2011/06/mimecast-heading-for-ipo-with-quarterly-results-announcement/