The trend towards free market orientation, liberalization of national economies, and the globalization of business is making it imperative for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to rethink their strategies in terms of adopting new technologies, introducing new products, and entering new markets. The rapidly changing technology market scenario provides opportunities and also poses challenges to SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region. Opportunities could arise through access to new technologies and markets and being able to invest and sell across borders. The major challenge would be managing international and international competition. Rapidly changing customer needs and preferences are also driving SMEs to innovate, look for one-step-ahead technologies, come up with new products and services, and seek alliances and partnerships even with competitors. In today's globalized and interdependent world economy, technology innovation and its management have become the main drivers of success in both domestic and international markets.

To assist entrepreneurs and business managers, APCTT publishes a bimonthly journal, Asia Pacific Tech Monitor which provides up-to-date information on trends in technology transfer and development, technology policies, new products and processes. The Yellow Pages feature a Business Coach for innovative firms as well as technology offers and requests. The Business Coach section has been, over the years, providing tips to innovative firms on important issues related to start-up venture creation, venture financing, technology transfer, managing innovation and green productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. These tips were contributed by experts, consultants, and technology transfer and business promotion institutions from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

This Guidebook on Business Start-up and Operations is a compilation of these tips on Start-up Venture Creation and Venture Financing, taken from the Business Coach sections of the 2005 -2009 issues of the Asia Pacific Tech Monitor. It is aimed at providing innovative firms and innovators, a quick reference on various aspects of creating, developing and nurturing start-ups as well as insights into the preparation of business plans and how to access venture capital. It is envisaged that this Guidebook will be updated regularly using new contributions that will appear in the future issues of the Asia Pacific Tech Monitor.

K. Ramanathan
Head, APCTT-ESCAP