Google buys restaurant review service Zagat

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Good eats for Google

Google has bought Zagat, a big name in the restaurant review business, according to a Google blog post, and reported in this Reuters story. Why would it do such a thing?

Here's some analysis from TechCrunch:

"Google had previously been in talks to acquire Yelp in late 2009, but those discussions fell apart and Yelp walked away from some $500 million. Since then, the relationship between Google and Yelp has been tenuous, as Google borrowed liberally from Yelp's database of reviews to flesh out its Google Places pages. Google has toned down the practice in the last few months, and is now clearly looking to boost the number of reviews it can call its own using features like Hotpot and through deals. Hence today's acquisition."

For its part, Google says Zagat will be a "cornerstone" of its local offerings, providing readers with reviews, ratings and insight. "With Zagat, we gain a world-class team that has more experience in consumer based-surveys, recommendations and reviews than anyone else in the industry," Google's blog post reads.

Founders Nina and Tim Zagat have written an open letter on the Zagat website, reflecting on the sale and their 32 years in business. They will continue on as co-chairs, and look forward to the expansion possibilities the Google purchase brings.

The money probably doesn't hurt either.

Robberies plague South African small businesses

South Africa's Police Minister Nathi Mthetwa on Thursday said his department was developing a national small-business robbery strategy to fight crimes. Non-residential robberies increased dramatically across the country to 14,534 cases in 2009-2010, from 3,320 incidents in 2004-2005. Businesses such as "spaza shops," supermarkets, taverns, schools and general dealers were the hardest hit. Government and the South African Police Service will conduct consultations and finalize a strategy by the end of the year, Mr. Mthetwa said. The Minister pointed out that small businesses lack the resources to tackle and prevent robberies. Strong partnerships between government, the police service and big business are said to have shown "encouraging results" in recent years.

Red-tape reduction commission keeps rolling

Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, Maxime Bernier, chair of the Red Tape Reduction Commission, announced another step this week toward cutting red tape with the release of the commission's What Was Heard report. "Jobs and growth will remain our government's top priority," Mr. Bernier said in a press release. The report highlights issues identified during the consultation process from January to March. Entrepreneurs talked about the challenges presented by too much red tape, which affects their ability to concentrate on their businesses, to innovate, and to compete. Commission members also met with representatives of business associations to help come up with solutions and how they can best be implemented. More information is available on the commission's website.

EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Hands-on business planning

On Sept. 21, the Women in Business Network is offering a hands-on, interactive workshop to explain the art and science of successful business planning. Entrepreneurs from across Toronto will have the opportunity to "learn and work together, creating plans that help guide their businesses." Cora Brady and Kathryn Easter from Mom Central Consulting are leading the discussion, along with Amy Ballon and Danielle Botterell from Mom Inc. and Admiral Road Designs. Coaches will also be on hand to assist throughout the workshop, which takes place at Brazen Head in Toronto's Liberty Village. Cost is $24 for members, $30 for non-members.

Interact with some first movers

Canada's first solar-natural gas hybrid plant is under development. Utility-scale solar plants generating electricity 24-hours a day are currently in operation. The technology for producing hydrogen and syngas using only solar energy is nearing commercialization. Interested in learning more? A full-day workshop, hosted by Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, will introduce participants to all aspects of concentrating solar thermal technology. The first part of the workshop consists of presentations from leading CST experts, the second part is a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for CST implementation in a Canadian context and provides a chance to interact with the CST first-movers in Canada. The event takes place in Calgary from Nov. 1 to 3, and you can register here.

EDITOR'S PICKS FROM REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS

Tax credits for angel investors pledged

With a provincial election just four weeks away, the governing Liberals have served up an election platform that includes tax credits for angel investors and big-name institutions who put money into the province's smaller firms, Tim Kiladze reports. The details are still being hashed out, but the tax credit could be worth 35 per cent of venture capital investment, which means that for every $100 invested, the angel investor or institution would get $35 back. Sectors eligible for this tax credit include technology, media, telecom, clean tech and life sciences.

FROM THE ROSB ARCHIVES

"Super angels" step up

With venture capital waning as a source of start-up funds for small business, a new type of financier has stepped into the gap – the "super angel," Cathryn Atkinson wrote back in November, 2010. These investors have deep pockets and a willingness to provide material support and professional knowledge to start-ups or new companies with good business ideas. They operate on a smaller scale than traditional venture capitalists, but on a larger scale than the more traditional "angels," who usually invest in a handful of companies.

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