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A study on the effects of increased ignition energy on cold start hydrocarbon emissions was conducted. The tests were conducted on a single cylinder ASTM-CFR engine. The engine was outfitted with EFI, exhaust analyzers, and temperature probes. The engine was also modified to produce cold start conditions rapidly after each run. For the experiment the engine was started from 18° C using three increasing ignition energy levels. The first level of ignition energy was the ignition energy produced by the stock CFR engine's ignition system. The second and third increased ignition energy levels were obtained by adding 0.387 joules and 1.187 joules to the stock output through a supplementary ignition system. Startup emissions and the number of cycles until the first successful fire were measured. The results of the tests show a 14% decrease in the average peak hydrocarbon (HC) concentration levels at the highest ignition energy. Overall reduction in HC was less. The variance in the peak HC levels was reduced at the highest ignition energy setting. CO production was increased in response to the increase in HC consumption. The spread in measured number of cycles until first fire was decreased at the highest ignition energy level. Although positive results were obtained, the test apparatus had some problem areas that may have reduced the effectiveness of the high energy ignition system. Based on what was learned recommendations on apparatus refinements and further tests were included. / Master of Science

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Entrepreneurship is part of the American dream; about 10% of the US work force owns a small business. In a stable economy owners that are focused on product and market development see continuous growth and expansion; however in turbulent economic times businesses are forced to focus on their competitive advantages. For small enterprises, the most valuable asset is the human capital of the firm; nonetheless many start-up founders tend to overlook the importance of administrative issues like human resource management (HRM). This report shall discuss how founders initially approach the employment relations in the start-up, and what effects their choices have in the long run on the business performance. / text

<p> </p><p>sonami AG is a company that is located in the Principality of Liechtenstein. It was founded in 2007. Since then it didn’t gain many customers and it is questionable how long the?company will be able to survive with having that few customers. In order to get rid of the current situation and to achieve a sustainable expansion strategy in the long run sonami asked us for help. The question thus is; how would an international expansion strategy look like.</p><p>In order to answer this question a case study approach was used. Four successful micro companies were interviewed and asked about their international strategy and their recommendations for expanding abroad.</p><p>In addition internationalization literature has been reviewed. Furthermore the concept of strategy, strategic planning and strategic management has been discussed.In the end a framework for sonami was developed. Different approaches, mixed with different recommendations and insights of the case studies were used to develop it.</p><p>The result is that sonami has major problems internally, which should be solved before entering any international path. Our developed framework names several pre‐requisites that need to be fulfilled before moving on to the next step. We have tried to generate a deliberate strategy for sonami. We also recommended sonami to take advantage of opportunities given. This would however mean that sonami would then follow an emergent strategy.??</p><p> </p>

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The determinants of success in venture capital financing are explored in this manuscript. 1247 venture capital funds formed over a twenty-year time period are empirically analyzed with results that support theoretical research from extant finance and economics literature. Venture capitalists' choices of portfolio size, distance from portfolio firms, location, and to some extent, level of diversification in their investment portfolio, are all significant factors in explaining the success rates of venture capital funds. These results are robust even when controlling for other characteristics of venture funds and entrepreneurial firms, such as the stage of development and industry of the portfolio firms, which may affect success rates of venture capitalist portfolios.

The purpose of the diploma thesis is to introduce Inovum, o.p.s. - agency that offers professional couching to entrepreneurs and start-ups with the innovative idea and through that indirectly supports competitiveness of the Czech economy. Within the thesis, the innovation ecosystem of the Czech Republic is analyzed. In addition, marketing analysis and marketing plan for Inovum, o.p.s. is devised. The main goal is to propose a marketing plan for the agency which is in line with the real situation on the market.

Tese de mestrado. Inovação e Empreendedorismo Tecnológico. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2012

sonami AG is a company that is located in the Principality of Liechtenstein. It was founded in 2007. Since then it didn’t gain many customers and it is questionable how long the?company will be able to survive with having that few customers. In order to get rid of the current situation and to achieve a sustainable expansion strategy in the long run sonami asked us for help. The question thus is; how would an international expansion strategy look like. In order to answer this question a case study approach was used. Four successful micro companies were interviewed and asked about their international strategy and their recommendations for expanding abroad. In addition internationalization literature has been reviewed. Furthermore the concept of strategy, strategic planning and strategic management has been discussed.In the end a framework for sonami was developed. Different approaches, mixed with different recommendations and insights of the case studies were used to develop it. The result is that sonami has major problems internally, which should be solved before entering any international path. Our developed framework names several pre‐requisites that need to be fulfilled before moving on to the next step. We have tried to generate a deliberate strategy for sonami. We also recommended sonami to take advantage of opportunities given. This would however mean that sonami would then follow an emergent strategy.??