Many venture capitalists say they're looking for the next big idea. But they aren't, really; they're looking for something derivative, because derivative is safe.

If I had to give one piece of advice to a budding entrepreneur, I would say: 'Aim big.'

Venture capitalists buy minority positions in young companies they think will grow quickly; buy-out investors buy most or all of companies they think can be turned around by fixing a few basic things.

A fundamental American question is, 'What's the big idea?'

It's the combination: big idea with a good entrepreneur: there's nothing more powerful.

Their lives are bigger than any big idea