Some interesting links we found across the web this week:

SBA Will Expand a Key Obama-Era Lending Program for Low-Income Business Owners
Vice President Kamala Harris and Small Business Administration, or SBA, administrator Isabel Guzman recently announced an extension of and important expansions to the Community Advantage program, which provides financial and business assistance to small businesses in underserved communities. This article from Inc both introduces the program and describes some of the changes announced to the program. In particular, the recent expansion extends the program until 2024 and increases the amounts of funding available.

5 Ways to Start Building A Network as a Startup Owner
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of networking upon the success of a startup or early-stage business: it helps create relationships with potential investors, clients, employees, and other stakeholders. However, networking successfully can be difficult and may not come easily to some. This Startup.info article provides tips for how to approach the networking process.

EU, US Agree on Data Transfer Deal to Replace Defunct Privacy Shield
Following a July 2020 European Court of Justice ruling striking down the European Union-United States Privacy Shield, the European Union recently announced an agreement in principle with the United States on a replacement. The Privacy Shield provided a framework for regulating transatlantic data flow between the United States and Europe. This TechCrunch article explores both the history of the Privacy Shield and the future of its potential replacement.

9 Warning Signs You Aren’t Ready to Scale
Patience can be a virtue when transitioning a business from the startup stage to the growth stage, and not all businesses can or should scale as rapidly as possible. This VentureBeat article provides potential warning signs that entrepreneurs and business owners should note and consider when deciding whether and how to scale their businesses.

Competing to Win Deals
It’s not just entrepreneurs who vie for investor attention. Investors also frequently compete against each other to partner with desirable companies. Venture capitalist Fred Wilson lists out ten rules which venture capitalists should consider to help stand out amidst the pack of investors.