Entrepreneurship

One of the most significant innovations for developing countries has been microfinance, giving small loans to poor entrepreneurs. Commentator and economist Dean Karlan says microlending is a valuable tool, but it needs more creativity to keep growing.

Many homeowners are frantic to refinance as their home values drop. But on the other side of the equation are buyers who are refusing to jump in until the market hits bottom. How will they know when it does? Dave DeWitt reports.

The newest wave of entrepreneurs in China is foreigners. Like Matteo Gonella, who's introducing the Chinese to salami by making it in his factory there. Jamila Trindle looks into how such business pioneers are doing.

A House bill, passed late last night, now allows venture capitalists to invest in up to 49.1 percent of a small business. Nancy Marshall Genzer looks into how the change affects competition for government contracts.

Anyone who's ever tried to organize a group purchase, event or boycott knows it can be like herding cats. A Chicago company is taking on that challenge with a Web-based tool for organizing the masses. Gabriel Spitzer reports.

An Agriculture Department report says farmers are planning to plant more soybeans than last year. As they're getting ready for the planting season, those farmers are trying to navigate some complicated finances. Adriene Hill reports.

Younger people typically don't take the time to think about investing in their future, but a group of mutual funds is marketing with a slant towards Gen-Xers. Alisa Roth has more on fashionable financial planning.

About a billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, but solving the crisis could cost up to $4 billion a year. Sam Eaton reports on a competition that's using entrepreneurs to find innovative solutions.

Israeli high-tech expert Avshalom Neumann was inspired to set up a business after he saw a religious pilgrim call home from Jerusalem's Wailing Wall. Orly Halpern has more on his call-in prayer service.