Tax Deductions in the Tech Industry

When the Union Budget 2014-15 extended an incentive scheme to provide tax incentives for small businesses for hiring new employees, small businesses were ecstatic, especially in India.  However, the euphoria is fizzling out in response to the details that have emerged explaining that the incentives are restricted to firms with manufacturing units.  The exclusions of the technology sector in the scheme contradict the governments agenda of promoting and supporting innovative and entrepreneurship in the country. 

Check out more of the details here

Designers Lead the Way

A game changer that the tech industry is acknowledging is the impact that designers have for the market.  Maeda’s 2015 DesignInTech report said a growing trend for large US tech companies buying smaller creative businesses was proof that design had become an integral part of the technology industry.  The report identified 27 startups founded by designers that have been bought by businesses such as Google, Facebook, Adobe, LinkedIn, Dropbox and Yahoo since 2010. 

Read more about how designers are impacting Silicon Valley here

Apple's First Day on the Dow

Techies are rejoicing to Apple’s first day on the Dow on Thursday.  The company joined after a torrid run, with its shares up 38% since its stock split last June. Before the 7-for-1 split, Apple was trading at almost $650 per share and now is trading at $128 a share.  The Dow index is a closely watched group of 30 stocks widely seen as an indicator for the health of U.S. markets.  The Dow said it avoided adding Apple in part because the company’s stock price before the split was too high, and architects feared it would tilt the index’s value.

Check out more on Apple’s move into the Dow here