Five good reasons for optimism - nay, enthusiasm, or even inspiration, that have passed through my attention in the last 24 hours.

1) Our banks may be facing hard times, but the UK is still the worlds top financial center.  I was talking to someone in the banking sector yesterday and he was telling me that they were getting their "fight" back, that there was now a renewed hunger for sustainable success.  Defeatism is being replaced with ambition once again.

2) Our Universities are bursting at the seams with ideas, energy and entrepreneurial enthusiasm.  I spent much of yesterday afternoon at Edinburgh with entrepreneurs, the LAUNCH.ed team and ERI, and met a couple of the new EPIS intake later on.  You can't help but be inspired by these guys.

3) The Angel investment networks in Scotland have always lead the world, starting up nearly 4 years before their first equivalents in the USA, and Scotland is still #1 in Europe by € invested and number of deals per million of population.  Only the states of California and Massachusetts might have higher levels of activity according to Peter Shakeshaft, Chairman of LINC

4) Archangels have grown their total investment every year since 2004, and 2009 figures will probably be on the same growth line (or possibly flat) according to Barry Sealey at the Archangel Speaker Series event last night.  Early stage investment is still happening folks!

5) We have governments that are really supportive.  EIS, Co-investment, Investor Ready, PoC, Seed Fund, Venture Fund...  Just a few of the commitments that Westminster and Holyrood have made to growing businesses in Scotland.  Let's not forget the Saltire Foundation either, without which I would not have

Jim posted the other day about the "magic" he was feeling and I couldn't agree more.  There is so much good stuff happening out there, so much energy, enthusiasm, optimism, and brilliance, and I want to be a part of it all!

Ian