Your Tour is the best tool for creating multi-day road trip itineraries, and this Belgian-based start-up stands out for its deep coverage of Italy, France, Spain, Andorra and, randomly, Florida.

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The trip took 26 Babson College MBAs to visit with start-up CEOs, capital providers, and professors so they could learn about what it takes to start a business in these locations.

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Before a recent business trip to Israel, someone handed me a copy of "Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, " a book by Dan Senor and Saul Singer about Israel's culture of innovation and entrepreneurialism.

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Empirical research shows that if start-ups grow too fast the momentum can take the guts out of the culture, trip up the cause that drives it and stymie success.

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