Investing in small companies is a risky proposition in any environment. Not only are corporate seedlings untested, but many don't have the resources to compete with bigger, established firms. Throw in an economic monsoon, and you start to worry about their very ability to survive.
In this file photo taken May 21, 2003, a farmhouse nestled in the hills in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County near Santa Clarita, Calif., is shown.
