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Read more +10 September 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Featured, Industry, Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

How Startup Ecosystem Builders Start Ecosystems

Read more +29 August 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Featured, Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

The 6 Considerations of the Economic Development of Startups

Read more +11 April 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Featured, Industry, Insights / Research, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

Why Accelerators Fail Startup Founders

Raising Capital

08/11/2024in Raising Capital, Startup Ecosystems
When Founders Need Referrals to Meet Investors, Fix This About Your Startup Ecosystem
In a well-functioning startup ecosystem, founders should know who their potential investors are and how to connect with them. In a supportive startup ecosystem, founders should know how to develop ventures that attract attention, supported by journalists and ecosystem leaders who promote fundable startups, so that investors engage them. Yet, we oft...
09/09/2024in Raising Capital, Startups
“I have an Idea but lack Experience or Startup Capital…”
This is one of those frequently heard statements that helps a startup ecosystem recognize that gaps remain. Last week, I pushed founders and economists to recognize the distinction between innovation and technology (between startups and businesses), and from that, I was asked for advice too frequently asked, “How can I capitalize on an app id...
14/08/2022in Industry, Insights / Research, Raising Capital, Startups
Neither Your Product nor Your Idea is Fundable
How do I sell a startup that has a validated solution yet neither users nor revenue? Among the primary FAQs within startup incubators and of advisors, is how do I get my product funded? You know the question through the variety of ways in which it emerges: How do I raise startup capital for my...

Fundraising

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Index of Articles

Regional Spotlight

Read more +16 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Regional Development

Puerto Rico: The Crossroads of U.S. Access, Global Innovation, and Island Resilience for Startups

Puerto Rico’s history is one of resilience, adaptation, and strategic importance. As a U.S. territory since 1898, Puerto Rico enjoys a unique position: it benefits from U.S. federal systems and protections while maintaining its cultural and legislative autonomy. This blend offers startups and entrepreneurs an unparalleled advantage — access to U.S. markets, legal frameworks, and

Read more +13 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in AI, Regional Development, Startups

Croatia: A Historical Backbone of Resilience and Opportunity

Croatia’s history is defined by resilience and adaptability, traits that naturally align with the entrepreneurial spirit. Originally part of the Roman Empire, Croatia grew through centuries of influence by various empires and regimes—from the medieval Croatian Kingdom to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later as part of Yugoslavia until its independence in 1991. This complex history

Read more +03 October 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Industry, Insights / Research, Regional Development

The Quantum Corridor

For too long, cities across the U.S. have attempted to define their startup communities by adopting monikers like “Silicon Prairie,” “Silicon Hills,” or “Silicon Beach,” an approach that inadvertently undermines their efforts to establish distinct, innovative identities. By labeling themselves after Silicon Valley, cities unintentionally (and likely unwittingly) put themselves second to an established technology

Austin Startups

Everything Austin, TX entrepreneurs

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Uncovering Austin FinTech as an Ecosystem
I have a confession to get off my chest. In my work through Austin, I’ve long celebrated ...
Developing Austin’s Startup Ecosystem
Regional culture, history, and infrastructure are the qualities of a region of the world that d...
Conspire to Change Austin Startups
Peter Thiel, notable by way of PayPal, Founders Fund, and Zero to One, if you’re not fami...
The Vision For Austin
You know that licking of your lips and grasping at air that one does when trying to put in to w...

Economic Development

Make America Texas Again

12 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Industry

10 Policies Proven to Turn Cities into Startup Powerhouses

07 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Startups

How the 2025 White House Could Shape a Bold Economy for Startups and Innovators

06 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

When Entrepreneurship is Bad for the Economy

05 November 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Startups

Rethinking Startup Ecosystems to Build What Investors Really Want

28 October 2024 By Paul O'Brien in Economic Development, Industry, Insights / Research, Local, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

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We develop, for cities, governments, companies, and the broader economy, innovation through media, incubators, local economies of scale, partnerships, and the effective use of technologies that result in successful venture development.

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Using ChatGPT for Your Startup’s Success
Imagine having a tireless, ever-learning partner in your startup journey — one that adapts to y...
The Unfair Advantage: 10 Books Every Founder Needs Because Marketing, Teams, and Persuasion Matter Most
Success in startups, initial funding, and traction, don’t come from ideas and MVPs — it’s...
Does Early Marketing Hurt Startups? Why Founders Should Think Differently
Some founders wonder whether starting marketing too soon could hurt their startup’s focus. Coul...
Croatia: A Historical Backbone of Resilience and Opportunity
Croatia’s history is defined by resilience and adaptability, traits that naturally align with t...
When Founders Need Referrals to Meet Investors, Fix This About Your Startup Ecosystem
In a well-functioning startup ecosystem, founders should know who their potential investors are...

19/11/2024in AI, Insights / Research, Startups
Using ChatGPT for Your Startup’s Success
Imagine having a tireless, ever-learning partner in your startup journey — one that adapts to your style, anticipates your needs, and delivers actionable insights in seconds. AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for your decision-making, growth, customer discovery, testing ideas, fueling creativity, and getting things done (execution). While many ...
15/11/2024in Advertising, Insights / Research, Startups
Does Early Marketing Hurt Startups? Why Founders Should Think Differently
Some founders wonder whether starting marketing too soon could hurt their startup’s focus. Could it take attention away from refining the product or identifying the right customers? Or, on the flip side, is it essential to build buzz and gain traction from day one? It’s a question worth addressing because, frankly, the misconceptions surrounding ea...

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