Austin Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Startup Economist

How Big Data is Finding its Market in Texas

Monday, 28 March 2016 by Paul O'Brien

Data. Statistics, measurements, and analytics are funny things, particularly in entrepreneurship, as if you think about it, data is invaluable but difficult to aggregate, informational but difficult to consume, technical but immensely educational. Why so hard when so important? Data geeks such as myself often find ourselves lost in the weeds; we love mining

Published in Analytics, Austin, Startups

5 Comments

The NW Austin Tech & Startup Corridor

Thursday, 07 January 2016 by Paul O'Brien

There is a frequently heard mantra in Austin that we’re not like Silicon Valley (that we don’t want to be like Silicon Valley) and though I’m of the mind that disagrees with that, considering Silicon Valley an industry of which we’re a part rather than a merely a specific location, what you can’t refute is

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Published in Austin, Industry, Insights / Research, Startups

26 Comments

Austin is Where Tech Comes to Life

Tuesday, 12 May 2015 by Paul O'Brien

With another SXSW well behind us and the inevitable cries that the conference has lost something since it has failed again to discover the next Twitter or Facebook, I find myself considering bigger picture questions: Why are so many moving to Austin? Why did I move to Austin? Is it finding the next Unicorn that

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Published in Advertising, Austin, Industry, Insights / Research, Local, Startups

13 Comments

What Stickers on Laptops Say About Your Startup Community

Wednesday, 14 January 2015 by Paul O'Brien

Think about the last time you spent in a coffee shop working. Perhaps you had a quick meeting with a friend or potential partner, perhaps you haven’t made the leap to coworking and call Starbucks your office; regardless of why you were there, picture the laptops around you. When I arrived in Austin, TX, I

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Published in Austin, Industry, Local, Startups

6 Comments

The Ancient Startup Communities of Greece and Rome

Wednesday, 16 April 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Recently, I had the honor of addressing a group of investors from Shenzhen, China, exploring opportunities in Texas and asking the question, why? Why here? Why Texas? Why Austin? Fostered by DB Business Group (a multi-sector global business development group), and a program called Invest Austin, a veteran of Silicon Valley like myself can’t help

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Published in Austin, Industry, Startup Ecosystems, Startups

10 Comments

Starting your Dream

Monday, 20 January 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Just the other week, I had the distinct pleasure of joining Dreamit Venture’s kick-off of their spring 2014 class. The roster of incredible teams, including Cheggin, CollaborateCloud, eyeQ, Notorious, Octane Lending, Stereo, Swan, TeleCog, and UserApp, set me wondering what role dreams play in one’s success as an entrepreneur. Thinking more about the shifting role of capital and the emigration of innovation

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Published in Austin, Startups

4 Comments

Austin is eCommerce

Wednesday, 15 January 2014 by Paul O'Brien

Leave it to me to spend 14 hours in Dallas on the very day that 3 of my favorite industries crush capital… * Social marketing, with $14M through Bessemer Venture Partners and Harrison Metal Capital to Main Street Hub * WordPress, by way of $15M via North Bridge Growth Equity in WPEngine * eCommerce, as Volusion wraps up $35M with Silicon Valley Bank Though, I’m glad